In 1577, the bridge had a partial makeover once more. New Stone Gate had long collapsed, so Nonesuch House was built to replace it, stretching across the bridge with a tunnel running through it at street level. After the building was complete, the south end of the bridge was instead then used for displaying heads and limbs of traitors on spikes.

Nonesuch House was designed from timber like the other houses on the bridge, but it was much more elaborate. It was assembled in Flanders, a medieval country in Western Europe, and transported up the Thames to be re-erected on the bridge. Not a single nail was used in its construction and it is believed that for some of its life it was used as a residence for the Lord Mayor of London.

 

Shooting the bridge

The bridge had elements of grandeur, with buildings such as Nonesuch House perched on top, but most of it was used for practical reasons, from crossing from one side to the other and using its drawbridge to let ships in and keep invaders out. When raised, it allowed approved ships through, but due to the way it had been constructed, it was an extremely dangerous activity.

The foundations of the bridge had been formed by driving wooden piles into the mud and securing them in place with stone piers protected by timber starlings. This design however caused a raging torrent at high and low tides, so you passed through at your own risk. The Thames watermen needed to be expertly skilled to pass unharmed. Passengers however would usually leave the boat upstream at the ‘Three Cranes’ and rejoin downstream at Billingsgate.

This fast flow of water however was put to good use. It was used to turn water wheels below the arches for grinding grain. Then later in 1582, huge waterwheels were built by Peter Morris to supply Londoners with their first piped Thames water.