It took eight years to build Tower Bridge, from 1886 to 1894. That might sound like a long time, but think about what needed to be done during that process:

• The foundations of the Bridge had to be built into the beds of the River Thames so the Bridge didn't wobble.
• The vast steel structure that forms the skeleton of the Bridge had to be designed and constructed.
• The now famous granite and stone had to be cut and carved.
• The windows needed to be made and fitted.
• The cutting edge hydraulic engines had to be designed, built, tested, modified, and then installed.
• The enormous bascules needed to be put into place.

And all while, the busy, bustling, chock-a-block River Thames remained open for river traffic.

Over 2000 individuals were involved in making the many tonnes of stone, brick and steel into the Bridge we know today. It was a massive team effort. 

Architect Horace Jones and engineer John Wolf Barry led the project, and workers came from across the UK and even as far as India. 

• Skilled divers dug dangerous foundations in the riverbed, earning the equivalent of £1,000 a minute today.
• Riveting teams installed over 13 million red-hot rivets to build the steel frame.
• Quarrymen, stonemasons, and labourers created the intricate stonework, while scaffolders and crane drivers assembled everything. 

Through expert planning and teamwork, they built one of the world's most iconic bridges. 

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