Engineering Timelines - the bridges of London

W H A T D I F F E R E N C E ?

The story of London is the story of its infrastructure and the bridges over the River Thames are a key part of that story. Find out the reasons for their construction and the difference they made to the city.

> List all bridges in London

This feature was funded by

LONDON BRIDGE

changes through time

54 BC - AD 1065

Roman Bridge ... AD 50

1066 - 1484

Old London Bridge ... 1209

1485 onwards

London Bridge (Rennie) ... 1831
London Bridge (present bridge) ... 1972

The Bridges of London

by Adam Poole, writer on engineering adam@engineeringrelations.com

INTRODUCTION

The River Thames at London is the most-bridged river in any major city. There are 18 road bridges, nine rail bridges and three footbridges in Greater London.

Yet for most of its history, the Thames has been one of the least-bridged major-city rivers. Amazingly, for more than 1,500 years, from when the Romans founded the city until a timber bridge was built at Putney in 1729, London only ever had one bridge — London Bridge ..... more >

London's Thames River bridges today ..... more maps >

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