Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Bridges of London Established by Romans, Arabs | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Tower Bridge in London (Paul Hackett-Reuters)


London-London is renowned with its diverse bridges. Given that it is located on the Thames River, many bridges have been constructed, but the most important was the London Bridge, which was established by the Romans to occupy the British capital.

However, the Bridges of London have never been constructed by locals. Romans have built the London Bridge in the 12th century using woods aiming at occupying the city.

The frequent failure of the British people in building their own bridges was the main reason behind the composition of the famous children song “London Bridge in Falling Down.”

The London Bridge is one of 33 other bridges that extend over the Thames River. It links London to Southwark and was destroyed many times because of wars or natural disasters. It also hosted many historical events including the military show of King Charles II.

The London Bridge has been managed by an independent charity association. The old wooden Bridge of London was replaced by a new one built of stone in 1209, which was designed and built by Arab-Andalusian architects. It has included 19 arcs and in 1770 some stores and houses were built on it.

The London Bridge is not the only special monument in the city. There is also the ‘Tower Bridge”, which is the highest in London and one of its most important tourism features. It was built with mobile capacities to prevent invaders from conquering the city.

With the development and expansion of the British capital, more bridges were needed to link the North with the South. Therefore, the Chelsea Bridge, which was previously known as Victoria’s Bridge, was built.

The Richmond Bridge was built in 1777. It is renowned with its elegant and simple design including 13 arcs.

Hammersmith Bridge was built in 1887 and witnessed three bombing operations carried out by the Republican Irish Army in 1939, 1996, and 2001.

The Blackfriars Bridge – built in the 18th century – witnessed an awful accident when Italian Banker Roberto Calvi was strangled by the Italian Mafia in London.

The Waterloo Bridge, also known as the Ladies bridge because it was built through female efforts while men were fighting during the Second World War, was the only to be hit by the German bombs during the war.

The Westminster Bridge, built in 1739 and 1750 close to the Big Ben and the British Parliament, has been considered among the oldest bridges in the city center. It is known with its green color and a source of attraction for photographers.

Last but not least is the Garden Bridge, which will be inaugurated in 2018. This new bridge will include a park and grass surfaces including more than 250 trees.