My grandfather, born 1888, could remember Tower Bridge being built. Local kids would play by the river and around the Tower of London. He lived in or near Petticoat Lane all his life.
@@noname-vf1ft It’s not that far fetched, Emma Morano was born 5 years after Tower Bridge was built, she died only 6 years ago, and that is just one generation not 3 so it is certainly possible.
Bro. I am only 57, and my Grandfather was born in 1888. He had my dad in 1923, when he was 37 my dad had me in 1966 when HE was 43 . . . What is hard about that?.@@noname-vf1ft
I’ve been to one of these concerts. It was a cappella and important you stayed very quiet due to the echo strength for the performance. Very haunting at times. Just really a singular experience.
Bascule is French for seesaw and is literally constructed by putting together the words bas (low) and cul (ass). So it's a low-ass bridge designed to let boats through!
I love seeing the Tower Bridge. I grew up in London in the 70s and 80s and remember much of it being covered in soot because of the factories. I suppose its been sand blasted as many of the buildings in London have been.
Totally worth visiting Tower Bridge. It's a fascinating tour. You take the elevator to the top of one tower, walk on the bridge above, come down the other tower, see the control rooms. They have lots of interactive games that show you how the mechanism works, and 3D video projections. The family I visited with in 2016 said this was the most interesting landmark in London.... And I had taken them to loads of places, including the WAbbey and the Br Museum.
Woah, that walkway, up the river over the river, looking down on the river. For me the chamber was a bit panic inducing, the thought of the counterweights moving😮 It does look quite amazing tho, it must be the oddest thing if you walk over the bridge whilst a concert is being held undetneath 😊
My wife's best friend's great great grandfather designed Tower Bridge, and her great grandfather completed the stone cladding dressing the steel structure.
@TypicallyThomas You could be right. I may have got a "great" too many! Perhaps I am confused because there were two generations involved in building the bridge; father and son. Anyway, she is a direct descendent, and her name includes, 'Jones.'
Ive been in it when it has opened. If it opens fully the counter weights completely fill the room, blocking the exit and you only hve about a metre of space to stand against the back wall.
You have to love the fastidiousness of Victorian engineering. Thank you for sharing this little known portion of a famous bridge. Far more interesting than the better known but now mundane London bridge.
I just imagine everyone panicking as the bridge gets lifted, running around and screaming, and then going back to normal as the bridge goes back down. 😂
Victorian engineering and construction were amazing. And craftsmen who made ornate metal castings on machinery, and plaster carvings on ceilings, even though they would never be seen.
I wrote a poem about the bascule chamber under Tower Bridge after a visit there many years ago. Admittedly it's not very good 😅 --- Odeon --- Nonsuch passed, The Pool's first light, Under quay, Tide lock takes flight. Enceladus, By Magog's feet, Tilts gravity of, An ancient street. River to road, Road to sky, Brick fly stage, Shuts watching eye.
Even with all of the modern construction equipment and techniques that we have now, constructing the tower bridge today, would be a major undertaking. It would be great to know how they did it back in the late 1800s.
Excuse me Bascule is indeed French, but it doesn't mean seesaw, it means balance, scale. You know, the thing you weigh stuff on. Saw is scie, in French
The engineer for this, Sir Arrol also built the gantry that was installed in Belfast especially to facilitate the construction of the RMS Olympic, Titanic and Britannic 😊
As an engineer I'd love to have a look at that mechanism! When I was living in London, I always felt happy seeing this absolutely iconic and world famous landmark from up close and personal - walking along the South Bank towards it, crossing the Thames towards the Tower... Never went on any tour though. Somehow you never do these touristy things once you live in that place 🤣 And it surprised me at first to learn it's actually not as old as it might seem.
That's beautiful! As am American, there just aren't many things like this to see. We just didn't build things 100+ years ago that were meaningful and meant to last like you guys did. Sad
I have heard of the concerts being held under the bridge before. I do not believe I have seen the actual pictures of it. Furthermore, it must be a very, very large space in order to hold a concert.
I respond to the “covered in soot” comment. 1982I was in London stay😅ng on my girlfriend’s floor and wearing my lemon cardigan that my mum had knitted me. That cardigan had to be washed nearly every day. I love brief personal glimpses into people’s lives…and this is mine bridg😅ng the gap that can make us feel so lonely or isolated
No way ..thank you very much no vertigo inducing glass floor. No going down under the bridge chamber dank area…😮 My idea of fun would be walking across the bridge on a sunny day. However, thank you for sharing.
