1926: Map of London Wharfs
London Wharfs 1926
1967: New bridge started 6th November -
London Bridge Plaque 1967
1968: Old London Bridge was sold to Robert P. McCulloch for the sum of $2,460,000.
It seems that before the bridge was built in the 1820s the stones were given
numbers or letters indicating their positions. When the bridge was taken down
the numbered stones were shipped to the West of England
where the skin (about 4 ins thick) of the exterior stones was cut off
and shipped to the USA.
The destination was
Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
The bridge was reconstructed in concrete and the original stone skin attached.
It was dedicated on October 10, 1971.
The bridge was built on dry land and then the waterway was excavated from under it.
'London' Bridge in Arizona, USA
1973: New, new London Bridge -
860 feet long, 104 feet wide.
Three cantilevered high-strength concrete arches have spans of 260 feet, 340 feet and 260 feet.
The only decorative features of this utilitarian bridge are the granite obelisks on the river-piers and the polished
granite facing of the parapet walls. It does have a simple plain appeal - but all the other bridges have character!
Architect: Lord Holford. Engineers: Mott, Hay and Anderson.
The construction of the new bridge was carefully
coordinated with the removal of the old so that the bridge remained in use
throughout.
Swan Lane Pier
Right bank just above London Bridge