Old aristocratic England ... How many world-famous historical and cultural sites associated with the sovereign past of this small but strong state. It was in London that such a colossus of bridge construction as the Tower Drawbridge over the Thames was erected.
The history of the creation of the bridge
The idea of building a drawbridge arose more than once at the end of the 18th century for a more mobile and reliable movement of the royals and their entourage to the old fortress - the Tower residence. It was only in 1872 that the British Parliament made a decision to build a capital drawbridge (so as not to interfere with navigation), similar to the Dutch suspension bridges.
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Over the long eight years, many construction plans were considered, and, finally, in 1880, the Horace Jones project, developed in the Gothic style, was approved.
Description of the architectural project
The ambitious project provided for the simultaneous movement of pedestrians along it and the passage of ships along the river, so the bridge had to be erected with counterweights. For this purpose, two sixty-five-meter towers were built on powerful steel supports, at a height of 42 meters above the water, they were connected with galleries, placing them at a height of 34 meters above the roadway of the bridge.
The construction of these objects took 11,000 tons of metal: the project became one of the most expensive in England in the 19th century. The innovation in construction was the combination of brickwork and steel structures.
Lifts are installed inside the towers, thanks to which pedestrians have the opportunity to enter the galleries and move freely along them in both directions, when the lower part of the bridge is in a raised state, and river vessels with a carrying capacity of which are limited to 10,000 tons pass under it.
This is possible thanks to two huge lifting structures, each weighing 1.2 tons; the wing spreading angle of the lift is 83 degrees, which ensures the free movement of vessels. The length of the bridge is 244 meters, and the length of the longest span is 61 meters.
Jones himself did not wait for the opening of his brainchild: he died before the completion of construction. The construction of the unique bridge continued under the direction of the talented architect Wolfe-Berry and was completed in 1894.
On June 30 of the same year, an important historical event took place - the opening of the Tower Bridge, which was a colossal creation of bridge construction and a work of architectural art. All the dignitaries of England attended the event, including the family of Prince Edward of Wales.
Technical subtleties of opening the bridge
The first decades of the operation of the unusual design, breeding was carried out using eight hydraulic motors, which worked at the expense of water vapor and additionally raised elevators with people to the galleries. An enormous steam pressure was required for the hydraulics to successfully perform the lifting function within one minute (during which time the bridge wings were spread).
Previously, there was no timetable for the passage of ships, so at the moment a steamer or barge approached the bridge, a prearranged signal was heard, notifying the beginning of the wiring and warning that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians must leave the drawbridge. After that, the gates were lowered, the wings of the bridge were raised, the ship sailed, and again there was a signal announcing that the routing was completed.
For a long time, lift motors operate on electric current, and schedules for the passage of ships are drawn up in advance long before their passage. Anyone can familiarize themselves with the schedule posted on the notice board before going up to the galleries, which now mainly serve as platforms for exploring the surroundings and are a kind of museum of the famous object.
Tower Bridge Towers
Each of them can rightfully be considered a masterpiece of architectural art, an example of castle architecture, which is the most appropriate for the ensemble of the Tower's fortifications.
The gothic spiers of the towers directed upwards give them a solemn ceremonial appearance, numerous windows with openwork stucco moldings add an element of grace, and round massive columns along the edges create the impression of the monolithic power of the structures. Steel chains stretching from tower to tower reinforce this impression. The walls of the towers are finished with granite, which makes them even more intimate with the majestic Tower Castle.
The bridge as a tourist site
Each of the tourists who visit London considers it his duty to visit Tower Bridge to see firsthand this truly unique structure - the fruit of human mental and physical labor. Some of the visitors watch the layout, amazed at how the huge colossus-wings instantly swing open, giving way to the ship.
Others admire the panorama of London, opening to admiring gazes with thousands of medieval buildings, avenues and avenues, squares and parks and making you think about the greatness and power of the English capital, created over the centuries by generations of hardworking British.
You can visit the galleries, see the history of the creation of the bridge in photographs and stands, visit the exhibition, where the stages of the construction of the object are shown on an electronic board. Now the floor in the galleries on a stretch of eleven meters, made of steel plates, has become transparent: the steel plates have been replaced with durable glass panels 6 cm thick and weighing 530 kilograms.
Through them, you can see a luxury motor ship or a luxury yacht sailing below - a very interesting and beautiful sight, attracting the attention of many, so the part of the gallery with a glass floor is never empty.
The unforgettable impressions of the bridge are enhanced by a visit to Tower Castle, one of the oldest architectural monuments, the short and fast road to which is the Tower Drawbridge - a unique masterpiece among its fellows.
Tower Bridge on the map
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