In 1877, a Special Bridge or Subway Committee was formed to investigate the possibilities available to cross the River downstream of London Bridge.  However, it was not until 1884 that a design was approved, which was submitted by the City Architect, Sir Horace Jones (1819-1887), who, in addition, was one of the judges.  Sir John Wolfe Barry (1836-1918), the engineer of the project, was responsible for the idea of a Bascule Bridge with two Bridge Towers built on piers.

Left: Sir Horace Jones; Upper Right: Leadenhall Market was also designed by Sir Horace (as were both Billingsgate Fish and Smithfield Meat & Poultry Markets); Lower Right: Public House in the market; I was friends with the son of the publican and used to visit him here often as a child

With the death of Sir Horace Jones in 1887, George D. Stevenson was given the position of continuing the work.  Sir Horace had planned a brick façade for The Bridge, but Mr. Stevenson changed this in favour of an ornate Victorian Gothic style, which was intended to harmonise it with The Tower.

A Postcard of The Opening Day present on the website, Postcards of Past

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The Bridge was officially opened on 30th June, 1894 by The Prince  and Princess of Wales (King Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark).

Left: Edward VII & Queen Alexandra; Top Right: Statue of Edward VII seemingly forgotten today standing before Tooting Broadway Underground Station; Bottom Right: Statue Plaque

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The Bridge, which cost £1,184,000 (equivalent to £120 million in 2015), is 244 metres (801 feet) in length; 65 metres (213 feet) in height; 82.3 metres (270 feet) at its longest span; and with a Clearance beneath the Bascules when closed of 8.6 metres (28 feet) and 42.5 metres (139 feet) when open.

The original raising mechanism of Tower Bridge was powered by pressurised water stored in several Hydraulic Accumulators.  In 1974, this mechanism was largely replaced by a new Electro-Hydraulic Drive System (i.e. Transmission).  Of the few remaining original components of the mechanism, the Pinions (i.e. a round gear) that engage with the racks fitted to the Bascules are still in place.

Despite the reduction of river traffic since the closure of The Docks,  the Bascules of The Bridge are raised ~ 1,000 times a year and is free of charge to sea going vessels and continues to take priority over road traffic.   Today, 24 hours’ notice is required to book an opening of The Bridge.

It is interesting to note that the Bascules are only raised to the point where vessels are able to pass without endangering  either The Bridge or the vessel.  However, should a vessel pass with the Queen on board, the Bascules are always fully raised (i.e. 86 degrees).

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A View of Tower Bridge with its Bascules raised

(Photograph attributed to London is cool)

A somewhat amusing tale, except to the Security Staff  of the President of the U.S., occurred in 1997.  Apparently, the Motorcade of President Clinton became split in two when it arrived at The Bridge at a time when the Bascules were about to open.  And open the Bascules did and the Motorcade was divided much to the dismay of the Security Staff!  Seemingly The Bridge’s staff attempted to telephone the U.S. Embassy to inform them of the opening, but they failed to pick it up and so warn the Motorcade!

President and Mrs. Clinton visit The Tower and Luncheon with Prime Minister Blair and His Wife

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Prior to the opening of Tower Bridge, the Tower Subway, which was found approximately 400 metres to the west, was the shortest way to cross the River from Tower Hill to Southwark.  The Subway opened in 1870 and was among the world’s earliest underground (i.e. tube) railway systems.  However, it was closed after three months of operation and re-opened as a pedestrian foot tunnel.  With the opening of Tower Bridge to traffic, the majority of pedestrians began to take The Bridge since there was no charge via this route. Having lost most of its income, The Subway closed in 1898 and sold to the London Hydraulic Power Company.

Entrances to the former Tower Subway

Left: Northern Entrance, Tower Hill (Photograph attributed to Abandoned Stations); Top Right: Remains of the Southern Entrance, Tooley Street; the entrance was demolished in the 1990s (Photograph attributed to Mr. Roger Morgan & Subterranea Britannica); Bottom Right: Pipes installed by the London Hydraulic Power Company (Photograph attributed to Bonuslevel)

I am fortunate enough to have received two postcards from the collection of Mr. Dave Hill and which are displayed here.  Both were produced in the early 1900s.

This postcard shows a view of Tower Bridge looking eastwards.  Unfortunately, Mr. Hill is unsure exactly which event the postcard displays.  However it must have involved a gathering of various sized crafts since the postcards shows several small steamships and tugs filled with passengers and moored close to The Bridge together with an assortment of rowboats.  Horse drawn cabs may also be seen on The Bridge.

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Mr. Hill’s second postcard shows Tower Bridge with the Bascules raised and also shows a view looking eastward.  I am assured that several submarines are shown in the postcard together with a number of barges and rowboats.

Mr Hill says that the scene shown in the second postcard is part of a Naval Pageant held in July 1909 and was filmed as a short silent documentary film by John Y. Brown. The Pageant was presented to show to the public where some of their taxes was being spent.  As a result, various craft, including submarines (during High Tide) and torpedo boats, were put on display for viewing between Westminster and Tower Bridge while the larger warships were on view at Southend.  In addition, a review of The Fleet took place off Spithead.

A Souvenir Print of the Naval Pageant of 1909 (Left), a Print showing the Battle Ships on display during the Pageant (Right) and the White Ensign Flag (once known as St. George’s Ensign) of the Royal Navy

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I would like to thank Mr. Hill for sending these postcards and for allowing them to be displayed here.  I find his postcards to be a delight and show the City off when life was perhaps less hurried and also perhaps a little more joyful.

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MY WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE

……. AND BACK AGAIN