Wanderlust World Wanderlust World There have been at least five distinct structures called "London Bridge." Each reflects its era's engineering and materials.
| Bridge | Period | Primary Materials | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Roman (c. 50–400 AD) | Roman Londinium | Timber piles, wooden deck, stone piers (later) | First crossing; military supply route. |
| 2. Medieval Stone (1209–1831) | 622 years | Kentish ragstone, Reigate stone, mortar; 19 arches, chapel, shops, houses (up to 7 stories) | Iconic "Old London Bridge"; heads on spikes; fire hazards; impeded flow. |
| 3. Rennie's Granite (1831–1967) | 136 years | Dartmoor granite (Cornwall), iron cramps, lead sealing; 5 semi-elliptical arches | John Rennie design; widened 1902; sold to US in 1968. |
| 4. Modern Concrete Box Girder (1973–present) | 50+ years | Prestressed concrete, steel reinforcement, hollow box girders; 3 spans | Lord Holford / Mott Hay & Anderson; functional, widened 2000s. |
Rennie's bridge was dismantled and rebuilt at Lake Havasu City, Arizona (1971) as a tourist attraction—using the original granite cladding over a new concrete core. Often called the "fifth London Bridge."
The nursery rhyme "London Bridge is falling down" chronicles the medieval bridge's constant repair—materials science in verse.