My husband was born in England, his parents were U.S .military. We visited Lake Havasu with his parents and his mother informed us they had seen the bridge in its original location in London before it was moved, and how strange it was to see it again in Arizona.
Such a joy to find this about London bridges. The previous one was still standing in 1964 when, as a 16 years old, I started work in London. Taking a train from south east London and walking over the bridge to work. I've been married to a New Zealander and living in NZ for the past 50yrs, but I'm still a proud cockney girl from London. Thanks for a lovely trip down memory lane
Great to see you again! I Really enjoyed learning about the London Bridge. I’m 80 years old and I remember singing that song as a little girl. I recently found out that I had a past life in England and that explains why I’m so drawn to anything having to do with England and it’s history. Thanks so much! ❤👵🏼🙏
@@BarbaraKelley347 Hi Barbara!! Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on this and other videos too! It’s so much appreciated. I hope you’re well, Tez
As I’m an avid Anglophile, I want to give you (and your crew behind the camera) tens stars ⭐️ for your various explorations, including the soundtrack choices. Since the Pandemic disrupted travel plans, viewing your episodes are close to being there. Cheers❗️
I'm from the South (USA). Growing up my little cousin misheard the words 'London bridges' in the song. She sang 'Rhonda's britches' falling down. I'm Rhonda and as a preteen I was mortified. 🤣🤦🏻♀️
It would have been charming to keep London Bridge for foot traffic and then build another for automobiles a bit apart from it. This would keep the visual elegance and the sereneness of the walk over the water intact. Too bad no one thought of it?
If you're referring to the medieval bridge, aside from the fact that it was apparently in very bad condition and would likely have required a complete rebuild(this at a time when conservation was still in its infancy), I suspect the biggest impediment to retaining it was its 19 starlings, which acted as a weir or a partial dam and rendered boat traffic passing through it dangerous at even the best of times(at high tide, the river upstream of the bridge was as much as 6 feet higher than it was downstream). If you mean Rennie's bridge, bear in mind that the modern(1973) bridge is on the same footprint as his. To build it anywhere else would've required demolishing existing buildings on both sides of the river to accommodate new approaches. As for its current location, to allow traffic to continue flowing during construction, Rennie's bridge was sandwiched between sections of the new build. When these sections were completed, Rennie's bridge was then demolished(or dismantled), and the remainder of the new bridge was completed in the missing gap. IMO, the 1973 structure is a soulless piece of work. From a purely aesthetic point of view, ideally, the new bridge should have echoed Rennie's classical design, and instead of selling it to Lake Havasu Az., its stone should've been reused to sheath the newer, wider concrete structure. Sadly, the current bridge is our, or at least my generation's, rather forgettable contribution to London's otherwise rich history.
@@bodaciousbiker I thought of that too. However, it was taken apart and moved to the US where it still stands strong and in operation today. The thought might have been that it could not take automobiles and heavy trucks. I agree. Foottraffict as it was used to and light carriages worked. So, there might have been a need to reinforce, but the idea that it would not work was because of the heavy vehicles needing to cross it in huge numbers. Though your points are well taken, and you may know better than I?
@@WickedFelina Though the Lake Havasu City bridge is called 'London Bridge', it is really only superficially so. It is essentially a modern, reinforced concrete structure that mimics the classic lines of the 1831 London Bridge which was then 'dressed' with the original's decorative surface stonework(photos of the bridge, before the stonework was added, exist online, showing its modern, unadorned concrete core). The bulk of Rennie's 1831 bridge was demolished in 1973 and its structural stonework ended up only God knows where. I suppose the ultimate irony is that a 60-year-old desert retirement community in Arizona got a modern facsimile of the 200-year-old London Bridge while the 2000-year-old city of London got a bridge that wouldn't look too out of place crossing a modern Arizona interstate.😀
It is possible that 25 to 30 generations of people were born, lived, and died on old London bridge over the 530 years with homes and I find that amazing. My nation can't say that although the land can. Great video, Jersey Bill
Another great video. Little tip for people wanting to see parts of the old London bridge, when the buildings were demolished they put up seats on the bridge, when they demolished the entire thing they reused the seats in victoria park, and in the grounds of guys hospital. Worth a visit. Cheers Terry 😊👌👍
@@rickyfoofighter4926 Thanks Ricky!!!! You know what … I did include a section about the seats/alcoves but I deleted it because I was worried the video was going on too long! I wish I had kept it in!! Thanks as always for your comment Ricky. Tez
Thank you so much for the history lesson and all the lovely pictures(paintings) of the original London Bridge! Are there any markets on either end to state that’s where it was originally?
