London Bridge
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:39 pm
London Bridge
Since Roman times there has been a river crossing at London Bridge - a sole thread across the Thames until 1729 when Putney Bridge was opened and a further bridge at Westminster in 1750.
The original crossing point was where the Roman Roads of Shane Street and Watling Street converged at Borough High Street, this made the area an important terminus point for the stage coaches entering London and with this came the expansion of the Inn Trade in the Borough as the coaches did not want to cross the Thames to avoid the tolls that had to be paid, the bridge gates were closed at dusk.
The old bridge in one form or another lasted some 600 years but in the 1700s it was decided to pull down the structures on the bridge due to congestion and at the same time traffic going north would keep to the west side of the bridge while those going south would keep to the east - it is said that this is the reason we drive on the left and in 1782 the charge for crossing the bridge was stopped but congestion got worse and it was decided a new bridge was needed.
The first modern bridge was opened in 1831 and lasted till 1973 when it was sold to the US (who thought they had purchased Tower Bridge) the London Brdge we know today replaced the 1831 bridge.
In the 1880/1900 picture of the Bridge we can see the original Adelaide House on the far side, named after the Queen of the time - it was at one time an hotel.
The Adelaide House as we know it was constructed in 1924 in Art Deco style - at this time it was the highest building along the riverside. Now a Listed Building it was the first building to have air conditioning and is arguably the first modern office building in London.
Since Roman times there has been a river crossing at London Bridge - a sole thread across the Thames until 1729 when Putney Bridge was opened and a further bridge at Westminster in 1750.
The original crossing point was where the Roman Roads of Shane Street and Watling Street converged at Borough High Street, this made the area an important terminus point for the stage coaches entering London and with this came the expansion of the Inn Trade in the Borough as the coaches did not want to cross the Thames to avoid the tolls that had to be paid, the bridge gates were closed at dusk.
The old bridge in one form or another lasted some 600 years but in the 1700s it was decided to pull down the structures on the bridge due to congestion and at the same time traffic going north would keep to the west side of the bridge while those going south would keep to the east - it is said that this is the reason we drive on the left and in 1782 the charge for crossing the bridge was stopped but congestion got worse and it was decided a new bridge was needed.
The first modern bridge was opened in 1831 and lasted till 1973 when it was sold to the US (who thought they had purchased Tower Bridge) the London Brdge we know today replaced the 1831 bridge.
In the 1880/1900 picture of the Bridge we can see the original Adelaide House on the far side, named after the Queen of the time - it was at one time an hotel.
The Adelaide House as we know it was constructed in 1924 in Art Deco style - at this time it was the highest building along the riverside. Now a Listed Building it was the first building to have air conditioning and is arguably the first modern office building in London.