TOWER BRIDGE |
A triumph of British Victorian engineering, now a London icon
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Basic Facts |
Opened in 1894
Designed by Sir John Barry
Length 800 Feet (244M)
Towers 213 Feet (65M) High
40,000 People Use Daily
Visitor Information |
The Tower Bridge Exhibition is open daily 10am to 6pm. Entry costs £6 for adults, children £3.
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In
the 2nd half of the 19th century, increased commercial development in
the East of London led to the requirement for a new river crossing
downstream of London Bridge. A traditional fixed bridge could not be
built because it would cut off access to the port facilities between
London Bridge and the Tower of London.
Did You Know?
At
9:35 pm on 30 December 1952, a crowded double-decker London bus, on
route 78 to Dulwich, was on the bridge as it began to open. The driver
had to choose between braking hard or accelerating and jumping the
bridge. He decided to accelerate and jumped over the gap successfully
as the bridge started to open.
A
Special Bridge Committee was formed in 1876, to find a solution to the
river crossing problem and decided to hold a public competition. Over
50 designs were submitted with the evaluation surrounded in
controversy. It was not until 1884, some eight years later, that a
design submitted by Horace Jones, a City Architect who also happened to
be one of the judges, was approved as the winner.
Tower Bridge works in 1892
Source WikiMedia (PD)
Jones’
engineer, Sir John Wolfe Barry, devised the idea of a bascule bridge
800-feet (244-metres) in length with two towers each 213-feet
(65-metres) high, built on piers. The central span of 200-feet
(61-metres) between the towers was split into two equal bascules or
leaves, which could be raised to an angle of 83 degrees to allow river
traffic to pass. The bascules, weighing over 1,000-tons each, were
counterbalanced to minimize the force required and allow raising in
just five minutes. The bridge mechanism was powered by steam engines,
later replaced by an electro-hydraulic system, in 1976.
Did You Know?
In May 1997, the motorcade of United States President Bill Clinton was
divided by the opening of the bridge. The Thames sailing barge Gladys,
arrived on schedule and the bridge was opened for her. Returning from
lunch with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Clinton was less
punctual, and arrived just as the bridge was rising. The bridge opening
split the motorcade in two, much to the consternation of security
staff. A spokesman for Tower Bridge is quoted as saying, We tried to contact the American Embassy, but they wouldn't answer the phone
The
bridge was completed in 1894 and this flamboyant piece of Victorian
engineering quickly became a global icon of London. High above the
bridge is a pedestrian walkway, 143-feet (44-metres) above the river,
which allowed pedestrians to climb 300 steps and cross the river when
the bridge was open. This walkway was closed in 1910 as it became a
haunt for prostitutes and pick-pockets.
Did You Know?
In
1968, a Hawker Hunter jet was flown under Tower Bridge. Its pilot
decided on a personal tribute to the RAF's 50th birthday. His bosses
were not impressed and he was arrested on landing and discharged from
the RAF.
Today
the bridge houses the Tower Bridge Exhibition, showcasing the history
of the Bridge. You can enjoy breath-taking views from the high-level
Walkways, and learn about how and why the Bridge was built. You can
also visit the Victorian Engine Rooms, home to the beautifully
maintained original steam engines that used to power the Bridge.
Hands-on mechanisms and information panels explain about the ingenuous
technology used over the years to keep Tower Bridge in motion.
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