@@stephaniec3619 Hi Stephanie!! How nice to hear from you again! There’s a plaque on the Southwark side … that’s it. (And it’s not much of a plaque.) Tez
My offer is still open my friend, if you are able to travel to the states and here in lake Havasu you have a place to stay without any expensive hotel reservations or Bill! When I moved here to Lake Havasu City, 24 years ago I was telling all of my friends that I moved to the town with the bridge that they stuck William Wallace's head on a pike after executing him back in 1305! NOPE!.. doing some research later that year I found out the truth! How embarrassing! we have London bridge#2, the sequel, LOL ! AND , they stuck "Braveheart's" head on London bridge #1
I made a note of your kind offer!! I can assure you that if I do manage the trip one day I will get in touch. Thank you so much and also for your great comment! Kind regards, Tez
Interesting video! It is amazing to think that the medieval London Bridge of 1209 and the new science of photography coexisted for about five years. What a shame then, that no one ever thought of capturing it for posterity. I can almost imagine that photograph, looking north from the southern approach to the bridge, definitely out of focus and grainy and perhaps resembling more a painting of shadow and light geometric forms. The sky and the Thames would almost certainly appear washed out. If the photograph was taken far enough from either side of the structure, you'd likely be able to discern the 600-year-old bridge's uneven settlement lines leading to its maximum midspan rise and just might be able to make out the form of one or two of its original nineteen pointed 'Norman' arches. In the distance is the faint outline of the church tower of St. Magnus the Martyr, beneath which the bridge's foot traffic would've passed, but don't for a minute think that any Londoners, on foot, horseback or in carriages, would be visible in that image. In spite of the sea of humanity daily using the bridge, its deck would likely appear hauntingly deserted and the scaffolding around Rennie's 'new' bridge devoid of any workers due to the incredibly long exposure times(sometimes up to 6 hours). If you've ever seen that 1838 daguerreotype of a seemingly empty Paris street where the only individuals visible are a gentleman getting his boots polished on a street corner along with the fellow doing the polishing, then you'll know what I mean. Given the crude state of photography at the time, we're fortunate that we have those drawings and paintings, but still, I also wish that we had at least one photograph!
I love my British brothers and sisters. By selling us the London Bridge, I equate you as I would a Shady used car sales salesman. Promising us an XKE Jaguar and delivering us an Austin Allegro. If I didn't know any better I would swear that you were trying to get us back for not inviting you to the tea party we had back in the 1700s😂😂😂
Aah Mr vni in that London. A really passionate video, painting a wonderful picture of times past. Perhaps there is a VR of said Old London Bridge? Thanks for your warm portrayal in the sub-zero capital. 😊
I love your videos. They are very interesting and inspiring. I got a bit surprised when I saw The Mug House pub as I used to work in a sister restaurant nearby and had to go to The Mug House to collect a bread order that was delivered there instead of our place each morning back in 2014 and 2015. Next time I visit the UK and London, I'll definitely go back there and pay more attention to the remains of the old bridge (not the original London Bridge of course).
Great story, thanks for the history. I have walked over the current London Bridge when I worked in London and also the Rennie Version in Lake Havasu City whilst visiting family.
Yes they do have London Bridge. The American gentleman knew exactly what he was buying. No one thought the medieval bridge would still be still standing for Pete’s sake. Only a few fools here in the UK believed and passed on the tall tale that he bought it thinking it was the original. It’s a fine bridge, and he got a good deal.
