What bridge is connecting the Roman Londinium with the suburb of Southwark?”
Soon after the Roman invasion of AD 43, Londinium was established east of the Walbrook, probably near a pontoon bridging point. Its name may have derived from a local personal or tribal name evolved from the Celtic londinos meaning ‘wild’ or ‘fierce’. Excavations of Roman quays about 100 m/330 ft behind the modern riverfront indicate the earlier width of the Thames. In AD 60 the first settlement was burned by Boudicca, the queen of the native Iceni people, an event recorded by the Roman historian Tacitus in his Annales (115–17), with the comment that Londinium was a considerable trading centre at the time. Rebuilding extended the settlement to Ludgate Hill, and a fort was established in the Cripplegate area. Around AD 80, the first basilica was constructed on the present location of Leadenhall Market, and a permanent bridge was built near the future site of London Bridge. Southwark, at the southern end of the bridge, also developed as part of the port with quays, warehouses, and a subs
The Roman timber bridge – the first permanent crossing of the river, connecting Roman Londinium with the suburb of Southwark – was the first of a series of timber bridges which were succeeded c.1200 by the famous stone bridge with houses. This, the only bridge across the Thames until the building of Westminster Bridge (1738–50), was rebuilt in 1823–31 to the design of John Rennie and replaced in 1967–72 by the present concrete cantilever bridge by Mott, Hay and Anderson. Rennie’s bridge was re-erected in Arizona.
