Today, the Bridge House Estates formed in the 11th Century is still associated with using its accumulated funds to build, manage and maintain London’s key bridges: London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. Its logo is one of the earliest logos ever in continuous use. It can be found carved into stonework in many places along the riverfront. As well as spending money on bridge maintenance, it also gives away large amounts of money every year to worthy causes.

Bridge House Estates contributed a grant to build the Millennium Bridge too – the first new bridge over the Thames in London for over a century and of course funded the modern day London Bridge.

The new bridge constructed by John Mowlem & Co, was erected this time on the same spot as the old one, but it was done by progressively building the new and demolishing the old. This meant traffic couldcontinue to pass over duringconstruction.

As promised, the old bridge was carefully dismantled and transported over to Arizona to arise again in Lake Havasu City, where it forms the centre-piece of their 40,000 strong community.

Modern London Bridge

London Bridge today is made of concrete with polished granite panels and has been designed with huge hollow caissons which allow essential services to cross the river. It is the only hollow bridge crossing on the Thames. It boasts heated pavements for winter too – handy in icy weather.

This latest re-building of London’s historic bridge was opened on 17th March 1973 by HM Queen Elizabeth II. She arrived by boat at the quay of the adjacent Fishmongers’ Hall where watermen lined up to greet her. She was shown a temporary exhibition illustrating the long history of the bridge before officially opening it. A plaque on the bridge commemorates the opening.

This latest modern bridge continues the bridge’s long history over the Thames, where, as many as ten bridges have crossed the river, playing a key part in London’s eventful history.