Tower Bridge, the iconic bascule bridge over the River Thames, gets its name from the nearby Tower of London. Today it is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the Corporation of London.
In the second half of the 19th century, increased commercial development in the East End necessitated a new river crossing downstream of London Bridge. A traditional fixed bridge couldn't be without cuting off access to the port facilities in the Pool of London. A tunnel beneath the Thames, the Tower Subway, was opened in 1870, but only accommodated pedestrian traffic. In 1876, A Special Bridge or Subway Committee was formed to oversee public design competition that attracted over 50 submissions, including one from civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette. It was not until 1884 that a design submitted by Horace Jones, the City Architect, was approved.
Jones' design was for a bascule bridge, 800 feet (244 m) in length, with two towers each 213 feet (65 m) high, built on piers. The central span of 200 feet (61 m) between the towers is split into two equal bascules or leaves, which can be raised to an angle of 83 degrees to allow river traffic to pass. Although each bascule weighs over 1,000 tons, they are counterbalanced to allow raising in one minute. The original hydraulic raising mechanism was powered by pressurized water stored in six accumulators. Water was pumped into the accumulators by steam engines. Today the original hydraulic machinery still opens the bridge, but it has been converted to oil and electric motors have replaced the steam engines.
Construction of the bridge started in 1886 and took 8 years, employing 5 major contractors and 432 construction workers. Two massive piers, containing over 70,000 tons of concrete, were sunk into the river bed to support construction. Over 11,000 tons of steel provided the framework for the towers and walkways. This was then clad in Cornish granite and Portland stone, both to protect the underlying steelwork and to give the bridge a pleasing appearance. Jones died in 1887, and his chief engineer, Sir John Wolfe-Barry, took over the project. Wolfe-Berry replaced Jones' original mediaeval style facade with the distinctive landmark, ornate Victorian gothic style.
The bridge was opened on June 30, 1894 by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, and his wife, Alexandra of Denmark, effectively replacing the Tower Subway, 400 m to the west, the world's first underground tube railway. It closed a few years later.
The high-level walkways between the towers became a haunt for prostitutes and pick-pockets, and were closed in 1910. They were reopened as part of the Tower Bridge Experience, an exhibition mostly housed in the bridge's twin towers. The Experience also affords access to the original steam engines, housed in a building close on the south end.
Although river traffic is now a fraction of what it used to be, it still takes priority over road traffic. This nearly caused a diplomatic incident in 1996, when the motorcade of United States President Bill Clinton got stuck on Tower Bridge while the bascules were unexpectedly opened.
Tags: UK United Kingdom Britain Great Britain Londonist Europe Tower Bridge bridge bascule bridge bascule Victorian Gothic tower river thames thames river river thames wharf tower wharf London England
Before the building of St. Thomas's Tower, the tower that came to be called the Bloody Tower stood on the edge of the river and controlled the main river entrance to the Tower of London. After 1280, with the construction of the Outer Ward and the new watergate of St. Thomas's, it became the principal access from the Outer Ward to the Inner Ward.
The Bloody Tower was built in the early 1220s but the upper stage of the present tower was largely reconstructed in about 1360 durng the reign of Edward III. The vaulted gate passage beneath the tower was originally defended by two gates and two portcullises, one of each at either end. Only the portcullises and gate at the south end survive today, complete with the windlass that operates the portcullis from the first floor.
The lower chamber was built as superior accomodation, perhaps a guest room or office, for the Constable who lived nearby. Eventually this tower was to accomodate such eminent prisoners as two Archbishops of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer (in 1554-54), and William Laud (in 1640-5), and a Lord Chancellor, Judge Jeffreys (in 1688-9). Accomodation for important or high-ranking prisoners such as these, which reflected their status and enabled them to live with their families, was not uncommon.
The lower chamber is now furnished as it might have been during the 13-year imprisonment of Sir Walter Raleigh (1603-16), who was charged with plotting against King James I. During his imprisonment, Ralegh wrote The History of the World (1614) and conducted many scientific experiments. He grew tobacco and other exotic plants and produced medicinal cordials.
In the mid-16th century, the Tower became known as the Bloody Tower because (or, so James I was told when he visited in 1604) it was where the "Princes in the Tower" had been murdered. Today, a display on the upper floor retells this infamous story.
The princes, 12-year old Edward and his young brother, Richard, sons of Edward IV, had been lodged in the tower following their father's death in 1483, under the protection of their uncle, Richard Duke of Gloucester. Preparations began for Edward's coronation but in the event it was their uncle who was crowned in his place as Richard III. The princes remained in the Tower for a time and then disappeared from view. Much has been written about their fate, mainly in order to prove or disprove Richard's involvement in their deaths, but no conclusive evidence has been produced. Even the bones of two children found buried close to the White Tower in 1674, which were officially reburried in Westminster Abbey as the remains of the princes, cannot be positively identified.
There have, however, been two authenticated cases of violent death within the Bloody Tower. In 1585 the 8th Earl of Northumerland shot himself to escape conviction for treason and the forfeiture of his lands to Elizabeth I. In James I's reign, in scandalous circumstances that touched the King himself, Sir Thomas Overbury was poisoned while a prisoner there.
Tags: gate arch bloody tower UK United Kingdom Britain Great Britain Londonist Europe Tower of London castle Tower Hamlets UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage World Heritage World Heritage Site UNESCO World Heritage Site London England
The Medieval Palace was generally used by the the Sovereigns when in residence at the Tower of London. The heart of what was formerly the residential quarter is known as the Inmost Ward. On the left is the south Wall Walk between the Wakefield Tower and Lanthorn Tower.
Tags: castle Tower of London UK United Kingdom Britain Great Britain Londonist Europe Tower hamlets medieval palace Lanthorn towerinmost ward tower wall walk UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage World Heritage World Heritage Site UNESCO World Heritage Site wakefield tower London England
Henry VI was imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was murdered on May 21, 1471. Popular legend has accused Richard, Duke of Gloucester of his murder, as well as the murder of Henry VI's son Edward of Westminster. Each year on the anniversary of Henry VI's death, the Provosts of Eton and King's College, Cambridge, lay roses and lilies on this altar in St. Thomas's Tower, where he died.
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 (with a Regent until 1437) and then from 1470 to 1471, and King of France from 1422 to 1453. He initially succeeded to the throne at the age of nine months when his father King Henry V died. He didn't assume the reigns of government until 1437.
Tags: UK United Kingdom Britain Great Britain Londonist Europe Tower of London henry vi death altar murder st. thomas's tower Tower Hamlets UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage World Heritage World Heritage Site UNESCO World Heritage Site London England
There have been at least six ravens in residence at the Tower of London for centuries, although the exact point in history when they arrived is unknown. Legend has it that Charles II ordered their removal when his astronomical observator, John Flamsteed, complained that they were interfering with his observations. Charles was then told of the legend (within a legend) that if the ravens ever left the Towers, the Kingdom would fall. This being the midst of English Civil War, superstition or not, he was not prepared to take the chance and ensured that a limited number would be kept their permanently. The ravens' wings are now clipped to prevent them from flying away, and they are cared for by the Ravenmaster, a duty given to one of the Yeomen Warders.
The memorial to the deceased ravens sits in the former moat area by the south entrance.
Tags: UK United Kingdom Britain Great Britain Londonist Europe Tower of London raven Tower Hamlets UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage World Heritage World Heritage Site UNESCO World Heritage Site London animal planet England