In-depth analysis

Londinium's bridge

The bridge spanned across the Thames

The Roman bridge, built opposite the eastern of two hills, was of great importance to civil, military and local government. The earliest semi-permanent structure was constructed shortly after the invasion. With several phases of rebuilding, the bridge probably survived to the end of the Roman period.

It has been suggested that the first river crossing was built by the army to shorten the route between the south coast ports and the expanding frontier. The bridge may well have been used to control river traffic using a system of tolls or custom dues charged for passing through.

Goods crossing the river would have been subjected to controls and although the bridge would have spanned across the river, cross-river ferries must also have been in use.

There were quays on both sides of the river and one can only turn to the paintings and photographs showing the busy docks area in more modern times to get an idea of how the working river might have operated.

The presence of a road in Southwark (207BHS72) heading north to the river indicates the bridge crossing. A timber bridge was probably built using army labour and engineering skills following the invasion, possibly in about AD52, on the line of Fish Street Hill (FMO85) to the southern abutment of today’s London Bridge. This was almost certainly carried out by direct order of the military governor.

That original invasion-period bridge was probably not intended to be permanent and would almost certainly have required restoration or repair after the Boudican rebellion. After the revolt, it seems likely that the army would have been engaged in the reconstruction and that any bridge-work may have been carried out by the same Thracian unit that was involved in the waterfront construction at that time (see Post-Boudican military encampment in Military life).

The Roman bridge across the Thames, Cultural Heritage Resources

The new bridge connected the north and south banks

Another temporary timber bridge was built in about AD85-90 from a site in Pudding Lane (PDN81) to a point on the south bank near the modern bridge abutment. It was built slightly off-line to allow for the existing temporary bridge to be replaced by a more permanent structure when the time came to replace it.

A new permanent bridge was built on the line of the original structure as early as about AD90 but before AD120, possibly with masonry piers and a timber decking capable of maintenance and replacement. It may have had a drawbridge section that could have been raised to allow tall-masted ships to pass through.

The suggested rebuilding of the bridge in the late 1st or early 2nd century may have remained the responsibility of the procurator’s office or of the civic authorities that built the forum and basilica in the 70s.

The statue head of Hadrian was found in the Thames near the site of the bridge

There has been both archaeological and topographical evidence for the bridge but there is also evidence from the river itself, in the form of coins and artefacts dredged up during the construction of London Bridge in the 19th century. The material found included coins from the whole of the Roman period and a series of complete and mutilated bronze figurines including the life-size head of Hadrian (now in the British Museum).

This concentration of artefacts point to the existence of a Roman bridge and the number of objects suggests that they were votive offerings made by London’s inhabitants who may have crossed the bridge to the deepest point of the river. This concentration was immediately adjacent to any possible drawbridge section of the bridge on the city side and there may have been shrines located on either side of the central section.

Living In Roman London

In-depth analysis

Londinium's bridge