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55 BCE
Roman Bridge
Period: 55 BCE- 60 BCE. The Romans built the first version of what was to become London Bridge. This was probably a pontoon style crossing. -
990
The Wooden Bridge
Period: 990 - 1091. William the Conqueror rebuilt the wooden bridge, but it was destroyed in 1091 in the ‘London Tornado’. -
1176
Old London Bridge (Stone Bridge)
Period: 1176 - 1666. The first stone version of London Bridge was started by Henry II in 1176. Henry II died before the bridge was completed. Work on London Bridge stopped in 1209, during the reign of King John. The cost of construction was massive.
By the 1300's the bridge contained 140 shops. A major fire of 1633 that destroyed the northern third of the bridge formed a firebreak that prevented further damage to the bridge during the Great Fire of London (1666). -
New London bridge
Period: 1931 to 1967. New London Bridge was designed by John Rennie and was constructed with five stone arches.
The bridge started to sink into the bed of the Thames at a rate of about an inch every eight years. The decision was made to remove it and replace it. London Bridge was sold to Robert P McCulloch, a businessman from Missouri (United States). The bridge was reconstructed at Lake Havasu City, Arizona. -
Modern London Bridge
Lord Holford designed the current London Bridge. Building work started in 1967 and was completed in 1972.
