Southwark Bridge

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Southwark Bridge

Southwark Bridge is an arch bridgeArch bridge

An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch....
for traffic linking SouthwarkSouthwark

The Borough or Southwark is an area of the London Borough of Southwark situated 1.5 miles east south-east of Charing ...
and the CityCity of London

The City of London is a small area in Greater London, England....
across the River ThamesRiver Thames

The Thames is a river flowing through southern England, in its lower reaches flowing through London into the sea....
, in LondonLondon

London is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom....
, EnglandEngland

England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom....
. It was designed by Ernest GeorgeErnest George

ir Ernest George RA was an English architect....
and Basil MottBasil Mott

Sir Basil Mott, 1st Baronet was one of the most notable English civil engineers of the late 19th & early 20th centuries....
. It was built by Sir William Arrol & Co.Sir William Arrol & Co.

Sir William Arrol & Co. was a leading Scottish civil engineering business based in Glasgow....
and opened in 1921. The bridge is owned and maintained by City Bridge Trust, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation.

Halfway along the bridge on the Western side is a plaque which is inscribed:

Re-built by the Bridge House Estates Committee

of the Corporation of London

1913-1921

Opened for traffic by their Majesties

King George VGeorge V of the United Kingdom

George V was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, as a result of his creating it from the British b...
and Queen MaryMary of Teck

Mary of Teck was the Queen Consort of George V of the United Kingdom....

6th June 1921

Sir Ernest Lamb CMG, JP Chairman

Basil MottBasil Mott

Sir Basil Mott, 1st Baronet was one of the most notable English civil engineers of the late 19th & early 20th centuries....
, CB Engineer

Sir Ernest GeorgeErnest George

ir Ernest George RA was an English architect....
RA Architect

History and factsA previous bridge on the site, designed by John Rennie, opened in 1819.

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Timeline

1989 Fifty-one people die when the Marchioness pleasure boat collides with a barge on the River Thames adjacent to Southwark Bridge.

Encyclopedia

Re-built by the Bridge House Estates Committee

of the Corporation of London

1913-1921

Opened for traffic by their Majesties

King George VGeorge V of the United Kingdom

George V was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, as a result of his creating it from the British b...
and Queen MaryMary of Teck

Mary of Teck was the Queen Consort of George V of the United Kingdom....

6th June 1921

Sir Ernest Lamb CMG, JP Chairman

Basil MottBasil Mott

Sir Basil Mott, 1st Baronet was one of the most notable English civil engineers of the late 19th & early 20th centuries....
, CB Engineer

Sir Ernest GeorgeErnest George

ir Ernest George RA was an English architect....
RA Architect

History and facts

A previous bridge on the site, designed by John Rennie, opened in 1819. This was known as the "Iron Bridge" in comparison to London Bridge the "Stone Bridge". The bridge was notable for having the longest cast iron span, , ever made. It is frequently referenced by Charles DickensCharles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens , pen-name "Boz", was an English novelist....
, for example in Little Dorritt and Our Mutual FriendOur Mutual Friend

Our Mutual Friend is the last completed novel written by Charles Dickens....
.

The bridge provides access to Upper Thames Street on the north bank and, due to the Ring of steelRing of Steel

Ring of Steel was an Army recruiting film released sometime in the early 1940s and narrated by Spencer Tracy....
, there is no further access to the City and the north. This has led to a reputation of it being the least used bridge in central London and it is sometimes known as the "car park bridge" as coach drivers use it to park their vehicles.

The south end is near the Tate ModernTate Modern

Tate Modern in London, England is Britain's national museum of international modern art in London and is, with Tate Britain,...
, the Clink Prison Museum and the Financial TimesFinancial Times

The Financial Times is an international business newspaper printed on distinctive salmon pink broadsheet paper....
building. The north end is near Cannon Street stationCannon Street station

*Cannon StreetExternal links* on Cannon Street railway station from Network Rail...
. Below the bridge on the south side are some old steps, which were once used by Thames watermen as a place to moor their boats and wait for customers. Southwark Bridge was built into the steps.

The next bridge upstream is the London Millennium Bridge and the next downstream is Cannon Street Railway BridgeCannon Street Railway Bridge

Cannon Street Railway Bridge is a bridge in central London, crossing the River Thames....
.

External links

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