“Old” London Bridge, a stone span crossing the Thames River opened in 1209 replacing previous timber bridge. Taken down in 1831. (1632 oil painting by Claude de Jongh)
You can see the gatehouse with its heads on spikes, the palatial nonsuch house about a third of the way along, and though it’s obscured I think there is a gap midway to allow larger boats to pass.
BleedTheFreak_23says
It’s a shame they tore it down just before we could take actual pictures. I wish it stood still today. Even without the buildings.
takatukasays
Also the bridge that replaced this one in 1830s was dismantled and relocated to Lake Havasu City in Arizona in 1967
sverdrupian says
History of London Bridge, Walter Besant (audiobook)
Razorshroud says
Is this the bridge the nursery rhyme is about? if so, those houses would have been a big nope from me.
Spanishparlante says
Interesting, it looks like the middle section is removable to allow through boats with tall masts to pass through.
viktor72 says
They built large houses atop a bridge!!??
seal-team-lolis says
Thorkin?
mediadavid says
Here is a good depiction of Old London Bridge, from a contemporary view of London:
https://lookup.london/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2.-London-Bridge-Claes-Vissher-c.1616-copy.jpg
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You can see the gatehouse with its heads on spikes, the palatial nonsuch house about a third of the way along, and though it’s obscured I think there is a gap midway to allow larger boats to pass.
BleedTheFreak_23 says
It’s a shame they tore it down just before we could take actual pictures. I wish it stood still today. Even without the buildings.
takatuka says
Also the bridge that replaced this one in 1830s was dismantled and relocated to Lake Havasu City in Arizona in 1967
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Bridge_(Lake_Havasu_City)#targetText=London%20Bridge%20is%20a%20bridge,1967%20and%20relocated%20to%20Arizona.
UniverseGuyD says
I love how the largest arch has a tiny lift bridge to allow the masts of tallships to pass through.