London Bridge, River Thames 1968

This authentic 1960s colour photograph captures a significant moment in London’s engineering history: the systematic dismantling of Rennie’s 1831 London Bridge in 1968. Taken from a vessel on the River Thames, the image shows the massive granite arch being stripped back, with temporary orange protective hoardings and gantry structures lining the top of the span where the road once ran. This work was part of the unique project to sell the bridge to Robert P. McCulloch, after which it was meticulously numbered and transported to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Through the void of the arch, Tower Bridge remains a permanent sentinel in the background, surrounded by the busy silhouettes of dockside cranes and shipping that still defined the Pool of London at the time. In the foreground, the blue and white ‘T’ flag of the observation boat and the head of a passenger provide a sense of scale and the public’s fascination with the bridge’s disappearance. This digital download is a rare documentary record of a city literally being taken apart, perfect to print for yourself as a piece of historic vintage wall art.