Tower Bridge in London, the famous drawbridge on the Thames

Tower Bridge in London information and interesting facts about the most famous bridge in the capital of England.

Tower Bridge is one of London’s symbols, and along with landmarks such as Big Ben, the Tower of London, and attractions like the London Eye, it is the primary destination for almost all tourist trips to the capital of England. Tower Bridge in London was a huge technological achievement in its time, often comparable to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Tower Bridge in London the history of the famous bridge

Tower Bridge is one of the most well-known and recognizable landmarks in London. The project and construction began when the English Parliament passed a law requiring the construction of a second bridge over the Thames. London was congested with goods being transported across the river, causing constant gridlock in the ever-expanding city. However, during the debate, there were many objections regarding where the bridge should be located.

Engineers believed that the best location would be near the Tower of London. The management of the Tower strongly opposed it, fearing that an additional structure in that part of the city could negatively impact the immensely valuable historical monument that is undoubtedly the ancient thousand-year-old fortress.

Ultimately, all parties reached an agreement, imposing numerous restrictions and requirements on the architects responsible for the design of the future bridge. One of the most important requirements was that the Tower Bridge must match the style and character of the Tower of London. The task of designing the bridge was entrusted to Horace Jones, who excelled in his role.

Another requirement was that the new bridge could not act as a barrier to ocean-going vessels entering the then-largest port in the world. Therefore, it was decided to construct a modern drawbridge, which at the same time was to appear ancient.

Today, many tourists believe that Tower Bridge is as old as the Tower of London, despite the almost thousand years of history that separate them.

The design of the bridge took seven long years. Many engineers and scientists from across the empire were brought in specifically for the project, with John Wolfe Barry being the principal among them. He contributed to the construction of many other bridges in England, railway stations, and even one of the lines of the London Underground.

The grand opening took place in 1894, officiated by the Prince of Wales and future King of England, Edward VII.

Tower Bridge in London and its construction

London has always been a dynamic city, both now and at the end of the 19th century. Ships carrying goods from almost every corner of the world flowed into London, and an equal amount flowed out of the city. All these goods had to be distributed throughout the city, which is why the new Tower Bridge was a real boon for the citizens of the empire residing in its capital.

The city’s residents appreciated not only the functionality of the bridge but also its appearance, of which they were extremely proud. It became popular to send sketches of Tower Bridge to numerous colonies worldwide in the form of postcards and letters.

The bridge consists of two identical towers connected by walkways at two different levels. The lower one serves vehicles and pedestrians, while the upper one is exclusively for pedestrians. The basic elements of the bridge consist of stone walls, reminiscent of the neighbouring Tower of London, and steel elements maintained in a blue colour scheme, perfectly matching this part of the city.

Due to the dynamism of the city, the bridge was designed so that even the largest ships and vessels of the time could enter the port of London. This was made possible by the bridge’s mechanism, which allowed it to be raised at any necessary moment. Such a process was very labor-intensive and required a crew of over 80 people. The mechanism of the movable parts of the bridge was powered by steam engines, which weighed over 2,000 tons together with the entire mechanism. Interestingly, the steam mechanism operated until the 1970s. Only then was it replaced with an electric one, which still powers the Victorian machinery to this day.

Tower Bridge in London and London Bridge Tour

Tower Bridge can be visited in two different ways. The first route leads to the top of the bridge and the upper walkways, providing a fantastic viewpoint of London. On a clear day, the views are unforgettable, and even the toughest individuals may feel a shiver looking down. It’s staggering to think about the amount of work it took to construct this architectural marvel during the Victorian era in England.

The only downside of the view from the top of Tower Bridge is that you won’t see the bridge itself. To view Tower Bridge from above, I recommend visiting the Sky Garden, a skyscraper with a free observation deck at the top.

The upper level of Tower Bridge is paved with glass panels, offering a view of the street and the river below. If you have a fear of heights, crossing the nearly eleven-meter-long corridor will be a real challenge for you. I’ve seen people give up on the tour after taking a few steps. I didn’t feel entirely comfortable myself, but I managed.

The second route leads through the rooms containing the machinery responsible for raising and lowering the bridge. Here, you’ll find numerous photographs and documents describing the history of the monument, as well as a plethora of devices and mechanisms related to the bridge’s operation. Currently, the movable parts of the bridge spans are operated by modern electrical devices, but in the old technical rooms, you can still see old steam engines and Victorian mechanisms. It’s a fantastic adventure for technology enthusiasts, especially those interested in the past.

Tower Bridge information and interesting facts about the most famous bridge in the capital of England

• Tower Bridge was opened in 1894 in response to the growing needs of the rapidly developing London.
• The construction of the bridge lasted for 8 years, with an additional 6 years of planning.
• The bridge’s design was selected from over 50 different proposals.
• The upper walkways of the bridge were closed to pedestrian traffic in the 19th century, as they became a favoured spot for prostitutes and suicide attempts.
• The walkways of the bridge only rise enough to accommodate the mast of a passing ship. However, if a reigning monarch is on board a vessel, then all spans open to their maximum extent.
• Every year, Tower Bridge in London is crossed by over 400,000 people.
• A hundred years ago, the bridge used to raise up to 30 times a day.
• The bridge is often compared to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
• Currently, the spans of Tower Bridge are raised around 80 times per month. It takes quite a bit of luck to witness the bridge in action, as everything happens quickly and efficiently.
• The raising of the spans takes less than 2 minutes.
• If you own a yacht with a tall mast and want to sail it into London, I have good news for you. The bridge will open up access to the city for you completely free of charge, but you must notify authorities at least a month in advance.
• Tower Bridge is well illuminated, and its decorations change depending on events.
• A replica of Tower Bridge was built in the Chinese city of Suzhou without the lifting mechanisms.
• The construction of the bridge required immense skills and experience. Many brave individuals, including divers who worked on the foundations placed at the bottom of the Thames, were involved in its construction.
• Originally, the bridge was light brown. It was not until 1977 that it was repainted in red, white, and blue, and it has remained so to this day.
• Until 1976, the bridge’s mechanisms were powered by steam energy.
• The glass floor on the upper walkway was installed in 2014.
• The height of the bridge is 63 meters, and the length of the spans between the towers is almost 66 meters.
• The bridge’s foundations are located 8 meters deep.
• Over 31 million bricks were used in the construction of the bridge.
• The record for the number of bridge lifts in a single day is 64 times.

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