It would be amazing if someone made a geographically correct video game (especially in VR) where you were able to travel this lost world. So much London that was lost, or also imagined but not built (the Pedway scheme or Ringways being the main two). But I'd love an RPC set in medieval/victorian London
Tez, Thank you so much, And it is very interesting. Artists and you have saved it to our memories. The Rialto Bridge came to mind when I saw your vlog. Cheers, Rik Spector
Nice film. Good research and presentation, and I totally agree with your views on the miserable current London Bridge. Best of luck with your new channel
My bridges class was my favorite in my graduate school engineering/architecture program. But I was taught that the “fair lady” was the Virgin Mary after Henry VIII. Interesting to learn that it’s probably a much older rhyme.
That version of "London Bridge" (the musical one) is very disturbing. I do not like it. I do, however, enjoy your channel very much. The subjects always over-shoot the title. Understated. I like it.
@@verynearlyinteresting There's probably tons of London Bridges all over the world. But no matter where it is... it's still based on the original London Bridge.
As the plain London bridge MKIII goes i would say place some modern shops pubs and restaurants on it. (2nd level above the road surface ) Then i would have at least the spirit of the MKI
6:09 Forgive me for coming over all snotty Limey for a moment, but what on God's green earth is that neon sign doing‽ The weird lack of the blue of the Saltire is surely missing a trick here, not tapping in to the love of the Highlands and Islands many Americans have. Then there's the odd appearance as a result to all of us who've known the national flag since day dot. Got to give it to them for finishing off the whole shebang with the crowning glory that is the hardboard "parking" notice: practical to a fault.
why don't you assemble a team of researchers and do a sonar scan of the river bed to see the remnats of the old bridge if they could do it with the titannic why not with the bridge.
Hi I love your videos but unfortunately it’s people like you who would knock down old buildings like the old Birmingham Central Library, that was in the Brutalist style and it was beautiful, I had many a childhood time reading books in there, then it was demolished, what a flippin crime.
There's only one Pittsburgh point and it's not in Arizona. I always knew that bridge in Arizona wasn't the original. Americans are not very savvy. Like your channel.😀⛄⛄
My husband was born in England, his parents were U.S .military. We visited Lake Havasu with his parents and his mother informed us they had seen the bridge in its original location in London before it was moved, and how strange it was to see it again in Arizona.
Oh wow!
Such a joy to find this about London bridges. The previous one was still standing in 1964 when, as a 16 years old, I started work in London. Taking a train from south east London and walking over the bridge to work. I've been married to a New Zealander and living in NZ for the past 50yrs, but I'm still a proud cockney girl from London. Thanks for a lovely trip down memory lane
Oh wow! Thanks so much for commenting Anne! Tez
Great to see you again! I Really enjoyed learning about the London Bridge. I’m 80 years old and I remember singing that song as a little girl. I recently found out that I had a past life in England and that explains why I’m so drawn to anything having to do with England and it’s history. Thanks so much! ❤👵🏼🙏
@@BarbaraKelley347 Hi Barbara!! Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on this and other videos too! It’s so much appreciated. I hope you’re well, Tez
As I’m an avid Anglophile, I want to give you (and your crew behind the camera) tens stars ⭐️ for your various explorations, including the soundtrack choices. Since the Pandemic disrupted travel plans, viewing your episodes are close to being there. Cheers❗️
What a great comment to receive, thanks so much Larry! Tez
I'm from the South (USA). Growing up my little cousin misheard the words 'London bridges' in the song. She sang 'Rhonda's britches' falling down. I'm Rhonda and as a preteen I was mortified. 🤣🤦🏻♀️
@@rhondaburke2231 Hilarious 🤣
Call yourself the original Lady Mondegreen.
It would have been charming to keep London Bridge for foot traffic and then build another for automobiles a bit apart from it. This would keep the visual elegance and the sereneness of the walk over the water intact. Too bad no one thought of it?
Very good point!
