Studio: international art (83.1922)

OLD LONDON BRIDGE.

THE discovery during building opera-
tions at the river end of Fish Street
Hill, of an arch of Old London Bridge,
has aroused considerable interest. It
constitutes a link with London's historic
past and has led many to express the hope
that steps may be taken to ensure the
preservation of this interesting relic.

The earliest known bridge across the
Thames was constructed of wood in
993 A.D., by the monks of St. Mary
Overies. It is stated that in the year
1014, Olaf, a Norwegian, fighting for
Ethelred the Unready against the Danes,
succeeded in pulling down a portion of
the bridge, with disastrous results to the
Danes who manned it, by fastening his
ships to the piles. In his honour a church
was founded on the south side of the
river, and is known to this day as St.

Olave's, Tooley Street. Another on the
northern side of the river is said to have
been founded in memory of his son,
Magnus the Good, 0000
This early bridge was finally swept
away by a great storm in 1091. Its
successor, also of wood, was damaged by
fire in 1136, and a priest, known as Peter
of Colechurch, repaired it in 1163. In
1176 we find this Peter commencing to
erect a stone one, which was eventually
completed in 1209, in the reign of King
John. It consisted of twenty arches and
nineteen piers of various widths. 0

The arch nowdiscoveredwasdoubtless the
second at the northern end of this bridge
(seepage 15). It has a span of 29 feet, with a
rise above the springing of about 7 feet,
and is constructed of Reigate stone with
Kentish ragstone and chalk rubble filling.
It has been strengthened by the addition
of three moulded ribs of Portland stone

“OLD LONDON BRIDGE BEFORE THE GREAT
FIRE, SHOWING REMAINS OF ST. THOMAS'S
CHAPEL.” FROM A MODEL BY JOHN
B. THORP IN THE LONDON MUSEUM

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