In this episode, which is the 2nd in Danny Hurst´s Unusual Histories The Bridges of London Series, he looks at the incredibly long and surprising history of London Bridge. The bridge has been disappointing tourists for decades who are expecting to see the far more aesthetically pleasing Tower Bridge. 

The history of London Bridge is the history of London itself, so you don´t want to miss this episode. Danny shares who built the first version, and why it was left to become a ruin, torn down, hit by a boat, burned down several times and was the site of a terrorist attack. He also looks at the origins of the famous children´s song and a nursery rhyme, while busting several London Bridge-related myths.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The first bridges in the area were built in the bronze age.
• The Romans built the first proper London Bridge.
• That original bridge along with the city of Londinium became a ruin when the Romans left.
• The centre of the bridge was once the starting point for a pilgrimage.
• The great water wheels on the bridge that were used by firefighters failed during The Great Fire of London.
• Shooting the rapids that ran under an older version of the bridge was a popular sport.
• Severed heads were displayed on the bridge.
• The way the old bridge impacted the flow of water is why the Thames sometimes froze.
• The current bridge was opened on 17th March 1973.

BEST MOMENTS

‘People come from all over the world to be disappointed by it. ´

‘The 1970s was not the golden age of British architecture, or indeed the golden age of anything in Britain.’

‘The number of the bridge supports created dangerous rapids between the piers at high tide.’

HOST BIO

Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can.

CONTACT AND SOCIALS

https://instagram.com/dannyjhurst
facebook.com/danny.hurst.9638

https://twitter.com/dannyhurst 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-hurst-19574720

Podcast Description

"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." James Joyce.

That was me at school as well. Ironically, I ended up becoming a historian. The Unusual Histories podcast is all about the history you don't learn at school, nor indeed anywhere else. Discover things that you didn't know that you didn't know, fascinating historical luminaries and their vices and addictions, and the other numerous sides of every story.

Danny continues his Unusual Histories podcast with the Bridge Series, remaining in London travelling east to west to look at the bridges which span the Thames. He looks at their design, construction and history, along with the history of the areas in which they're located on both sides of the river. This series kicks off with an exclusive interview with Dirk Bennett of the City Bridge Foundation, the organisation which looks after London's bridges. Tower Bridge is marking its 130th anniversary this month and Dirk talks to Danny about the history of the bridge as well as the new exhibition that is opening for it.