Next time you are walking across the Millennium Bridge (aka the Wobbly Bridge) slow your pace and look down whilst trying to avoid being trampled by the crowds. You will soon be rewarded by seeing some tiny pictures …
There are literally hundreds of them, painted on discarded chewing gum by the artist Ben Wilson …
‘When a person throws chewing gum, it’s a thoughtless action. I’m turning that around. People think they don’t have an effect. But all the people that chew gum and throw it on the street, they created that. Once painted, it suddenly takes on new meaning and has been given the kind of worth that would otherwise be unthinkable’
Ben Wilson talking to Human Nature magazine
You can read the interview here and see many more pictures here. He’s never been arrested because he’s painting chewing gum not the Bridge. Smart!
Whilst on the subject of quirky bridge features, have a look at this picture I took as I walked across Tower Bridge last weekend …
Is that a lamp post without a lamp? Here’s a view from the other side …
It’s a cast iron chimney that used to be connected to a coal fire in the Royal Fusiliers room under the Bridge, helping them to keep warm whilst on guard duty.
The room has now been enveloped by a restaurant, appropriately named The Sergeant’s Mess …
Now to one of my favourite churches, St Magnus-the-Martyr on Lower Thames Street (EC3R 6DN).
It’s believed that the Roman’s first built a crossing over the Thames around here in AD 50. Eventually there were wharves nearby and the churchyard holds a piece of one …
This is not, however, the best feature of the yard.
Take a look at this picture of the ‘old’ Medieval London Bridge where St Magnus can be seen in the top left hand corner …
A plaque as you enter from the street explains why this area is so unique …
For a treat go inside the church where there is a model of the Bridge on display …
It’s enhanced by dozens of little figures going about their business as well as what looks like a visit by the King on horseback …
These pictures are from the London Walking Tours blog.
From 1763 until the old bridge was demolished in 1831, this archway was the main pedestrian entrance onto the bridge. As I walk through it I can’t help thinking about the thousands and thousands who preceded me. Were they heading into the City to make their fortune perhaps? Or maybe leaving in bitter disappointment …
As a further surprise, some of the stones from the old Medieval bridge’s northernmost arch remain in the courtyard …
And finally, here are a few things to look out for as you cross Blackfriars Bridge.
There are these columns rising out of the river …
In 1862-64 a bridge was built to accommodate four trains at one time. John Wolfe-Barry and H M Brunel built a second bridge to increase the number of trains coming into St Paul’s. The columns are the remains of the original bridge, which was removed in 1985 as it was deemed too weak for modern trains.
Note the pulpit-shaped tops of the bridge pillars. They reference the original monastery of the Black Friars or Dominican monks, evicted by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538. I have written about the Medieval monasteries in an earlier blog which you can find here.
On the south side is the beautifully painted coat of arms of the London Chatham & Dover Railway …
And now some features not everyone notices. Peer over the parapet and on either side you will see some birds on the capitals of the bridge supports, meticulously carved in Portland stone by J.B.Philip.
The birds on the west side are fresh water birds and plants to be found on the upper reaches of the river …
And on the east side, sea birds and seaweeds to be found at the mouth of the Thames …
On the north side of the bridge you will see one of my favourite water fountains, recently liberated from behind hoardings and nicely restored …
The pretty lady represents ‘Temperance’ and she originally stood outside the Royal Exchange.
The fountain was inaugurated by Samuel Gurney, MP, the Chairman of the Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountains Association, on 27 July 1861 and you can read more about him, and the Association, in my earlier blog Philanthropic Fountains.
