Tower Bridge

The bridge was built to connect the densely populated eastern part of London, which housed about 39% of the city's population at the time, to the western side, allowing shipping access to the Pool of London. Officially opened on June 30, 1894, by Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales, Tower Bridge is 940 feet (290 meters) long. It features two 213-foot (65-meter) towers connected by high-level walkways and a central pair of bascules that can lift to accommodate river traffic. Initially powered by hydraulic systems, the bridge's operating mechanism was updated to an electro-hydraulic system in 1972.

The bridge, part of the London Inner Ring Road, is a crucial traffic route, handling around 40,000 crossings daily. Its deck is accessible to vehicles and pedestrians, while the twin towers, high-level walkways, and Victorian engine rooms house the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

Historically, Tower Bridge responded to increasing commercial activity in London's East End, which necessitated a new crossing downstream from London Bridge. A traditional fixed bridge was impractical due to the need to allow access for large ships. The Special Bridge or Subway Committee, formed in 1875, explored various solutions. After evaluating over fifty designs, the committee recommended a mechanical bridge with bascules, which was eventually adopted.

The Corporation of London (Tower Bridge) Act 1885 authorized the construction, specifying details such as a 200-foot clear central span, 135 feet of height when open, and 29 feet when closed, along with provisions for maintaining a clear waterway for river traffic and completing the bridge within four years. Subsequent legislation extended the construction period and made adjustments to surrounding streets.

Construction, funded by the City Bridge Foundation, began on April 22, 1886, and took eight years. Sir John Wolfe Barry was the engineer, and Sir Horace Jones was the architect. The bridge's design features two towers built on piers, with the central span divided into two bascules and side spans utilizing suspension bridge technology. The total construction cost amounted to £1,184,000 (about £170 million in today's money).

The bridge was inaugurated with great pomp and attended by notable figures, including the Lord Chamberlain and Home Secretary H. H. Asquith. The City of London Corporation hosted a celebratory dinner for the construction workers and their families. An Act of Parliament required a tugboat to assist vessels in distress, a measure in place until the 1960s.

During World War II, Tower Bridge was targeted by enemy attacks, causing significant damage. Additional engines were installed in response, and the bridge's operational mechanisms were updated. Initially used by pedestrians, the bridge's high-level walkways were closed in 1910 due to misuse and reopened in 1982 as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

In the 21st century, Tower Bridge underwent a £4 million refurbishment, completed in 2012, which restored its blue and white colour scheme and updated its lighting system. The bridge's iconic status remains, though it has been occasionally mistaken for London Bridge, located about half a mile upstream. A popular urban legend falsely claimed that an American mistakenly bought Tower Bridge in 1968, an idea debunked by those involved.

Tower Bridge has been featured in various events and media, from a 1912 aviation stunt by Francis McClean to modern-day tributes such as the 2012 Olympic decorations. Its architectural uniqueness, incorporating suspension, bascule, and cantilever elements, continues to captivate and inspire visitors and locals alike.

On August 10, 1912, Francis McClean, a pioneering stunt pilot, flew his Short Brothers S.33 floatplane between the bascules and high-level walkways of Tower Bridge. The daring manoeuvre made McClean an overnight sensation and led him to perform similar feats under London Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, and Waterloo Bridge.

A tragic incident occurred on August 3, 1922, when a 13-year-old boy fell from a slipway beside the south side of Tower Bridge. A man who jumped into the Thames to rescue him was tragically pulled under a barge at Butler's Wharf, and both drowned.

In December 1952, a dramatic moment unfolded when a number 78 double-decker bus was caught on the rising south bascule of the bridge. As the bridge began to lift, driver Albert Gunter quickly decided to accelerate, clearing a 3-foot gap and dropping 6 feet onto the north bascule. Remarkably, no serious injuries were reported, and Gunter was later rewarded £10 (equivalent to about £360 today) by the City Corporation for his bravery.

On April 5, 1968, a Royal Air Force Hawker Hunter FGA.9 jet fighter from No. 1 Squadron executed an unauthorized flypast through Tower Bridge. Displeased with the RAF's 50th birthday celebration plans, the pilot flew at an estimated 300 miles per hour beneath the bridge's walkway. He was arrested upon landing and discharged from the RAF on medical grounds, never having the chance to defend himself in a court martial.

On July 31, 1973, Peter Martin, a stockbroker's clerk facing stock market fraud charges, flew a single-engine Beagle Pup twice under the pedestrian walkway of Tower Bridge. After buzzing buildings in the city, he flew north toward the Lake District, where he died in a crash two hours later.

In May 1997, President Bill Clinton's motorcade was disrupted when Tower Bridge opened to allow the Thames sailing barge Gladys to pass. Returning from a Thames-side lunch with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Clinton's motorcade was split by the rising bridge, much to the dismay of security personnel. A spokesperson for Tower Bridge noted that, with some frustration, attempts to contact the American Embassy had failed.

On August 19, 1999, Jef Smith, a Freeman of the City of London, drove two sheep across Tower Bridge. This act, intended to highlight the erosion of ancient rights, drew attention to the privileges once granted to freemen of the city.

In the early hours of October 31, 2003, a Fathers 4 Justice campaigner dressed as Spider-Man climbed a 100-foot tower crane near Tower Bridge to protest. The dramatic protest led to the closure of the bridges and surrounding roads, causing significant traffic disruptions across the city and East London.

On May 11, 2009, six people were injured when a lift fell 10 feet inside the north tower of Tower Bridge. The incident led to the investigation of the bridge's maintenance and safety protocols.

On August 9, 2021, Tower Bridge experienced a technical failure after opening to allow the Jubilee Trust Tall Ship to pass through. The bridge became stuck in the open position, remaining closed to traffic for about 12 hours before it was fully operational again.