A seesaw in french, "bascule" is just named after the action itself which means to tip, topple or toggle. I.e. A trebuchet also "bascules" but I wouldn't exactly call it a seesaw.
Ohhhh that seems terrifying- is that claustrophobia? I don’t like empty swimming pools or big airplane hangars either - is that the opposite of claustrophobia??
Yeah, I’ve watched Gnomeo and Juliet - Sherlock Gnomes. I know all about this bridge!! That the scene wherein they are going to get smashed. Spoilers, they don’t.
So this bridge does have that step thing you see in that gnomes movie were the villain glues all the gnomes to the steps and has the bridge lowering or rising to the crush them all
If I’m not mistaken it’s a hydraulic bascule bridge, which I’ve been taught the only other one of the same type of design (hydraulic bascule) in the UK that’s left is in my hometown of Weymouth, England - although there’s many other opening bridges in the country, these are the only two to share this type of design (that still is standing and works)
We have a Bascule bridge in Lowestoft from the 70s tho it was upgraded in 2008 and onwards We're also getting a really rare type of bridge but forgot the name
I want to know how they weigh something like this. Truly. Are they wearing the individual components that make up the bridge? Or is there a giant scale somewhere? Just curious.
Where is the link to the "other" part of the vid. Its the one that teaches the viewers about the build/structure... 😉 Yes, that one! 😊 😂 And ty for the first one! 😎
"A bit cold, a bit wet
You can hear the traffic rumbling overhead"
That could've been the beginning of a nice poem.
That’s just London in general 😂
"vertigo inducing glass floors" I liked.
Or just the description of the average london flat.
@@zedzedder4947lol
A very boring one maybe
My grandfather, born 1888, could remember Tower Bridge being built. Local kids would play by the river and around the Tower of London. He lived in or near Petticoat Lane all his life.
That's so amazing, by any chance any of your ancestors fought in the great war?
Wow!
Isn’t that incredible!
Did he share anything about his life back then?
Both you and your parents must be at least 60 years old, more 70 or 80 because you don't get pregnant at age 0. If i didn't miscalculate
@@noname-vf1ft It’s not that far fetched, Emma Morano was born 5 years after Tower Bridge was built, she died only 6 years ago, and that is just one generation not 3 so it is certainly possible.
Bro. I am only 57, and my Grandfather was born in 1888. He had my dad in 1923, when he was 37 my dad had me in 1966 when HE was 43 . . .
What is hard about that?.@@noname-vf1ft
Victorian engineering at its finest.
Built with horses and wagons!
French inspired ;)
Really cool stuff, no CAD programs, no calculators. Truly skilled engineers
@@Flat_Earth_Addy Right?! Wonder how many horses it takes to deliver the 400 ton counterweights, let alone lift them up and install them?
@@Broman-es4sx I don't think anyone is alive that could do it today!
I’ve been to one of these concerts. It was a cappella and important you stayed very quiet due to the echo strength for the performance. Very haunting at times. Just really a singular experience.
Bascule is French for seesaw and is literally constructed by putting together the words bas (low) and cul (ass). So it's a low-ass bridge designed to let boats through!
No, 'cul' means arse in French, not an ass or donkey.
I love seeing the Tower Bridge. I grew up in London in the 70s and 80s and remember much of it being covered in soot because of the factories. I suppose its been sand blasted as many of the buildings in London have been.
It opened in 1894, and many times since.
I closed the video and decided to reopen it and come say good one
Totally worth visiting Tower Bridge. It's a fascinating tour. You take the elevator to the top of one tower, walk on the bridge above, come down the other tower, see the control rooms. They have lots of interactive games that show you how the mechanism works, and 3D video projections. The family I visited with in 2016 said this was the most interesting landmark in London.... And I had taken them to loads of places, including the WAbbey and the Br Museum.
I've been on that tour. The engine room is banging! Please make a video on that because it's absolutely a work of art.
very cool use of hydraulic accumulators for the engineering geeks out there
Fantastic, the things you find out about London! Love this!
Fascinating stuff.
Woah, that walkway, up the river over the river, looking down on the river.
