When I lived in South East London in the 1980's, Southwark Bridge was always my bridge of choice. I actually felt quite sorry for it when they closed off access to Queen St on the north side. Feeling sorry for a bridge? That is sad! And of course cycle access still available which helps the popularity with cyclists noted by Matt.
"The saurian shades give the bridge serpentine appearance, like one of the City’s heraldic dragons has stretched out over the brine"... I might steal that (with Londonist attribution of course) for my riverside walk! Great post.
It's dangerous work building bridges. In the same century, building the Brooklyn and Golden Gate bridges were even costlier expenses in terms of human lives.
Moiety and anserine are now added to my vocabulary, marvellous!!
Thanks Elaine! This is what happens when they let a science graduate loose with London history.
When I lived in South East London in the 1980's, Southwark Bridge was always my bridge of choice. I actually felt quite sorry for it when they closed off access to Queen St on the north side. Feeling sorry for a bridge? That is sad! And of course cycle access still available which helps the popularity with cyclists noted by Matt.
"The saurian shades give the bridge serpentine appearance, like one of the City’s heraldic dragons has stretched out over the brine"... I might steal that (with Londonist attribution of course) for my riverside walk! Great post.
How wonderful it looks at night with the illuminations. Always loved this bridge. No doubt some of your findings will end up in a quiz!
Thanks. A really good read.
It's dangerous work building bridges. In the same century, building the Brooklyn and Golden Gate bridges were even costlier expenses in terms of human lives.
Ugh, grim. By the century's end, they'd got it down to 10 lives lost building the extremely complicated Tower Bridge. But that's still 10 too many.
Well done. I enjoyed it immensely!
Thank you Richard!
Do you know if the Southwark Bridge charged tolls on Sundays in the 1850's?