IESRI Rosala de Castro

INGLS 1 L.E.

2015/2016
2 BTO

A PARK ON THE THAMES: THE BRIDGES OF LONDON

People have always been drawn to Londons bridges. They open up the crowded city and give
fine views of its famous buildings. Millions of people flow cross them every day, just as the River
Thames flows beneath.
GARDEN BRIDGE
There are 35 bridges crossing the River Thames in London, from Richmond Bridge in the west to
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in the east. There are busy roads, foot bridges and railway bridges.
But now there are plans for a completely different kind of river crossing.
The Garden Bridge was originally conceived of in 1998 as a memorial to Princess Diana. 15 years
later, the idea is set to become reality. Stretching from the Southbank to Temple tube station in
central London, it would form a floating forest across the Thames, an aerial park like New Yorks
High Line. With trees up to 15 meters tall and dozens of viewing points, it will encourage people
to slow down and enjoy intimate moments on the river.
A BRIDGE TOO FAR?
Not everyone is in favor of the Garden Bridge, with some calling it a vanity project of Londons
controversial mayor Boris Johnson. Others think a new bridge should be built further east, where
the city is growing and there are no crossings. Bur in survey by the Garden Bridge Trust, 88 per
cent of Londoners supported the idea. A full planning application has been submitted and it is
hoped the bridge will open by 2017.
THE EXHIBITION
The Garden Bridge is included in a new art exhibition called Bridge at the Museum of London
Docklands. Bridge looks at how Londons bridges have inspired artists for hundreds of years.
There are paintings of bridges which no longer exist, early photos of Victorian bridges, and images
examining their hidden undersides. One exhibit in particular exhibits Londons bridges in a
unique way: Beating the Bridges is a film by the artist William Raban that takes you on a boat trip
from Richmond Bridge to the Dartford Crossing. On the back of the boat is a drummer with full
drum kit, and the soundtrack is his drum rhythms reverberating off the bridges as you pass
underneath them.
OTHER BRIDGES OF NOTE
London has many fine bridges beyond the city center. Here we look at a few of the best:
Richmond Bridge. Built in 1777, this is the oldest surviving Thames bridge in London. It
is also the most westerly, and its stone arches connect some of the wealthiest parts of the
city.
Albert Bridge. This pretty suspension bridge connects Chelsea and Battersea in west
London. It is painted blue, pink and green and at night illuminated by 4000 low-energy
lights.
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Opened by the Queen in 1991, this enormous road bridge is
the only crossing east of Tower Bridge. It soars above the Thames as the river widens
towards its estuary.