For me the chamber was a bit panic inducing, the thought of the counterweights moving😮
It does look quite amazing tho, it must be the oddest thing if you walk over the bridge whilst a concert is being held undetneath 😊
I have such a huge phobia when it comes to things like bridges and dams in any kind of man-made heights. That would probably freak me out LOL
My wife's best friend's great great grandfather designed Tower Bridge, and her great grandfather completed the stone cladding dressing the steel structure.
Wow that's a surprisingly long link to Sir Horace Jones
@TypicallyThomas You could be right. I may have got a "great" too many! Perhaps I am confused because there were two generations involved in building the bridge; father and son.
Anyway, she is a direct descendent, and her name includes, 'Jones.'
Architecture across europe is so beautiful, i couldnt imagine being from somewhere with such old beautiful buildings.
I think the word 'mildly' could have been left out! I couldn't even take a step on the top, but I'd love to see underneath. Thanks for your videos
They put those same type of floors in the Space Needle. I couldn't walk on them, either.
Just love your little glimpses into my favorite town!
WOW! I never knew that. An amazing design.
Love the time you take sharing these things. Thanks for taking the time to show us so much we'd not get to see otherwise. 👍👏👏
This is an amazing video! Thank you!
Ive been in it when it has opened. If it opens fully the counter weights completely fill the room, blocking the exit and you only hve about a metre of space to stand against the back wall.
You have to love the fastidiousness of Victorian engineering. Thank you for sharing this little known portion of a famous bridge. Far more interesting than the better known but now mundane London bridge.
Victorian steam(?) engines are always so beautifully decorated and painted, shame we don't do that anymore to our machines
It is well worth seeing!
I just imagine everyone panicking as the bridge gets lifted, running around and screaming, and then going back to normal as the bridge goes back down. 😂
Every time I try to drive over there the Bascules have the bridge open!!!
Engineering and ingenuity never cease to amaze me 😳🤯
Victorian engineering and construction were amazing. And craftsmen who made ornate metal castings
on machinery, and plaster carvings on ceilings,
even though they would never be seen.
This is British ingenuity at its best
I wrote a poem about the bascule chamber under Tower Bridge after a visit there many years ago. Admittedly it's not very good 😅
--- Odeon ---
Nonsuch passed,
The Pool's first light,
Under quay,
Tide lock takes flight.
Enceladus,
By Magog's feet,
Tilts gravity of,
An ancient street.
River to road,
Road to sky,
Brick fly stage,
Shuts watching eye.
i remember seeing that in Sherlock Gnomes
I’m in LOVE with Tower bridge!
Even with all of the modern construction equipment and techniques that we have now, constructing the tower bridge today, would be a major undertaking. It would be great to know how they did it back in the late 1800s.
How come we can't routinely build such beautiful engineering objects like this today?
Pretty awesome!... and that you can go inside and see all that cool stuff. Thanks for taking us woth you.
My favorite land mark in England the beautifully designed TOWER BRIDGE
Thanks for sharing.
I remember that room from Sherlock Gnomes
Beautiful historical architecture ❤
Excuse me
Bascule is indeed French, but it doesn't mean seesaw, it means balance, scale. You know, the thing you weigh stuff on. Saw is scie, in French
I did the flooring in the control rooms, those cabins are like greenhouses and I got sunburnt in there!
I’m amazed that the structure can handle concerts. Really cool
Frighteningly interesting!
I love the glass walkways, and flying - yet I am fearful of heights in the open with a steep drop.
AWESOME VIDEO. KEEP THEM COMING. THANK YOU.
apparently they are so well balanced that fairly weak engines could easily operate tower bridge.
The engineer for this, Sir Arrol also built the gantry that was installed in Belfast especially to facilitate the construction of the RMS Olympic, Titanic and Britannic 😊
incredible 🇬🇧
Just like the Salmon Bay Bascule bridge in Seattle
As an engineer I'd love to have a look at that mechanism!
When I was living in London, I always felt happy seeing this absolutely iconic and world famous landmark from up close and personal - walking along the South Bank towards it, crossing the Thames towards the Tower... Never went on any tour though. Somehow you never do these touristy things once you live in that place 🤣
And it surprised me at first to learn it's actually not as old as it might seem.
I learn a lot.🎉❤❤❤
You couldn't pay me enough to walk on those glass floors, but I'm afraid of heights... way too scary and high!!
