Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge This new bridge crosses the Thames just below the Tower of London and leads into the Minories.

It was designed by the late Sir Horace Jones, City Architect, who was the first (in 1871) to conceive the idea of adopting the bascule principle to the centre span in order to admit the passage of vessels, with the two towers in which are placed the lifts and stairs, and which Sir Horace's aesthetic taste enabled him to make salient features in his design.

Total length of bridge and abutments 940 feet, width of opening span 200 feet, headway above high water when opened 1 feet 6 inches, head. way above high water when shut 29 feet 6 inches, depth of water in opening span at high water feet 6 inches, at low water 13 feet 6 inches.