The History of London

when-how long it stood-what space there was between the piers-how broad it was-we do not know. Probably it was quite a narrow bridge consisting of beams laid across side by s

LAND FROM RICHARD

, south aisle of nave

k called St. Mary Overies Dock, where was afterwards erected St. Mary Overies Priory, to which belonged

owever, certainly burned down in the Great Fire of 1136. Another, also of wood, was built in its place and, in the year 1176, a bridge of stone was c

and fifty years, was one Peter, Chaplain of St. Mary Colechurch in the

and bridges the man of Devon is a stranger and an enemy to the man of Somerset. We who have bridges over every river: who need never even ford a stream: who hardly know what a ferry means: easily forget that these bridges did not grow like the oaks and the elms: but were built after long study of the subject by men who were trained for the work just as other men were trained and taught to build cathedrals and churches. A religious order was founded in France in the twelfth century: it was called the Order of the 'Pontife' Brethren-Pontife is Pontifex-that is-Bridge Builder. The Bridge Building Brothers constructed many bridges in France of which several still remain. It is not c

wo or three being the same: they varied from 10 feet to 32 feet: some of them therefore were very narrow: the piers were also of different lengths. These irregularities

r saint of this Bridge. A chapel, dedicated to him, was built in the centre pier of the Bridge: it was, in fact, a double chapel: in the lower p