What are the origins of London bridge?

Answer 1

In London, as in most seaside towns, the Ford across the river, most reliable to travellers, is the one placed where the tidal reach ends.

Consequently, many paths converge on this area, and thus when the decision has to be made as to where the first bridge should be made, it will usually be placed at this 'tidal limit' point.

The first known bridge - probably a series of pontoons was erected by the Romans about CE50. This was replaced a few years later by a bridge of driven piles, but with the collapse of the Empire, the bridge soon decayed.

Over the next thousand years or so, a series of bridges was constructed, many of which were significant structures, most to suffer from fire.

In those early days, the next bridge was at Kingston Town, about 10 miles distant.

In the late 1700s, a competition was held for the design of a new bridge, for the existing bridge was about 600 years old. The new bridge resulting from this competition was opened in 1831, and some pieces of the old bridge are retained as sculpture works.

The bridge worked well, but with increased population, pressure on the bridge was such that in 1902 the roadway of the bridge was widened. This proved to be NOT a Good Idea, for the bridge started to sink asymmetrically, about 1 inch each eight years!

[ In 1894, Tower Bridge, the next bridge downstream was opened for traffic, and was designed so that tall sailing ships may pass. For the Customs etc were upstream of the site.]

In 1964, the decision was made to offer the bridge for sale and removal, and it went to Arizona USA, where it forms the central theme of a park. It is the second most popular tourist site in Arizona after the Grand Canyon.

Answer 2

The original London Bridge was built by the Romans in around 50 AD