The Tower Bridge (in English)

_______The Tower Bridge______

The History and facts

The history of the Tower Bridge started in 1872. In that year The British Parliament considered a bill on building a second bridge over the Thames.  Despite reservations, reported by Board Castle Tower of London, a law was enacted, but there was one requirement, that had to be satisfied.  The Tower Bridge had to be compose with the lock style. The architect of The Tower Bridge was Horace Jones, who applied trendy construction then. In Victorian-style – steel frame covered with neo-Gothic stone. Building was completed in 1894. 

The Tower Bridge is a drawbridge to allow passage of ocean-going vessels, about the maximum height to 40,5m. By first years, the Tower Bridge was opened even 6000 times in a year, now only few times on a week, because the biggest vessels hardly ever enter to London. Each span of the Tower Bridge weigh about 1100 tons, and raised up In one and half minutes.  

Twins towers of the Tower Bridge are today one of the most popular landmark of London. The Tower Bridge symbolizes powerful British Empire and the Thames. 

Today, the Tower Bridge is the most ideal place to admire that beauty river.  

Actually, the Tower Bridge is just after the Big Ben, is one of the most popular, and the most willingly visited landmark in London.

Do you know that...
 In 1909-1982 years sidewalks was closed, because the Tower Bridge was the favorite place of… suicides, who dashed into the Thames.


On 11 May 2009, in the North tower of the Tower Bridge, 13 people were trapped in elevator. Everybody survived, but 6 people suffered harmless injuries (more)


Photos from the building of the Tower Bridge were found in... the garbage dump. (more)

Useful information:

Metro stations at the Tower Bridge:

Tower Hill – District, Circle

London Birdge – Northern, Jubilee

Tickets:

Adults - £8

Children  (5-15 years)- £3,40

Students and seniors - £5,60
Kids under five years - free