Tower Bridge is a bascule bridge spanning
800 feet (244 m) in length with two towers
each 213 feet (65 m) high, built on piers. The
central span of 200 feet (61 m) between the
towers is split into two equal bascules or
leaves, which can be raised to an angle of 83
degrees to allow river traffic to pass through.
The importance of a bascule bridge was to
allow ships to pass down the Thames
unimpeded.
Steam engines would pump to drive the
1000 ton bascules up to full height in less
than a minute. Today they are powered
electrically.
Construction of the bridge started in 1886
and took 8 years, employing 5 major
contractors and 432 construction workers.
The two main piers contain over 70,000 tons
of concrete and support the 11,000 tons of
steel of the framework for the towers and
walkways.
The walkways were to allow pedestrian
access at all times but used as a prostitue
hang out which saw them closed in 1910.
Tower Bridge has been the scene of many
films ranging from the successful such as the
Mummy Returns to the terrible like The
Adventures of Biggles.
In 1952 a red London bus jumped a 3ft gap
between the bascules after a traffic light was
stuck on go.
A number of pilots have attempted to fly
under Tower Bridge with at least one hitting
the Thames and dying. The space between it
is only 65m x 30m.
Successful attempts included an unnamed
Spitfire pilot flying through it during a dog fight
in World War 2 and most recently in 1953, a
61-year-old major was given a conditional
discharge after pleading guilty to flying under
15 Thames bridges in a plane with a 36ft
wingspan and in 1968 Flt Lt Alan Pollock
carried out the event in recognition of the 50th
anniversary of the formation of the RAF in a
Hawker Hunter.
Companies
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