Tower Bridge 130th Anniversary: A Historic Photo Comparison

Then and Now Photos Celebrating the Bridge’s 130th Anniversary

It’s the 130th anniversary of the construction of Tower Bridge. The bridge was designed by architect Sir Horace Jones and Chief Engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry. Resident Engineer George Edward Wilson Cruttwell oversaw construction.

Free summer-long open-air exhibition on the construction and opening of Tower Bridge.

These photos compare the bridge in 1894 [vintage images from the free outdoor exhibition] with photos taken by Eddie Saint-Jean in 2024. For more on Tower Bridge check out his new book Tower Bridge: 130th Anniversary – amazing colour photos

The original bridge plan. At first, Tower Bridge was painted a bright chocolate colour, and the bridge’s road was made of wood!

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9 July 1894. Londoners visiting the bridge

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30 June 1894

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Workmen laying the road’s surface

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North tower

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Managing engineer George Edward Wilson Cruttwell in a top hat

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9 July 1894. Londoners visiting the bridge

For more on Tower Bridge, check out Eddie Saint-Jean’s new book Tower Bridge: 130th Anniversary