Sam’s Ses Challenge #18: Bridge

Welcome to this week’s Sam’s Ses Challenge.

Every weekend, Sam and I pick a word or phrase as the theme for the week. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to post something Ses-related that you think fits with this week’s challenge.  Don’t know who the Ses are?… click here to find out.

Your contribution can be anything you want, a photograph, a short story… anything. Visit the main Sam’s Ses Challenge page to learn more.

The fun will be focused here on my blog, but feel free to play along on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Just be sure to link back to the challenge on whichever media you choose, to be certain Sam and I get to see it.

I hope you’ll join in.

This week’s Sam’s Ses Challenge theme is Bridge.

Here’s my contribution:

Tower Bridge is without doubt one of the most recognisable bridges in the World (despite often being mistaken for London Bridge by visitors).

Tower Bridge from the south bank of the Thames near City Hall

In Jaspa’s Journey 2: The Pride of London, I see Tower Bridge from several different angles, but I never actually set foot on it (hope that’s not too much of a spoiler!). So when I was in London last year, I took the opportunity to rectify this. Crossing the bridge at night, made for an even more memorable experience!

Tower Bridge and the Tower of London

Tower Bridge has been a part of London’s heritage since it was opened (no pun intended) in 1894. It truly is a marvel of Victorian engineering and architecture.

The two towers are 213 feet tall

The total length of the bridge is 801 feet

It links the London boroughs of Southwark, on this side of the river, to Tower Hamlets

The South Abutment Tower from the southern approach

Passing through the South Abutment Tower

Tower Bridge is like five bridges in one. On the outside of the two main towers, between them and the abutment towers, are a pair of suspension bridges.

The south suspension bridge

The Tower of London through the suspension structure

The suspension cables hanging from the main South Tower

View up the main South Tower

Between the two main towers is the road deck and two higher pedestrian walkways. The road deck between the towers is a type of bridge design called a bascule, which can open to allow ships to pass.

The three bridges between the main towers

The gap between the two halves of the ‘drawbridge-like’ road deck

The north suspension span and North Abutment Tower

Of course, the view from Tower Bridge isn’t bad either!

The South Bank, with HMS Belfast, City Hall and The Shard in the distance

The Tower of London, with the City of London behind

Tower Bridge from near the Tower of London

Expand your child’s mind (and your own) by travelling the World with the Jaspa’s Journey adventure novels! The first two, The Great Migration and The Pride of London, are now available in both paperback and ebook formats from Speaking Volumes! The third instalment, Jaspa’s Waterloo, is coming soon. Click here for more information.

Jaspa’s Journey: Perfect for Kids 8 – 80!

This week’s Sam’s Ses Challenge was itself partially inspired by Heritage from Ben of the Daily Post, Traces of the Past from Paula of Lost in Translation and Jo’s Monday Walk.