If you're referring to the medieval bridge, aside from the fact that it was apparently in very bad condition and would likely have required a complete rebuild(this at a time when conservation was still in its infancy), I suspect the biggest impediment to retaining it was its 19 starlings, which acted as a weir or a partial dam and rendered boat traffic passing through it dangerous at even the best of times(at high tide, the river upstream of the bridge was as much as 6 feet higher than it was downstream). If you mean Rennie's bridge, bear in mind that the modern(1973) bridge is on the same footprint as his. To build it anywhere else would've required demolishing existing buildings on both sides of the river to accommodate new approaches. As for its current location, to allow traffic to continue flowing during construction, Rennie's bridge was sandwiched between sections of the new build. When these sections were completed, Rennie's bridge was then demolished(or dismantled), and the remainder of the new bridge was completed in the missing gap. IMO, the 1973 structure is a soulless piece of work. From a purely aesthetic point of view, ideally, the new bridge should have echoed Rennie's classical design, and instead of selling it to Lake Havasu Az., its stone should've been reused to sheath the newer, wider concrete structure. Sadly, the current bridge is our, or at least my generation's, rather forgettable contribution to London's otherwise rich history.
@@bodaciousbiker I thought of that too. However, it was taken apart and moved to the US where it still stands strong and in operation today. The thought might have been that it could not take automobiles and heavy trucks. I agree. Foottraffict as it was used to and light carriages worked. So, there might have been a need to reinforce, but the idea that it would not work was because of the heavy vehicles needing to cross it in huge numbers. Though your points are well taken, and you may know better than I?
@@WickedFelina Though the Lake Havasu City bridge is called 'London Bridge', it is really only superficially so. It is essentially a modern, reinforced concrete structure that mimics the classic lines of the 1831 London Bridge which was then 'dressed' with the original's decorative surface stonework(photos of the bridge, before the stonework was added, exist online, showing its modern, unadorned concrete core). The bulk of Rennie's 1831 bridge was demolished in 1973 and its structural stonework ended up only God knows where. I suppose the ultimate irony is that a 60-year-old desert retirement community in Arizona got a modern facsimile of the 200-year-old London Bridge while the 2000-year-old city of London got a bridge that wouldn't look too out of place crossing a modern Arizona interstate.😀
It is possible that 25 to 30 generations of people were born, lived, and died on old London bridge over the 530 years with homes and I find that amazing. My nation can't say that although the land can. Great video, Jersey Bill
Great comment, thanks as always Jersey Bill. Tez
Thank you Tez for the enlightenment about the London bridges! Done in your entertaining way!
Thanks John! Always lovely to get a comment from you! Tez
I absolutely LOVED your diatribe against the new London Bridge. Very entertaining, and absolutely true!
Thanks Cassie!! Tez 😊
Dear England, no one but a few people in Arizona knows that we have any bridge from your country.
Great Video well presented I will keep an eye out for more and may end up subscribing in some time soon-ish
Thanks Shaun. Tez
I always thought Traitors gate was at the Tower of London, I learned a very nearly interesting fact today, carry on with the good work.
I also believed the same. The traitors Gate Is At the Tower Of London.
I think (though I’m not sure) that both have a traitors gate. I’ve seen that at the tower as well 😊. Tez
Another great video. Little tip for people wanting to see parts of the old London bridge, when the buildings were demolished they put up seats on the bridge, when they demolished the entire thing they reused the seats in victoria park, and in the grounds of guys hospital. Worth a visit. Cheers Terry 😊👌👍
@@rickyfoofighter4926 Thanks Ricky!!!! You know what … I did include a section about the seats/alcoves but I deleted it because I was worried the video was going on too long! I wish I had kept it in!! Thanks as always for your comment Ricky. Tez
@@verynearlyinteresting it doesn't matter, it was still a great video bud. Keep up the great work. ☺️👌
Thanks Ricky 😊
Thank you so much for the history lesson and all the lovely pictures(paintings) of the original London Bridge! Are there any markets on either end to state that’s where it was originally?
@@stephaniec3619 Hi Stephanie!! How nice to hear from you again! There’s a plaque on the Southwark side … that’s it. (And it’s not much of a plaque.) Tez
@ that’s kind of sad really. Where was that really cool model of the bridge you were showing ?
My offer is still open my friend, if you are able to travel to the states and here in lake Havasu you have a place to stay without any expensive hotel reservations or Bill! When I moved here to Lake Havasu City, 24 years ago I was telling all of my friends that I moved to the town with the bridge that they stuck William Wallace's head on a pike after executing him back in 1305! NOPE!.. doing some research later that year I found out the truth! How embarrassing! we have London bridge#2, the sequel, LOL ! AND , they stuck "Braveheart's" head on London bridge #1
I made a note of your kind offer!! I can assure you that if I do manage the trip one day I will get in touch. Thank you so much and also for your great comment! Kind regards, Tez
No harm in a bit of spin for the tourists!
