London's Thames Crossings in 1900: Tower Bridge

Night, London, England, United Kingdom Photographic Print 24" x 8" $29.99 Unframed

Arthur H. Beavan continued his survey of London's bridges in Imperial London, 1901, with this look at the world-famous Tower Bridge:

For eight hundred years, dating from 944, London Bridge sufficed for the traffic between the Middlesex and Surrey shores at the nation's Metropolis; but in 1750 and 1769 respectively, two more bridges, Westminster and Blackfriars, were opened.

Yet at the dawn of the nineteenth century there were still but these three bridges across the Thames.

By the year 1900, however, we had fifteen between the Pool and Hammersmith (reference is not made to railway bridges); while Paris had upwards of thirty-one within its fortifications and along about the same length of water-way.

But for solidity of structure, and as examples of difficulties of construction skilfully overcome, the new bridges of London stood comparison with those of any city in the world.

First in order came the Tower Bridge, immediately below the Tower of London, opened in 1894 with much ceremony by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

It was built on the "bascule" principle, with two towers, the centre span - 200 feet long and 50 feet wide - being in halves, which by means of hydraulic machinery were raised for the passing of vessels.

Above is a fixed footway-bridge approached by staircases through the towers, that are constructed of steel masked by masonry and are 200 feet above the massive piers.

The latter are sunk 20 feet below the river-bed, and are said to be the largest in the world. The total length of the bridge, with its approaches, is just half-a-mile. From its Gothic towers a panorama of unique interest unfolded itself.

London, Newham, O2 Arena and Canary Wharf Buildings Reflecting in Royal Victoria Docks, England Photographic Print 16" x 12" $24.99 Unframed

Eastward were confused tiers of steamers and barges loading and discharging cargoes, and in the hazy distance seawards was a forest of masts suggestive of the docks. On land were warehouses, grim, but impressive from their size, and our cognizance of the wealth they contained.

But from the Surrey side of this noble bridge, looking towards Middlesex and the setting sun, the sight was wonderful.

The Tower of London was almost beneath us, and in every direction, turrets and spires, some quaint, some beautiful, spoke of the Great Fire and Sir Christopher Wren's restorations.

From the bottom of Fish Street Hill rose the fine tower of St. Magnus.

The eye then sighted the famous Bow Church, its dragon wind-vane high aloft, appearing to be just behind Billingsgate; the Monument and the Custom House; and shaded by two large plane-trees - the homes of innumerable sparrows - St. Dunstan's Church with its arched ribbed steeple, Wren's most graceful creation.

The grasshopper-surmounted campanile of the Royal Exchange came into the line of sight, with St. Michael's noble pinnacled tower adjoining.

Then, black as ink, was seen the slender steeple of St. Margaret Pattens in Rood Lane, and the eye rested upon Caesar's Tower of London once more.

Right ahead of us was London Bridge, Fishmongers' Hall guarding one of its approaches, and St. Olave's, Tooley Street, and splendid St. Saviour's, Southwark, the other.

Ugly warehouses again on each side of the river, while finally the great dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, grandly dominating all, concentrated attention on itself.

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