Two alternative designs for the rebuilding London Bridge

In 1799, a competition to design a new London Bridge was launched as the existing medieval structure, whose foundations dated back to the 12th Century, was ill-suited to the growing demands of the industrialised city and its burgeoning population. Progress on the project stalled almost instantly, due to the lack of funds engendered by the war in Europe. In 1821, the competition was again opened, with prizes of between one hundred and two hundred and fifty pounds offered. The judges were to include Sir John Soane, John Nash and Robert Smirke, all three official architects to the Office of Works. More than fifty designs were submitted at this time, amongst which the present drawing would most probably have appeared. Though the prizes were awarded, building did not commence at this date. Two years later, a bill for the new bridge was finally passed in Parliament, steered through in part by the Duke of Wellington. Although it had not been the winning design, the final plans chosen for the bridge were those executed by the Scottish architect John Rennie (1761-1821), who had previously been responsible for both Waterloo Bridge and Southwark Bridge. Work began on the structure in 1824 under the supervision of Rennie’s sons John and George, and was finally completed in 1831. The present drawing is highly reminiscent of Rennie’s final design, with its five wide arches and restrained classical elegance. Interestingly, some remnants of graphite under-drawing indicate that the architect originally considered the possibility of what appear to be iron struts beneath the stone arches in the first design. This is in keeping with the fashion for cast-iron structures at this date; one of the most impressive designs entered for the competition was a single arch iron bridge spanning the full 600 feet, conceived by Thomas Telford (1757-1834).