Interesting video! It is amazing to think that the medieval London Bridge of 1209 and the new science of photography coexisted for about five years. What a shame then, that no one ever thought of capturing it for posterity. I can almost imagine that photograph, looking north from the southern approach to the bridge, definitely out of focus and grainy and perhaps resembling more a painting of shadow and light geometric forms. The sky and the Thames would almost certainly appear washed out. If the photograph was taken far enough from either side of the structure, you'd likely be able to discern the 600-year-old bridge's uneven settlement lines leading to its maximum midspan rise and just might be able to make out the form of one or two of its original nineteen pointed 'Norman' arches. In the distance is the faint outline of the church tower of St. Magnus the Martyr, beneath which the bridge's foot traffic would've passed, but don't for a minute think that any Londoners, on foot, horseback or in carriages, would be visible in that image. In spite of the sea of humanity daily using the bridge, its deck would likely appear hauntingly deserted and the scaffolding around Rennie's 'new' bridge devoid of any workers due to the incredibly long exposure times(sometimes up to 6 hours). If you've ever seen that 1838 daguerreotype of a seemingly empty Paris street where the only individuals visible are a gentleman getting his boots polished on a street corner along with the fellow doing the polishing, then you'll know what I mean. Given the crude state of photography at the time, we're fortunate that we have those drawings and paintings, but still, I also wish that we had at least one photograph!
BRILLIANT comment. Tez
I love my British brothers and sisters. By selling us the London Bridge, I equate you as I would a Shady used car sales salesman. Promising us an XKE Jaguar and delivering us an Austin Allegro. If I didn't know any better I would swear that you were trying to get us back for not inviting you to the tea party we had back in the 1700s😂😂😂
😆😆😆Love it 🤣. Great comment Tim
Aah Mr vni in that London. A really passionate video, painting a wonderful picture of times past. Perhaps there is a VR of said Old London Bridge? Thanks for your warm portrayal in the sub-zero capital. 😊
Hi Gaynor! How nice to see you 😊. Thanks as always for your comment and I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊. Tez
I love your videos. They are very interesting and inspiring. I got a bit surprised when I saw The Mug House pub as I used to work in a sister restaurant nearby and had to go to The Mug House to collect a bread order that was delivered there instead of our place each morning back in 2014 and 2015. Next time I visit the UK and London, I'll definitely go back there and pay more attention to the remains of the old bridge (not the original London Bridge of course).
Thanks very much Alex and thank you also for recounting your personal experiences there! Brilliant comment thank you. Tez
Always love your videos Tez. You have a unique Chanel
Thank you so much. Hope you enjoyed the video. Tez
Great story, thanks for the history. I have walked over the current London Bridge when I worked in London and also the Rennie Version in Lake Havasu City whilst visiting family.
Oh wow!
Brilliant! I have relatives who live near "a" London Bridge in Arizona, hope to visit sometime, more please Tez!! ✌
Hi Keith! How nice to see a comment from you again! Yes I’d love to go there too! Hope you’re well and speak soon, Tez
Yes they do have London Bridge. The American gentleman knew exactly what he was buying. No one thought the medieval bridge would still be still standing for Pete’s sake. Only a few fools here in the UK believed and passed on the tall tale that he bought it thinking it was the original. It’s a fine bridge, and he got a good deal.
It would be amazing if someone made a geographically correct video game (especially in VR) where you were able to travel this lost world. So much London that was lost, or also imagined but not built (the Pedway scheme or Ringways being the main two). But I'd love an RPC set in medieval/victorian London
There must be one out there … I’ve definitely seen RUclips videos of a guy walking through Victorian London streets from a video game
Great video Tez, it's probably Very Nearly Interesting enough to share to social media
Thanks Philip!
Tez,
Thank you so much,
And it is very interesting.
Artists and you have saved it to our memories.
The Rialto Bridge came to mind when I saw your vlog.