That's beautiful! As am American, there just aren't many things like this to see. We just didn't build things 100+ years ago that were meaningful and meant to last like you guys did. Sad
empire state building, washington monument, most of washington DC, park row building, singer building, chrysler building…
Brooklyn bridge New York
I can't say that I agree. One or two cities, on the east coast, not enough to equate to an entire country
Awesome.. just like that Gnome moviee.. lol
I have heard of the concerts being held under the bridge before. I do not believe I have seen the actual pictures of it. Furthermore, it must be a very, very large space in order to hold a concert.
Remember when we toured this in England? I don’t remember some of the rooms, actually no rooms, just one!
👍 like it😊
Awesome video
I respond to the “covered in soot” comment. 1982I was in London stay😅ng on my girlfriend’s floor and wearing my lemon cardigan that my mum had knitted me. That cardigan had to be washed nearly every day. I love brief personal glimpses into people’s lives…and this is mine bridg😅ng the gap that can make us feel so lonely or isolated
No way ..thank you very much no vertigo inducing glass floor. No going down under the bridge chamber dank area…😮 My idea of fun would be walking across the bridge on a sunny day. However, thank you for sharing.
I always thought that tower bridge actually the London bridge from the song. A mind blowing when finding out it was totally different bridge lol
The stairs are vertigo inducing too!
Ooh that’s cool
Don't forget, there was even a Doctor Who episode shot in there.
Just some useful information.
Thank you for making this video 😊
Thank you.
A seesaw in french, "bascule" is just named after the action itself which means to tip, topple or toggle. I.e. A trebuchet also "bascules" but I wouldn't exactly call it a seesaw.
I was in there years ago.
WOWWW ❤
Ohhhh that seems terrifying- is that claustrophobia? I don’t like empty swimming pools or big airplane hangars either - is that the opposite of claustrophobia??
Yeah, I’ve watched Gnomeo and Juliet - Sherlock Gnomes. I know all about this bridge!!
That the scene wherein they are going to get smashed. Spoilers, they don’t.
Looks like a room you wake up in in a horror movie as the bridge starts raising.
And I knew about this from gnomeo and Juliet…
I feel like I remember this from Gnomeo and Juliet but am not sure if it is some kind of fever dream instead 😅😂
Wow, thats really interesting.
very cool
I never knew that. Interesting.
So when the bridge opens, would you be able to stand in that room?...
The bigger question is can you stand afterwards
It has it own morgue.
Can you always go down? I was there but didn't see it 😅
I think I remember this from the gnomeo and juliet sherlock movie
So this bridge does have that step thing you see in that gnomes movie were the villain glues all the gnomes to the steps and has the bridge lowering or rising to the crush them all
That's a beautiful bridge.
England (or the Western world for that matter) will never build anything that beautiful again.
England is such a neat country ❤
that is so cool! the engineering!
Oh how they used to make things to last. Now I can’t even change my iPhone battery.
I did this when I was a kid, it was sick.
Are the counterweights filled with cement etc. or are they solid metal?
I know this because I have watched Sherlock Gnomes
Been there done that well with the trip never knew it was there
Interesting.
If I’m not mistaken it’s a hydraulic bascule bridge, which I’ve been taught the only other one of the same type of design (hydraulic bascule) in the UK that’s left is in my hometown of Weymouth, England - although there’s many other opening bridges in the country, these are the only two to share this type of design (that still is standing and works)
We have a Bascule bridge in Lowestoft from the 70s tho it was upgraded in 2008 and onwards
We're also getting a really rare type of bridge but forgot the name
Wouldn't mind anither visit to London, but it's very expensive to travel there and expensive when you get there.
I want to know how they weigh something like this. Truly. Are they wearing the individual components that make up the bridge? Or is there a giant scale somewhere? Just curious.
If you know the size of something, and you know what it’s made of, then you can calculate the weight
yes they put it on a giant scale
Very large things can be weighed using displacement, thank Arcimedies.
What a crazy place to hold a gig.
I vaguely remember seeing this in a Sherlock Gnomes scene I think
😮
Where is the link to the "other" part of the vid. Its the one that teaches the viewers about the build/structure... 😉
Yes, that one! 😊 😂 And ty for the first one! 😎
You know your music career is taking off when your playing under a bridge.
That would be great to see but my gimpy legs couldn't handle the stairs.