Tower Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tower Bridge |
|
|---|---|
View from Shad Thames
|
|
| Carries | London Inner Ring Road |
| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | London boroughs: – north side: Tower Hamlets – south side: Southwark |
| Named for | Tower of London |
| Maintained by | City Bridge Foundation |
| Heritage status | Grade I listed building |
| Website | [www.towerbridge.org.uk] |
| Preceded by | London Bridge |
| Followed by | Elizabeth II Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Bascule bridge / Suspension Bridge |
| Total length | 800 feet (240 m) |
| Height | 213 feet (65 m) |
| History | |
| Architect | Horace Jones |
| Construction begin | 21 June 1886 |
| Construction end | 1894 |
Tower Bridge is a famous bridge in London, England. It is a special kind of bridge that combines two types: a bascule bridge (which opens up) and a suspension bridge (which hangs from cables). It was built between 1886 and 1894.
The bridge was designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry. It crosses the River Thames very close to the historic Tower of London. Tower Bridge is one of five London bridges owned and looked after by the City Bridge Foundation. This is a charity that started way back in 1282!
The bridge was built to help people get around the East End of London. This area was growing fast in the 1800s. The Prince and Princess of Wales (who later became King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) officially opened the bridge in 1894.
Tower Bridge is 800 feet (240 m) long. It has two tall towers, each 213-foot (65 m) high. These towers are connected at the top by two walkways. In the middle, there are two parts called bascules that can lift up. This allows ships to pass through.
The bridge first used water power to open. In 1972, it was changed to an electric and hydraulic system. Tower Bridge is part of the main road around London. It is still a very important route, with about 40,000 vehicles crossing it every day. You can walk or drive across the bridge for free. The towers, high walkways, and old engine rooms are now part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.
Tower Bridge is a well-known symbol of London. Sometimes, people confuse it with London Bridge, which is about 0.5 miles (800 m) upstream. This led to a funny story about someone buying the wrong bridge!
Contents
History of Tower Bridge
Why the Bridge Was Built
In the late 1800s, the East End of London was becoming a busy place for business. People needed a new way to cross the River Thames downstream from London Bridge. But a normal bridge couldn't be built. It would block tall sailing ships from reaching the docks near the Tower of London.
So, in 1877, a special committee was set up to find a solution. More than 50 designs were sent in! Finally, in 1884, they decided to build a bascule bridge – a bridge that could open. Sir John Wolfe Barry became the engineer, and Sir Horace Jones was the architect. The design had to look like old Gothic buildings. The City Bridge Foundation paid for the construction.
Barry designed a bridge with two towers built on strong supports in the river. The middle part of the bridge was split into two bascules that could lift up. The two parts on the sides were suspension bridges.
Building the Bridge
Building Tower Bridge started in 1886. The first stone was laid by the Prince of Wales on June 21. It took eight years to finish! Many workers helped build it.
Two huge supports, made of over 70,000 long tons (78,400 short tons; 71,123 t) of concrete, were sunk into the riverbed. More than 11,000 long tons (12,320 short tons; 11,177 t) of steel was used for the towers and walkways. This steel was then covered with Cornish granite and Portland stone. This protected the steel and made the bridge look beautiful.
Horace Jones, the architect, died in 1887. George D. Stevenson took over. He changed the design to a more fancy Victorian Gothic style. This made the bridge a famous landmark and helped it fit in with the nearby Tower of London. The total cost to build it was a lot of money, about £1,184,000 back then.
Opening Day
Tower Bridge officially opened on June 30, 1894. The Prince and Princess of Wales were there for the big event. A law said that a tug boat had to be ready to help ships crossing the bridge. This rule stayed until the 1960s.
The bridge connected Iron Gate on the north side with Horselydown Lane on the south side. Before Tower Bridge, the Tower Subway was the shortest way to cross the river. It was a pedestrian tunnel. But once Tower Bridge opened, most people used the bridge because it was free. The tunnel closed in 1898.
The high-level walkways between the towers were open-air at first. But they became known for pickpockets. Also, you could only reach them by stairs, so not many people used them. They were closed in 1910. The walkways reopened in 1982 as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.
Tower Bridge in the 20th Century
During World War II, Tower Bridge was an important link for the Port of London. This meant it was a target for enemy attacks. In 1940, a bomb hit the high-level part, damaging the opening system. In 1941, another bomb exploded nearby, causing more damage to the bridge. In 1942, a third engine was added in case the others were damaged.
In 1974, the old system for opening the bridge was mostly replaced. A new electric and hydraulic system was put in. In 1982, the Tower Bridge Exhibition opened. It is located in the towers, the high walkways, and the old engine rooms. You can still see the original steam engines there.
Tower Bridge in the 21st Century
In 2000, the bridge closed for a month for repairs. A computer system was installed to open and close the bascules from far away. But this system had problems and sometimes the bridge got stuck. The sensors were replaced in 2005.
