OLD LONDON BRIDGE
We have always been interested in the medieval “London Bridge” with its architecturally colourful selection of houses and shops – some reaching five or six storeys high – stretching 900 feet across the Thames.
After much research we have produced this beautifully illustrated 30 page book “OLD LONDON BRIDGE”.
Somewhere about 1500BC the first wooden bridge was built across the Thames at London, and whilst the Romans built one of stone – by Saxon times it was again built of wood, but
“Wind and rain and fire and frost are always enemies of a bridge, in particular a wooden one.”
So in 1014, after a famous battle, we find Otrar Svarte writing a poem which has undergone many variations over the centuries:
“London Bridge is broken down
Gold is won and bright renown.”
Our book “OLD LONDON BRIDGE” is letterpress printed in three colours and printed on the hand-press.
There are 22 illustrations from linocuts by Peter Grant.
The book is enclosed in boards covered in Lana paper with onlays on the front cover depicting part of the bridge, and a list of some of the shopkeepers.
The book measures 21cm x 21cm in a limited edition of only 28 copies.
