Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is a famous drawbridge in London that crosses the River Thames near the Tower of London.
In 1940, Goliath and Griff forced a Nazi fighter plane into the Thames, not far from the Tower Bridge. ("M.I.A.")
Real World Background
Construction on the Tower Bridge began in 1886. By Act of Parliament, it was intended that the design of the bridge would reflect the Tower of London's architecture. It would not be completed until 1894, when it was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) and Alexandra, Princess of Wales.
As a significant artery for traffic, it was frequently targeted during the second World War, suffering damage in 1940 that damaged the drawbridge's capabilities. The bridge's towers and engine room would suffer additional damage in 1941. A redundant engine was installed in 1942 in the event the existing engines were once again incapacitated from attack.
Suspension cables were added to each end of the bridge to provide additional support in 1960.
See Also
- Tower Bridge at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