Cheers,
Rik Spector
That’s so nice of you to say Rik. Thanks very much, Tez
@ my pleasure
Nice film. Good research and presentation, and I totally agree with your views on the miserable current London Bridge.
Best of luck with your new channel
Thanks Ross
Yeah. The rumor about Robert McCulloch and "The London Bridge" persists in Havasu City.
Oh really?
i was told, when they demolished the medieval bridge, they found the skeleton of a lady that had been walled into the foundations
Oh wow!
This video is so very nearly interesting I am now on my third watch. Can't cook and concentrate. You can thank me later for pushing the algorithm 😂🎉😂
@@mandyD Ace 😆. And thank you very much. Tez
The one in Lake Havasu is absolutely beautiful even if it isn’t the original. I had the best time visiting it in the 80’s.
I’ll def go one day hopefully! Thanks so much for commenting, Tez
Half the people in the US think Spiderman is real, so fooling them about a bridge is no big feat.
🤣
It has the character of a freeway overpass.
i was waiting for this guy to make a new video, nice!
Thank you 😊. Tez
My bridges class was my favorite in my graduate school engineering/architecture program.
But I was taught that the “fair lady” was the Virgin Mary after Henry VIII. Interesting to learn that it’s probably a much older rhyme.
Who did you pay the toll to? Did the toll takers have a booth or a cart or something? And how much was the toll?
I would love to know!
Did it really stand for 622 years if it kept falling down?
Only sections of it did though …
America has a London Bridge, the 1831 iteration specifically.
That version of "London Bridge" (the musical one) is very disturbing. I do not like it. I do, however, enjoy your channel very much. The subjects always over-shoot the title. Understated. I like it.
Thank you so much Sybil. Tez
Very interesting, so I subbed,
Thanks so much Raymond, very much appreciated. Tez
Loved your work!
Thank you so much!! Tez
was it paul?
1:31 - Temper tantrum
18:41 - Wonder how much garbage is at the bottom of Thames river. Stolen bike, mopeds, tires, and other junk.
looking at the title... I'm confused and wondering who would think the London Bridge is in America? It's literally called London Bridge.
All is explained in the video!
There is a London Bridge in Arizona.
@@verynearlyinteresting There's probably tons of London Bridges all over the world. But no matter where it is... it's still based on the original London Bridge.
As the plain London bridge MKIII goes i would say place some modern shops pubs and restaurants on it. (2nd level above the road surface )
Then i would have at least the spirit of the MKI
Good point and I thought the same!! Tez
6:09 Forgive me for coming over all snotty Limey for a moment, but what on God's green earth is that neon sign doing‽
The weird lack of the blue of the Saltire is surely missing a trick here, not tapping in to the love of the Highlands and Islands many Americans have.
Then there's the odd appearance as a result to all of us who've known the national flag since day dot.
Got to give it to them for finishing off the whole shebang with the crowning glory that is the hardboard "parking" notice: practical to a fault.
I agree - whoever put that sign up didn’t really know their flags did they?😆. Great comment, thank you. Tez
Awesome. Thanks!
You're welcome! Tez 😊
Brutalist was only popular with the architects.
I just watching OC , where they are in London asking were the London bridge set!
why don't you assemble a team of researchers and do a sonar scan of the river bed to see the remnats of the old bridge if they could do it with the titannic why not with the bridge.
Get thee to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence for a What could've been
I have made the trip to Lake Havasu disappointing.
I’d definitely love to go 😊
Hi I love your videos but unfortunately it’s people like you who would knock down old buildings like the old Birmingham Central Library, that was in the Brutalist style and it was beautiful, I had many a childhood time reading books in there, then it was demolished, what a flippin crime.
I’ve just googled it … yes it looks nice 😊
As an American I would gladly give you guys our Capital Building with all the politicians in it!!!
🤣
There's only one Pittsburgh point and it's not in Arizona. I always knew that bridge in Arizona wasn't the original. Americans are not very savvy. Like your channel.😀⛄⛄
I'm American and knew it wasn't the original.
I was 14 when I first visited Lake Havasu. I knew perfectly well it wasn't the original London Bridge. Why do you hate Americans?
I wonder how many people in the world actually care about this. I have a feeling not too many.