In 2008, a big repair project started. It cost £4 million and took four years. Workers stripped off the old paint and repainted the bridge blue and white. Before this, it was red, white, and blue for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977. The work was done in sections to cause less trouble. The new paint job should last for 25 years.
On July 8, 2012, for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the west walkway became a "Live Music Sculpture." Thirty musicians played music along the walkway, 138 feet (42 m) above the Thames. The sound echoed the bridge's structure. After the Olympics, the Olympic rings were replaced by the emblem for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
In 2016, Tower Bridge was closed to all road traffic for three months. This was for important repairs to the wooden road surface, the lifting parts, and the brick arches. The bridge was still open for boats and for people walking, except for three weekends when a free ferry was provided.
How Tower Bridge Works
Bridge Structure
Tower Bridge is 800 feet (240 m) long. It has two towers, each 213 feet (65 m) high. The middle part between the towers is 200 feet (61 m) long. This part splits into two bascules, or "leaves," that can lift up to an angle of 86 degrees. This lets river traffic pass. Each bascule weighs over 1,000 tons! They are balanced so they can be lifted in just five minutes.
The two side parts of the bridge are suspension bridges. Each is 270 feet (82 m) long. The pedestrian walkways are 143 feet (44 m) above the river when the tide is high. You can reach them by lifts and stairs.
There is a chimney on the bridge that looks like a lamppost. It was connected to a fireplace in a guardroom inside one of the bridge supports.
The Hydraulic System
The original system for lifting the bridge used water under high pressure. This system was designed by Hamilton Owen Rendel. Water at a pressure of 750 psi (5.2 MPa) was pumped into special storage tanks called accumulators. Two steam engines powered the pumps.
In 1974, the original system was mostly replaced. A new electric and hydraulic system was put in. Now, oil is used instead of water as the fluid. The only old parts that remain are the final gears that connect to the bascules.
Signals and Control
In the past, river boats had to follow certain rules and signals to pass under the bridge. During the day, red signals on small control cabins showed if the bridge was closed. At night, red lights meant closed, and green lights meant open. In foggy weather, a gong would sound.
Ships also had to show signals. During the day, a black ball was raised high up. At night, two red lights were used. If the bridge couldn't open, a black ball (or red light at night) was hung from the middle of the walkways. These signals were also shown further downstream to warn boats.
Some of the old control equipment for these signals is now in the Tower Bridge museum.
How People Use the Bridge
Road Traffic
Tower Bridge is still a very busy way to cross the Thames. More than 40,000 people, including drivers, cyclists, and walkers, use it every day. It is part of London's main ring road.
To keep the bridge strong, the City of London Corporation has set rules. Cars can only go 20-mile-per-hour (32 km/h), and vehicles heavier than 18-tonne (20-short-ton) are not allowed. Cameras check vehicle speeds and weights. Drivers who break the rules get fines.
Pedestrians
People can walk across the bridge when it is down for cars. But if a ship needs to pass, the bridge opens, and cars and walkers have to wait.
The high-level walkways were always meant for people to cross, even when the bridge was open. In 2014, glass floors were added to these walkways! Lifts take people up to and down from the high walkways. These upper walkways are part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition. From there, you can see amazing views of the city and the Tower of London. There is a fee to visit the exhibition.
River Traffic
The bascules are lifted about a thousand times each year. There are fewer boats on the river now, but river traffic still gets priority over road traffic. Today, you need to give 24 hours' notice before the bridge is opened. The opening times are posted on the bridge's website. Boats do not have to pay a fee to have the bridge opened.
Nearby Transport
The closest London Underground (tube) stations to Tower Bridge are Tower Hill, London Bridge, and Bermondsey. The nearest Docklands Light Railway station is Tower Gateway. The closest main train stations are Fenchurch Street and London Bridge.
Transport for London has suggested a special bike route, Cycle Superhighway 4, to run across Tower Bridge.
Visiting Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge Exhibition is a display inside the bridge's towers, the high walkways, and the old Victorian Engine Rooms. It uses videos, photos, and interactive displays to show why and how Tower Bridge was built. Visitors can see the original steam engines that once powered the bridge's bascules. These engines are in the Engine Rooms, under the south end of the bridge.
There is a ticket fee to enter the exhibition. You enter from the Ticket Office on the west side of the North Tower. From there, you can take stairs or a lift up to the high-level Walkways. You cross to the South Tower while learning about the bridge's history. The Walkways also offer great views of the city, the Tower of London, and the Pool of London. They include two amazing Glass Floors where you can look straight down at the road and the River Thames below! From the South Tower, you can follow a "Blue Line" to the Victorian Engine Rooms.
Places Near Tower Bridge
- HMS Belfast (a warship museum)
- London Bridge
- Shad Thames (a historic street)
- St Katharine Docks (a marina)
- Tower of London
See Also
In Spanish: Puente de la Torre para niños
- List of bridges in London
- Other Crossings of the River Thames
- Different Types of Moveable Bridges
- Pool of London
