A Scottish bridge?
Despite being over 300 miles apart, Tower Bridge's links to Scotland date right back to its construction, in the late 1800s.
Despite being over 300 miles apart, Tower Bridge's links to Scotland date right back to its construction, in the late 1800s.
The iconic stonework of Tower Bridge hides an impressive steel skeleton forming the main structure, which was constructed by the Scottish civil engineering company Sir William Arrol & Co.
The company was based in Glasgow and built some of the United Kingdom’s most famous bridges, including the Forth Bridge and Tay Rail Bridge.
Tower Bridge was in many ways, a Scottish product:
Our recent research into the Sir William Arrol & Co workers has shown many moved down from Scotland to build Tower Bridge, using the bridge-building skills gained from the Forth and Tay bridges.
People like John Merker, who worked as a crane driver, lifting the heavy materials to the top of the bridge, and John Black 'the driller', who drilled some of the estimated three million rivet holes required to hold up the massive internal steel frame.
The number of experienced bridge builders working on Tower Bridge has been credited as the reason for so few injuries during its construction.
There is so much more to discover inside Tower Bridge, from the unique views of the city to the history of London's defining landmark.
Please note, the Tower Bridge attraction will be closed on Wednesday 4 December.
Tower Bridge will remain open for pedestrians and traffic.