London is home to many of the world’s most well known buildings and structures. From St. Paul’s to The 02 Arena it is easy to see why people talk about the iconic architecture in this city. If you have taken advantage of the amazing West End Hotels Special Offers and booked a trip to visit London, then make sure Tower Bridge is at the top of your list of things to see and do. If you chose one of the best Boutique Hotels In West End London, The Piccadilly London West End, then you will be perfectly situated to enjoy the city centre, and experience all the amazing things London has on offer.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge connects the Greater London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark; two of the most important areas of the city centre. Major business districts that also happen to contain a large amount of the city’s tourist attractions.
In the 1870s the city realised it needed a new way to cross the Thames and connect the North and South banks. A committee was put together with the sole task of designing a bridge that would sit downstream from London Bridge, but not disrupt the flow of river traffic, or any of the other river based activities.
Two major challenges presented themselves; the first of which was choosing the correct location. But once they had figured out that the Tower of London area was the perfect spot, the committee realised they had to ensure that the bridge complimented the existing architecture; a difficult challenge when the architecture in question is from the 1066 invasion of England.
Choosing the Design for Tower Bridge
In 1976 a competition for the design of the bridge was made public, and with over 50 entries it was quite a popular competition! Some of these entries can actually be seen on display at the Tower of London and are really worth a look!
Unfortunately the competition lasted a little longer than the committee hoped- in fact it was 8 years before a usable design was selected! In the end, city architects Sir Horace Jones and Sir John Wolfe Barry came up with the final design, and the ordeal was finally over!
The Chosen design was a two leaf bascule bridge, meaning that there are two sections suspended and lifted with counterweights. The two now iconic towers would be connected by two walkways so they could withstand the weight of the rising bridge below, and would hold the machinery in their bases. A simple enough design, but it was the Victorian Gothic styling of the towers that would make it such an icon.
Building the Bridge
Construction finally began in 1886 and it was a massive undertaking. With 8 contractors involved and the relentless labour of well over 400 construction workers, the bridge began to appear from the river; all under the watchful eye of Sir John Wolfe Barry.
It is estimated that an incredible 70,000 tonnes of concrete was used for the foundations alone! The foundations were sunk into the river bed and form the pads on which the iconic towers now stand. The pads would need to stand up to incredible forces, supporting the weight of the towers, the steels, the bridge and of course the people crossing all at the same time. Thankfully it seems to have gone well!
The towers were clad in Cornish Granite and Portland Stone in an attempt to tie them in with the stunning Tower of London, and once again, it worked wonders. The Victorian Gothic style was contentious at first, but once the towers were erected it was clearly the right choice.
Finally, on the 30th of June, 1894, Tower Bridge was officially opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Bridge was connected to Horselydown Lane (now known as Tower Bridge Road) and Iron Gate (now Tower Bridge Approach). The flow of traffic was immediate, and the city has prospered ever since!
How the Bridge Works
The Bascule design is a fascinating one- a feat of engineering, and many people all over the world travel to see the bridge open. But how does it actually work? Well it’s actually not that complex on paper- in reality it’s truly incredible to see.
Bascule comes from the French word meaning seesaw. And this is essentially what the bridge does. Two hydraulic steam powered engines housed in the bases of the two towers would act as driving force raising the two ‘leafs’ into the air. The energy created could be stored in accumulators, so the bridge would be ready at the push of a button when a ship arrived.
Despite the complexity of the system, it would actually only take about a minute for the arms of the bridge to rise to their fullest height. This system worked well for a long time, but eventually as technology advanced, it became incredibly impractical to run with steam.
In 1976 the steam powertrain was replaced with a more modern alternative, but the bascules themselves are still hydraulic. The original equipment is now all on display in the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms exhibit- open to the public so all can see the ingenuity and engineering skill of the design.
Fast Facts
- An estimated 40,000 people cross the bridge daily!
- In 2000 a system was installed that allows the bridge to be opened remotely
- The walkways that connect the towers were designed so that people could cross the bridge whilst it was open- they were closed due to lack of use!
- The original colour of the bridge was a chocolate brown colour.
- The bridge is 240 metres long and provides an opening of 76 metres!
- The raised walkways are 200 feet above the Thames and for a while were a hangout for prostitutes and theives!
So there you have it, a history of London’s iconic Tower Bridge. It is no surprise that the structure is a favourite among tourists, with its striking looks and built in attractions you’d be a fool to miss it on your next trip. Cross the Sky Walk 200 feet above the water, visit the engine rooms and learn the history of this fascinating bridge, then return to your gorgeous hotel for a spot of the best Indian Afternoon Tea London has to offer at the Piccadilly London West End Hotel.
