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Shopping on Old London Bridge
This drawing of London Bridge by Peter Jackson depicts a busy street scene on London Bridge. The river crossing occupied by London Bridge had been utilized by London’s inhabitants since Roman times. The use of stone in bridge construction first occurred during the reconstruction of the bridge in 1176 and was overseen by Peter, chaplain of the nearby Colechurch parish. Houses and shops were built on the bridge early on, but, living on the bridge was not without its dangers. In 1212 a major fire swept across the bridge destroying many of the homes and part of the Chapel of St. Thomas and there were also several instances of the arches of the bridge collapsing. Rents from properties on the bridge and elsewhere in the city, as well as tolls on ships and carts passing under and over the bridge, paid for the near constant upkeep of the bridge structure. The income was recorded in the accounts of the Bridge House estate, whose accounts also show payments to a group of workers known as ‘tidemen,’ who were responsible for the upkeep of the bridge, as well as for materials such as the frequent shipments of stone they received to make repairs.
Bridges in medieval cities served as important commercial and residential thoroughfares; the first floors of the buildings served as shops, while the upper levels were homes. The buildings situated on the bridge were some of the most expensive real estate in the city. London’s inhabitants recognized that the funneling of pedestrians through the bridge created the perfect location for commerce. Those crossing the bridge, whether on foot or by horse, had to pay a toll, while those moving goods paid an additional fee. A survey of rents from 1358 reveals that there were sixty-two shops located on the east side and sixty-nine shops located on the west side of the bridge. The structure of these buildings was so compact, the bridge was described as appearing like a continuation of the street rather than a bridge. The commercial congestion of the bridge is clear in Jackson’s work, the crowds of shoppers and condensed buildings appear like any other street in London, but the sliver of blue water beyond the bridge’s railing at the back of the drawing reminds the viewer that they are looking at London Bridge.