WELCOME back to another edition of the Monday Miles, the travelling blog where I, Dillon Pillay, journalist for the Southlands Sun newspaper, will take you on some of my past travels around the globe. Last week we strolled through the Tower of London, its history and mystery. This week we look into the iconic picture piece of London, Tower Bridge.

Also read: Monday Miles: Taking a trip to the Tower of London [Video]

More than 50 original designs were sent to the city of London when the idea of a new bridge was initially floated. It wasn’t until eight years had passed that the special bridge or subway committee approved the design.

Over 11 000 tons of steel were used in its construction. Five giant companies and the efforts of 432 workers were utilised in building Tower Bridge.

The bridge, situated in the London Borough of Southwark, was opened by Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) on June 30, 1894, as a way to gain better access to the East End of London. Before the bridge’s opening one could only cross the Thames River there through the Tower Subway.

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Southlands Sun journalist, Dillon Pillay takes us on a tour of Tower Bridge, London. Did you know on average 850,000 people cross this bridge each year? Stay tuned for next week’s video that will have a touch of royal presence. southlandssun mondaymiles london #travel

♬ original sound – SUN Newspapers – SUN Newspapers

Fun facts about Tower Bridge:

• First lift- The initial lift of the bridge also took place during its opening in 1894. The Harbour Master’s vessel, Daisy, was the first ship to pass through, followed by a procession of honorary vessels.
• Hydraulic power- Until 1974, the bascules were powered to lift by coal-fired steam engines. Today, an electro-hydraulic system lifts the bridge in about five minutes. Some of the original equipment remains on show in the Engine Rooms.
• Bus jump of 1952– Albert Gunter, a bus driver made headlines when he jumped bus number 78 over the gap when the bridge unexpectedly began to lift. No one was harmed and Gunter was paid for his quick thinking.
• Glass walkway- In 2014, Tower Bridge unveiled glass floor walkways 42m above the river, offering tourists amazing views directly into the Thames.
• Heavy traffic– Nowadays, Tower Bridge is opened approximately 800 times a year, but when it first opened, the bridge was opened over 6 000 times, nearly 17 times daily.
• Stunt plane– In 1951, Frank Miller flew a plane through Tower Bridge due to a bet made with his 13-year-old son. He received 35 shillings for winning the bet but also a large fine.
• Easily confused– Tourists tend to confuse Tower Bridge with London Bridge, yet the London bridge is in fact further up the river and quite bland in comparison.

Crossing Tower Bridge isn’t just a way of getting over the Thames, it’s entering a piece of history. The bridge is still one of London’s most photographed and sought-after landmarks to visit, attracting over 850 000 visitors every year.

That’s all we have for this week’s edition of the Monday Miles. Who knows where we will go next, maybe somewhere with a more royal presence.

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