For centuries London Bridge was the only crossing in central London, the next bridge upstream was at Kingston. The only crossing at this point was by the 'Lambeth Horseferry' but this took a long time and could be risky when the tides were fast.
Elizabeth I made several attempts to pass an Act authorising a bridge at Westminster but the City always objected. However, in 1734 Charles Labelye, a Swiss engineer submitted plans and in 1736 the Act was finally granted. The act allowed them to hold a lottery to raise money for the new bridge, which became known as the 'Bridge of Fools'. The foundation stone for the first pier was laid in 1739. Cast-iron caissons were driven into the river bed by an engine invented by M. Valoue, a Swiss watchmaker. Progress was hampered by financial problems and the harsh winters as well as wars in Europe, sabotage by the watermen, accidents and a small earthquake. Later cracks appeared in the masonry and in 1747 stones from the fifth arch fell into the Thames. The bridge was completed in 1750.
The bridge was never fully trusted, as it tended to sway on its foundations. When in 1831, the old London Bridge was removed, matters became even worse as the tidal scour of the river strengthened and undermined the foundations. The bridge became dangerous. In 1836 James Walker began piecemeal rebuilding of the structure over 10 years to complete and when complete he joined Charles Barry, George Rennie and Thomas Page in submitting designs for a replacement bridge. In 1854 work began on a new bridge, the seven-arch wrought-iron bridge is overall 827 ft long and 84 ft wide. It opened in May 1862. Westminster Bridge is painted predominately green the colour of the Commons benches. Lambeth Bridge is painted red for the Lord's. Westminster Bridge is now the oldest bridge in use in London and, apart from the repair of a few cracked ribs in 1924, it has had needed very little repair since it opened almost 150 years ago.
