Southwark Bridge, London

The original Southwark Bridge, previously known as Queen Street Bridge and designed by John Rennie, reached completion in 1819. To promote a remarkable innovation, its official opening occurred at midnight, featuring the illumination of 30 gas lamps. This bridge, during its time, stood as the largest cast iron structure; however, it suffered from low utilization and lacked the capacity to support heavy goods vehicles, ultimately leading to its demolition.

In 1921, a new bridge designed by architect Sir Ernest George and engineer Basil Mott was inaugurated, albeit after substantial construction delays caused by the First World War. Distinct from London and Blackfriars Bridges, Southwark Bridge does not bear silver dragons to demarcate the city boundary on the southern bank of the Thames, as its financing was privately arranged.

The bridge comprises cast iron arches complemented by grey granite abutments and balustrades. It is painted in green and yellow hues and features sentry-box-like structures atop the turreted pier headings. Beneath it, on the southern landing, remnants of old steps remain, once serving as a landing dock for Thames watermen to moor their boats and await customers. In an era when there were fewer bridges spanning the Thames, these watermen provided the primary means of river transportation.

On the north bank of Southwark Bridge, there is a pedestrian tunnel adorned with a wall mural depicting scenes of Thames frost fairs. During various winters between the 17th and early 19th centuries, a period known as 'the Little Ice Age', the Thames froze over, allowing Londoners to host festivals with food stalls, shops, sporting events, and even temporary pubs on the frozen river's surface. The tightly spaced piers of London Bridge disrupted the river's flow, contributing to the freezing phenomenon during these extraordinary events.

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Sight Name: Southwark Bridge
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Bridges of London

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