Launching a landmark - 130th anniversary
Photographs unseen for over a century. History brought to life. Discover the unseen opening weeks of Tower Bridge in 1894 - all in 'Launching the Landmark' exhibition as a part of Tower Bridge’s 130th anniversary celebrations.
From discovery to display
Discovering Hidden Gems
In the depths of his family’s attic, Patrick Cruttwell Molineux stumbles upon hidden treasures, long forgotten by time. Among the dust of two archive boxes of family papers, he uncovered some rare documents: candid photographs of Tower Bridge’s construction, intimate letters exchanged between architectural giants, and more.
Each discovery reveals a forgotten chapter of history meticulously preserved by his great-grandfather, Edward Cruttwell, who served as the Resident Engineer on Tower Bridge.
With each document and photograph, a remarkable tale unfolds, shedding light on Edward’s pivotal role in the construction of one of the UK’s most celebrated landmarks, Tower Bridge. We interviewed Patrick to hear more about the discovery.
What was found
Among the treasures found were letters from architectural luminaries Sir John Wolfe Barry and Henry Marc Brunel, appointing Edward Cruttwell to oversee the Bridge’s construction. Patrick reflects on the significance of these findings, noting, “These really were important papers for the history of Tower Bridge.”
There are press cuttings that Edward cut out and pasted into a scrapbook about Tower Bridge. There are his account books from the 1920s that show everything that he spent money on – he spent rather a lot at Harrods.
However, it wasn’t just official correspondence that filled the archives. Candid photographs offered a glimpse into Tower Bridge’s early days. Patrick marvels at their authenticity, remarking, “They show more reality of the bridge than perhaps the staged photos of the Prince and Princess of Wales opening it.”
Did you know
Before this collection was found, we had no photographic evidence of the public opening of Tower Bridge in 1894.
My interest in researching my family history has grown over the past few years and that’s when I started to drill more into Edward Cruttwell’s background and started to find out so much more about him.
Patrick Cruttwell Molineux
Research and documentation
Researching the images
After the discovery of these amazing photographs, the team at Tower Bridge set off to discover more about them, with the help of experts and institutions in London and beyond. The photos were then recoloured and displayed in the Launching a Landmark exhibition in 2024.
Speaking with The London Archives and Royal Armouries, Tower Bridge Historian Dirk Bennett lifts the lid on the early stages of research, shedding a light on this exciting time in London, and who was there to witness it.
Documenting Tower Bridge
The project of bringing colour to historic photographs is a meticulous and fascinating process, blending advanced technology with artistic sensitivity.
Discover more about the process of how the team brought out the historical detail in these photographs, making these images vibrant and accessible for contemporary audiences.
The people of Tower Bridge
We discovered the story of Edward Cruttwell, the first Superintending Engineer of Tower Bridge who oversaw the building of the new Bridge.
His contributions were monumental, as Patrick recounts, “Edward was the man in sole charge of the building of it from its inception.”
In the last few weeks before its opening, Edward commissioned a photographer to document the final works. The photos are full of many people with varied careers who contributed to the building of Tower Bridge.
Discover more about the people who helped launch the landmark.
The Victorian life
The discovered Victorian photography also gives us an opportunity to understand the lives and fashion trends of Victorian London.
Victorian fashion
The 19th century saw a huge change in how people viewed clothes and fashion. From bowler hats to Sunday best, help us unpick the clues found in Victorian clothing which show insights into the people featured in these previously-unseen pictures.
Victorian London
We interviewed Art and Cultural Historian Michael I. Ohajuru, who was able to help paint a picture of the diverse society in late 19th century London, at the time Tower Bridge was built.
A moment in time
What a difference 130 years makes.
Taken over a century apart, on 9 July 1894 and 2024, the photos below capture the changing view of London from Tower Bridge.
Celebrating both our rich history and the communities that make up our great city today, this recreation represents the 140,000 people that came in 1894 to welcome their newest landmark, and the thousands of people who use and visit Tower Bridge today.
The 2024 photo features pupils from Tower Bridge Primary School and members of The Princes Trust, Black Prince Trust, Latin America Disabled People’s Project, City of London Police Project Servator Team, The Bike Project, Hackney Shed, City of London Board Members, London Metropolitan Archive, Patrick Molineux, Social Pantry, Tower Bridge staff and contractors and the team at City Bridge Foundation.
Watch history come alive
In this video series, we explore the collection of photographs, forgotten for 130 years, which tell the story of the building of Tower Bridge and the lives in Victorian London.
