Vital lifelines across the river Thames, London's bridges define Britain's capital city. Let’s take a brief look at several of them.

a) London Bridge

When the Romans first saw the Thames near London, there were forests on its banks. They built a wooden bridge and called it London Bridge. It was the first bridge across the River Thames.

This bridge was rebuilt many times (wooden bridges aren't very strong and are easily destroyed by fire, storms or floods).

You probably remember the children's song, London Bridge Is Falling Down. It's about a Viking attack led by Olaf - one of the most dramatic events in London's history. English soldiers fired arrows from the bridge into Olaf’s attacking longboats. So Olaf tied ropes to the bridge's wooden legs and the other ends to his ships. The Vikings rowed away as fast as they could. And London Bridge fell down.

In the 12th century people rebuilt London Bridge in stone. It took them 33 years to complete it. There was a street of houses and shops on it. The road over the bridge was very narrow - only about 4 metres. There was not much place for people, horses and carts. So people and carts kept left and this became the rule of the road in Britain.

London Bridge was also famous for its gruesome 'exhibitions'. Traitors' and criminals' cut-off heads were displayed on the bridge as a warning to others. Perhaps the most famous heads displayed on London Bridge were those of Guy Fawkes and his friends after they tried to blow up the Parliament building in 1605.

The present London Bridge opened in 1973 after the old bridge had been sold to an American millionaire for $2.7 million. The millionaire mistakenly thought he was buying Tower Bridge. He transported it to the Arizona desert where it can be seen today.

to destroy – разрушать

flood [flʌd] – наводнение

event – событие

to fire arrows – стрелять из лука

to row [rəu] – грести

cart – телега

traitor ['treɪtə] – предатель

cut-off – отрезанный

warning – предупреждение

b) Westminster Bridge

Another famous bridge in London is Westminster Bridge. It's popular with tourists, who like to take photographs of each other with the Houses of Parliament in the background.

The first bridge here took 18 years to construct and was completed in 1750. It was called the 'bridge of fools' because the money for it was raised through a lottery. This bridge wasn't safe and people never fully trusted it. It was known to sway and soon after its opening it started to crumble.

Huge sums of money were spent repairing it in the 19th century, but then it was decided to replace it with a new bridge. The new bridge was built in 1862.

In one of his best-known poems - On Westminster Bridge - William Wordsworth describes what he sees as he stands on Westminster Bridge looking out at the city. His poem begins with the famous line: 'Earth has not anything to show more fair.'

Westminster Bridge is mostly green, the same colour as the leather seats in the House of Commons. (The bridge which is next to Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, is painted red - the same colour as the seats in the House of Lords).

It's 252 metres long, 26 metres wide and has seven arches. The Gothic iron details were designed by Charles Barry, the architect of the Palace of Westminster.

c) Albert Bridge in Chelsea

Albert Bridge was built as a toll bridge in 1873. It was named after Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband.

Very soon Albert Bridge was nicknamed The Trembling Lady' because it vibrated when large numbers of people walked over it. There is a sign at Albert Bridge which says: 'All Troops Must Break Step When Marching Over this Bridge'.

The bridge has been repaired and strengthened many times but it hasn't been replaced since it was first built, unlike most other London bridges.

Albert Bridge is often called 'the prettiest bridge in the city', though it is not as popular a tourist attraction as Tower Bridge.

to demolish [dɪ'mɒlɪʃ] – уничтожить, сравнять с землей

to inspire [ɪn'spaɪə] – вдохновлять

to nickname – прозвать

troops – войска

to break step – идти вразнобой

B. Answer the questions.

a) London Bridge

1. What was the first bridge across the River Thames?

2. Why was it rebuilt many rimes?

3. When was London Bridge built in stone?