Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is one of London’s most famous landmarks – but how much do you know about this architectural oddity?
In 1876, the City of London Corporation held a competition for the design of a new bridge to help Londoners travel between the two sides of the Thames. Over 50 designs were submitted but none was approved until 1884. Then they finally picked the design by architect Sir Horace Jones, (17) _______.
When Tower Bridge first opened, it used to be powered by coal burning steam engines, but these were replaced by a combination of electricity and oil in the 1970s.
The two high level walkways were designed (18) _______ when it was open. The walkways weren’t really used that much and were closed in 1910, (19) _______.
Tower Bridge once opened… with a bus on it. In 1952, bus 78 was making its regular trip across the bridge (20) _______. It turned out Tower Bridge was doing what it’s best-known for – starting to open, but with the bus on it. The driver had to put his foot to the floor, and make the bus leap over the opening gap. He made it to the other side without injuring anybody, (21) _______.
In 1951, Frank Miller flew a plane through Tower Bridge (22) _______. Interestingly, in 1912, another Frank flew his biplane through the bridge, but his reason wasn’t as amusing as it was a serious emergency.
Abecause his 13-year-old son challenged him to
Bso that pedestrians would still be able to use the bridge
Cthat it still functions as a vital crossing of the Thames
Dwhen the driver noticed something odd happening ahead
Ewho shaped some of the most iconic buildings in Victorian London
Fbut the glass walkways allow for some interesting views of London
Gbut now you can visit them as part of an excursion
Hso he was given the next day off for his bravery and quick thinking