The Diary of Samuel Pepys

Daily entries from the 17th century London diary

London Bridge

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11 Annotations

Phil   Link to this

In Pepys' day this was the only bridge across the Thames below Kingston, some miles to the west. The structure then consisted of "19 arches and a wooden drawbridge built 1176-1209 in place of an earlier wooden bridge ... The road across it carried a line of houses on each side with shops at the road level." (Latham and Matthews, Companion).

In 1831 it was replaced with a new bridge 180 feet upstream, and this was later replaced in 1973.

Susanna   Link to this

Here's a nice article

(with an illustration of c. 1600) on the old London Bridge, from, oddly enough, a medieval tent fanatic:

http://midtown.net/dragonwing/col9802.htm

And here it is, with the roofs of its houses, on the 1746 map of London:

http://www.motco.com/Map/81002/SeriesSearchPlat...

Roger Miller   Link to this

I was interested to see the refererence to souvenirs made from the pilings of the original London Bridge in the article linked to above by Susanna.

We have in our family two wooden egg cups, one of which has a label on the bottom with the following hand written inscription: "This cup is formed out of a portion of the oak Piles on which the orginal London Bridge was built in the year 1016 making at this time (1850) 834 years since the Piles were placed".

I have always been rather sceptical of the authenticity of these egg cups but I suppose it is possible that they really were made from the remains of the bridge.

The cups were inherited from my great uncle Jack (Charles John Munk) who was killed on the Somme in 1916 aged 22. They were almost his only possessions and are mentioned in the letter that he wrote to be given to his parents in the event of his death.

Sam Sampson   Link to this

The London Bridge Museum & Educational Trust
Are planning a Museum in the southern abutment space of Sir John Rennie's London Bridge. Their website has an excellent history of the bridge, and the museum proposal looks fascinating.
http://www.oldlondonbridge.com/index.shtml
There's a view of London Bridge circa 1600 on the 'Shakespeare Sonnets' site. "From a photo-chromolithograph made for the New Shakspere Society, from a drawing in Pepys' Collection at Magdalene College, Cambridge. This is reputed to be the earliest genuine view of London Bridge."
http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/london.htm

Peter Roberts   Link to this

There is an informative, illustrated page about the Inhabited Bridge, that links & complements Sam`s ref. above. Its by The Old London Bridge Society that I founded! We`ve more news when our own web site is up and running. For now, I`m a grateful `Guest contributor` at the address below, please check it out:
http://arthurlloyd.co.uk/LondonBridge.htm

Glyn   Link to this

This picture depicts the Frost Fair of 1683.

http://www.library.otago.ac.nz/exhibitions/lond...

On the left bank you can see St Mary-le-bow church with its dragon weathervane, the Monument and the Tower of London just beyond London Bridge. Southwark Cathedral is on the right bank. Apparently the Temple gardenwall is on the left which means that (a) there is a lot of foreshortening in the perspective, and (b) the ice extended a long way. If Pepys (then aged 49 or 50) is anywhere in this drawing, I suspect him to be the man on the lower left walking with the lady.

Sjoerd   Link to this

Interesting to read the explanation of the "booths" on the ice;for instance there is a "Duke of York Coffee House" and a "Tory Booth". Interesting when you read about the politics of the time, see http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Abhorrers

Thanks Glyn

Glyn   Link to this

For the record, there are at least three models of old London Bridge on display in London.

Absolutely the best one is in the entrance to the Church of St Magnus the Martyr (can anyone take a photo of this one?). To find the church, stand at the Monument and look downhill to the river and it is the church that's directly across the road. If it is closed, you can still see fragments of the later London Bridge in the churchyard, and a wooden Roman harbour post from 2000 years ago.

The biggest model is in the Docklands Museum.

The third is badly lit and displayed, and nothing special, but is the most accessible because it is in the Museum of London.

dirk   Link to this

Virtual reality tour

London Bridge around 1500

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/society_culture/ar...

CGS   Link to this

another view : Hollar: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?com...

interesting site for perusing London of Peeps.

dirk   Link to this

London Bridge virtual reality tour

The old link is not functioning any more - use this one:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/lau...

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