Description
Did you know that construction of the bridges was historically fiercely opposed by watermen who demanded compensation for inconvenience? Or that the first London Bridge dates back to the Romans?
In a one of a kind guide to secrets of London famous famous bridges, viaducts and and highwalks, written in original elegantly illustrated verse, one finds these any more answers!
Indulge in discovering the gems of Thames bridges—Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Cannon Street Railway Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Blackfriars Railway Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Hungerford Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge, Grosvenor Railway Bridge, Chelsea Bridge, Albert Bridge, Battersea Bridge, Battersea Railway Bridge, Wandsworth Bridge, Putney Railway Bridge, Putney Bridge, Hammersmith Bridge, Barnes Railway Bridge, Chiswick Bridge, Kew Railway Bridge, Kew Bridge, Richmond Lock, Twickenham Bridge, Richmond Railway Bridge, Richmond Bridge, Teddington Footbridge, Kingston Railway Bridge, Kingston Bridge, Hampton Court Bridge as well as viaducts and footbridges scattered around the capital.
This book is highly original and instantly enlightening—filled with history, facts, insights and observations eloquently and neatly composed. It opens the eyes of locals, visitors, guides on what could have otherwise gone unnoticed.
It fits neatly in the hand and makes a wonderful pocket size companion and gift to anyone interested in the Big Smoke—visitors, tourists, guides, city fans, culture and geography explorers, city trippers and family adventurers across all age groups. It is a must have for anyone wanting to impress their family and loved ones on what otherwise would have been a routine commute.
The book feels sincere and personal. It celebrates London’s rich history and architecture, arts and culture. The tasteful imagery and rich vocabulary instills a sense of wonder and excitement, and adds a fresh perspective on UK capital’s iconic crossings.
Written to be enjoyed in myriad ways – read aloud or in quiet solitude, poem at a time or all in one go it gives the reader a vast foundation to study, build upon and explore the metropolis further. It will be read many times over, each time as if it was the first.
Born of London this guided pilgrimage to UK capital through its pages is an enchanting and memorable journey in itself.
Following London Baby Seaside, London Baby Rides, London Baby Christmas, London Baby Sights, London Baby Markets, London Baby Birthday, London Baby Money, London Baby Streets, London Baby Stations, the London Baby Bridges book is the 12th book in the London Baby Series.
REVIEWS
***** by Cindy Topps, Goodreads
On this jaunt, we accompany the author on a poetic tour of bridges over the Thames, and also view viaducts, footbridges and highwalks through her eyes, always reliably entertained by remarkable tidbits of her gleanings of historical research. Making connections in life is what we do, and bridges do the same. Since ancient times these magnificent structures have graced the waterways of Britain, and especially its capital city of London, allowing commerce to flourish and the city to grow exponentially. Amazingly, as we discover, London had only a single bridge spanning the Thames for nigh on eighteen hundred years -the famed London Bridge of the universally known nursey rhyme-, before more recent additions joined the first, bringing the count to over thirty. Now they span and unite many locations around the sprawling metropolis, bringing their designers`diverse visions to light, and making them an integral part of an ever-growi ng system of landmarks and a tourist attraction in their own right, albeit many not in their original form, but rather as replacements of earlier versions.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving a review voluntarily.