Bow Bridge, London

Bow Bridge depicted in the 19th Century

Bow Bridge was a stone bridge built over the River Lea, in what is now London, in the twelfth century. It linked Bow in Middlesex with Stratford in Essex.

The river was previously forded further north at Old Ford; the new crossing led the highway to Essex and East Anglia to take a more southerly route - now the Whitechapel, Mile End and Bow Roads.^[1]

Bow Bridge as shown on John Rocque's 1747 map of London

Prior to the construction of the bridge, settlements on both sides of the river were known as Stratford. Afterwards, the western Stratford settlement become suffixed by “-atte-Bow” (at the Bow), eventually becoming known simply as Bow. The eastern Stratford became suffixed by "Langthorne" after a large and notable tree, but lost that suffix over time and is now know simply as Stratford.

Origin[]

In 1110 Matilda, wife of Henry I, attempted to cross the Lea to get to Barking Abbey. The Queen (or some of her retinue) fell into the water while fording the Lea, a dangerous situation, especially with the heavy clothes worn by many women of the era.^[2]

Matilda, builder of Bow Bridge and the other Stratford Causeway bridges

Building[]

As a result of the incident, Matilda ordered a distinctively bow-shaped (arched) bridge to be built over the River Lea, together with four smaller bridges over the associated Bow Back Rivers. These were to be linked by a new stretch of road, on a raised causeway along the line now occupied by Stratford High Street.

The five bridges, from west to east, were:

• Bow Bridge, the largest, crossing the main channel of the Lea.
• St Michael's Bridge (also known as Harrow Bridge), over the western branch of the Waterworks River.
• Pegshole Bridge, over the eastern branch of the waterworks River.
• St Thomas of Acre's Bridge (often abbreviated to St Thomas's Bridge), over the Three Mills Back River.
• Channelsea Bridge, the second largest, crossing the Channelsea River.

During the 19th century, confusion over the ownership of Pegshole and St Thomas Bridge led to the name of the two to be transposed ^[3]

Maintenance[]

Initially, local land and Abbey Mill were given to Barking Abbey for the maintenance of the bridge, but these properties and the responsibility eventually passed to Stratford Langthorne Abbey. The Abbess of Barking and Abbot of West Ham (i.e. Stratford Langthorne Abbey) argued about the obligation, a dispute that was settled in 1315. West Ham was to maintain the bridge and highway, but the Abbess would pay £200 annually in recompense. The Abbey's subsequent dissolution caused further lengthy litigation over maintenance of the bridge at Bow – with the successor landowners found responsible in 1691.^[4] The matter was not finally resolved until 1834, with the formation of a Turnpike Trust.

In Song[]

Various versions of the nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down make reference to Bow Bridge. The oldest known version could be that recalled by a correspondent to the Gentleman's Magazine in 1823, which he claimed to have heard from a woman who was a child in the reign of Charles II (r. 1660–1685) and had the lyrics:

London Bridge is broken down,
Dance over the Lady Lea;
London Bridge is broken down,
With a gay lay-dee.

There are a number of theories about the identity of the Fair Lady, including the idea that it may refer to Matilda,^[5] the builder of Bow Bridge and its neighbours, or that it may apply to the River Lea itself.^[6]

Battle of Bow Bridge[]

Background[]

The Battle of Naseby in June 1645 effectively ended Royalist hopes of victory in the First English Civil War, but the war continued with further Parliamentary success leading King Charles I to surrender to the Scots army besieging Newark in May 1646. He surrendered to the his Scots enemies, rather than his English enemies in the hope of dividing his opponents. Essex, London and the eastern counties backed Parliament in the First English Civil War, but by 1648, this loyalty was stretched.

A Scots army invaded England from the north in support of the King, while there were a series of largely unco-ordinated Royalist risings in parts of the Royal Navy, South Wales, Lancashire, Essex and perhaps most seriously in Kent.

Prelude[]

A Parliamentary force quickly moved on Maidstone and captured it after bitter street fighting on 1st June. Despite this, a large Kentish Royalist force under the Earl of Norwich were able to make for London in the hope the city would rise up in their favour, indeed some Londoners had rioted in the King's favour a month prior. Disheartened by the loss of Maidstone there were many desertions and the force was reduced to around 3,000 men by the time it reached Greenwich at noon on 3 June 1648, after an all-night march.

There were few parliamentarian forces left in London, but under the energetic leadership of Philip Skippon, they closed the City gates and the also the fortified London Bridge. Most of the Royalists gave up at this point and core of around 500 infantry remained. The Earl of Norwich received word that around 2,000 Royalists had assembled at Bow Bridge with more at Chelmsford, so he crossed the river, with just his horse, in order to investigate the veracity of the information in order that the army could cross the Thames to rendez-vous with the other Royalists if the information was correct^[7] Sir William Compton was left in charge of the force at Greenwich. Norwich found no force at Bow Bridge so moved onto Chelmsford to seek a friendly army there.

When Norwich didn't return immediately from Bow Bridge, the Kentish force decided to cross the river, and landed on the east side of the Isle of Dogs peninsula, many at Blackwall.

Engagements[]

A regiment of the local Tower Hamlets Militia confronted the Royalists, who having landed in disorder were in no position to resist. The leader of the Militia decided to avoid bloodshed and told the Royalists that they would be escorted to Bow Bridge, on the border of the Tower Hamlets district, disarmed and sent on their way.

But as they reached Bow Bridge a force of Royalist cavalry crossed the bridge from the Essex side, The Kentish Royalists turned on the Tower Hamlets Militia who retreated on Bow Church close by the bridge. Further clashes followed before the combined Royalist force crossed the River Lea into Essex.

Aftermath[]

The combined force, bolstered by extra forces, marched towards Royalist held Colchester, but a Parliamentarian force caught up with them just as they were about to enter the city's medieval walls, a bitter battle was fought but the Royalists were able to retire to the security of the city walls. The Siege of Colchester followed, but after ten weeks starvation and news of Royalist defeats elsewhere led the Royalists to surrender.^[8][9]

Demolition[]

The Bridge was repaired and upgraded many times over the centuries until eventually demolished and replaced in 1838–39.

References[]

Coordinates: 51°31′46.96″N 0°0′49.05″W / 51.5297111°N 0.0136250°W / 51.5297111; -0.0136250