Tower Bridge history: The Victorian battle to cross the Thames

The rapid growth of the East End created the need for a new crossing. A public contest drew over 50 designs. After eight years, Sir Horace Jones's bascule and suspension concept was chosen in 1884, resolving the conflict between road and river traffic.

Construction began in 1886, costing £1,184,000 and requiring 432 workers and 11,000 tons of steel. After Jones's death, George D. Stevenson took over, transforming the plain brick facade into the Victorian Gothic style we see today, blending the new bridge with the nearby Tower of London.

The Prince and Princess of Wales officially opened the bridge in June 1894. Until 1976, the bascules were raised using massive steam engines, with hydraulic accumulators storing power to ensure the bridge could lift reliably. This powerhouse of industrial engineering is now the Engine Rooms Museum.

To improve efficiency, the bridge transitioned from steam power to an electro-hydraulic system in 1976. In 1977, the bridge received its Grade I listed status and new red, white, and blue colours for the Queen's Silver Jubilee, securing its place as a protected landmark.

The Tower Bridge Exhibition opened in 1982, allowing the public to explore the towers and the historic Engine Rooms. Major events, like the 2012 London Olympics and the addition of the Glass Walkway in 2014, have since cemented its role as a global tourist destination.

While the Glass Walkway opened in 2014, the bridge underwent a massive, ongoing £4 million renovation. This included a three-month closure in 2016 for critical work on the suspension bridge's bearings and the complete resurfacing of the road deck, ensuring the 19th-century structure could safely carry 21st-century traffic.

• The maiden voyage (1894): The very first vessel to pass beneath the newly opened bridge was the Harbour Master's vessel, the Daisy. It was immediately followed by a celebratory procession that included the Trinity House Yacht Irene and the gunboat HMS Landrail.
  
• The Queen's return (1954): Thousands of spectators lined the Thames to witness a significant royal event: the Royal Yacht Britannia sailed beneath Tower Bridge, carrying Her Majesty The Queen back to London following a six-month Commonwealth tour.

• The striking cargo ship (1957–1967): The Spanish cargo ship Monte Urquiola had an unfortunate encounter with the bridge, hitting and causing damage to the structure on three separate occasions between 1957 and 1967 due to navigational errors.
  
• The unbooked lift incident (2004): On May 15, 2004, the sailing ships STS Lord Nelson and SV Tenacious struck the South Pier of Tower Bridge after the bridge authorities failed to receive or process their official lift booking, causing minor structural damage and generating headlines.

• The Olympic torch relay (2012): During the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, football icon David Beckham dramatically drove a high-speed speedboat, the Max Power (a Bladerunner BR RIB 35), beneath the raised bridge, carrying the Olympic Torchbearer, Jade Bailey.
  
• The cruise ship tradition (2013–Present): Tower Bridge regularly welcomes large vessels into the Upper Pool of London. Since 2013, the bridge has seen over 30 cruise ships a year pass through.