A huge challenge faced the City of London Corporation - how to build a bridge downstream from London Bridge without disrupting river traffic activities.
To generate ideas, the Special Bridge or Subway Committee was formed in , and a public competition was launched to find a design for the new crossing. Over 50 designs were submitted to the Committee for consideration, some of which are on display at Tower Bridge.
It took eight years, five major contractors and the relentless labour of construction workers each day to build Tower Bridge under the watchful eye of Sir John Wolfe Barry. Two massive piers were built on foundations sunk into the riverbed to support the construction, and over 11, tons of steel provided the framework for the Towers and Walkways.
This framework was clad in Cornish Granite and Portland Stone to protect the underlying steelwork and to give the Bridge a more pleasing appearance. When it was built, Tower Bridge was the largest and most sophisticated bascule bridge ever completed 'bascule' comes from the French word for 'seesaw'. These bascules were operated by hydraulics, using steam to power the enormous pumping engines. The energy created was stored in six massive accumulators, meaning that as soon as power was required to lift the Bridge, it was always readily available.
The accumulators fed the driving engines, which drove the bascules up and down. Despite the complexity of the system, the bascules only took about a minute to raise to their maximum angle of 86 degrees. Find out more about this process. Today, the bascules are still operated by hydraulic power, but since they have been driven by oil and electricity rather than steam.
He then proceeded to fly under at least three other bridges on his way to Westminster. What a hero. His aim was to show the benefits of RAF pilots using parachutes. Rather surprisingly, he was successful and the stunt is considered as the momentum for founding the Royal Parachute Regiment. In , a pilot called Frank McClean had to fly his short biplane in between the bascules and the walkways during an emergency.
That must have been a close shave. Before that it was boring old brown. Which is kind of impressive when you consider how heavy the bascules are. The bridge is raised through a combination of hydraulic pumps powered by oil and electricity aided by heavy counterweights. In , Bridge Tower entered renovations that lasted four years. Metal parts were stripped of original paint and are repainted in white and blue. New lights, that are both functional and atmospheric, were installed in walkways and suspension chains were repainted with six layers of protective paint.
Next renovations are planned in 25 years. Home Bridges Database Tower Bridge. Londoners were thrilled. Once the bridge was completed in , however, the public was appalled with the results. Jones' original design was simple and had a medieval style.
But Jones died in , and Barry added his own artistic touch.
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