London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down
My fair lady.
As a child on a farm thousands of miles away from the bridge, that little song had me dreaming of exotic London. The picture in my nursery rhyme book amazed me and I would gaze longingly at it. Now the day was at hand to finally see my childhood dream….and you are telling me this is not the London bridge?!
Does this not bear a striking resemblance to the bridge you are telling me is not London Bridge?
No this is apparently Tower Bridge. You’ve heard of London Tower, that quaint little spot where King Henry lopped off the head of a wife or two. The beautiful bridge in my mind has been named after that. Disappointed I still marvel at the beauty of my childhood dream bridge.
I turn to Hubby, “So where is London Bridge then?”
“In Arizona,” he casually remarks.
“You are telling me that London Bridge is in the desert?” I exclaim. “Yes, by Lake Havasu,”Hubby nonchalantly muses.
It turns out, and perhaps I am the only person on the planet who does not know this,The original plain bridge was built in 1831 and when it could not longer hold the weight of London traffic zooming over it was sold in 1967 to Arizona resident Robert McCulloch for a million pounds.
London Bridge Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Word on the streets of London is that McCulloch actually thought he was getting the more prominent bridge.
The oil magnate vehemently denied that he had been duped and the bridge was reinforced and reconstructed at Lake Havasu. The concept was that tourists would flock to see London Bridge. Fair enough I had been pretty keen to see it myself. I wonder if the folks in Arizona are as disappointed as I am?
So I sulk around taking photos of the beautiful TOWER bridge.
Check out the people at the bottom of the above photo for size perspective.
So as we depart on the boat heading West on the Thames I say to Hubby ” So there is no London Bridge in London? ”
“Yes we are just about to go under it.”
There you have it folks. Can you see the lettering under the ‘boring’ rebuilt bridge? Sad but true.
I don’t care what it says. London bridge still looks like the one below to me.
Did you know London Bridge was in Arizona? What is that nursery rhyme all about?
Photo Credit – London Bridge Lake Havasu City- Ken Lund Wikimedia Commons
Wow, I learn something new every day – I can’t believe London Bridge is in Arizona! And you’re right – the Tower Bridge is definitely “London Bridge” in my mind. 😉
Oh thank heavens Diane! I was thinking perhaps I was the only person who missed the memo on this. 🙂 We will have a pact then to forever keep the vision of London Bridge as is.
Yes the old bridge is in Arizona and an equally dull one was reconstructed in London in the original spot.
We used to live just to the south of Tower Bridge and we’d part ways each morning on its southern bank. A would walk across and I’d keep going West to the boring one.
We’d often see tourists and we could be all like, “Oh that old thing? Yeah, well, it gets you to work I suppose.”
Bronwyn I love the vision of you and A living in London and this just being your plain old home turf. As a kid did you know which bridge the rhyme was about?
No, we were a bit confused before our first trip as well. Common mistake, even for wealthy oil magnates, it seems.
Not that it was a mistake in his case, of course!
Can you imagine Bronwyn if Mr McCulloch really had made a mistake? Talk about a let down when you get your bridge unpacked on the shores of Lake Havasu. ” But this isn’t the bridge I ordered!”
Glad to hear you can join the support group for the bridge bewildered.
Hehe, I like your writing style 🙂
Thank you very much! I appreciate your visit and taking the time to comment. Always happy when someone leaves smiling. 🙂
Ha… I felt exactly the same way… Now I think it would be funny if we moved all the world’s landmarks to someplace where they do not belong. Put the Eiffel Tower in the Northern California redwoods… the Taj Mahal can go next to the white cliffs of Dover. Stonehenge would look lovely on the island of Maui…
Oh I like that idea very much! We could have video cameras posted all around to catch the reactions. What do you think? The makings of a new reality TV show? How hard could it be?:)
Thank you for stopping by and your hilarious comment. Much appreciated.
Now I want to do all these ideas in Photoshop… thanks for the nice post.
Brilliant idea! I am laughing as I think about it. You are most welcome and I look forward to chatting again.
Same here.
🙂
HA!
It appears you are in good company in not knowing about this bridge! Hold tight to your childhood dreams my friend:)
Lynn I think we should start a petition, or rally, or protest or something. Sad to hear that across this land children were being mislead by publishers. 🙂 Thank you for standing with me on this one. Much appreciated.
Yes, I did know. My mom insisted on visiting as soon as it was reconstructed in Arizona. I remember seeing it stretched across the lake in the desert on a 115 degree summer day back when I was a teenager. I think there was also a quaint little “English” village nearby. I just kept thinking, “Why?” Maybe that’s why I’ve never been to London. Afraid of the heat 😉
Hmmm… I also began and ended my waterski career on Lake Havasu that weekend.
Wendy it appears that Mr McCulloch’s brainstorm worked! I had not thought to ask is anyone had seen the bridge in Arizona! Do you suppose the little village was thrown together as a tourist draw?
Sounds like your water skiing career could be a blog post in its own right. Do I dare ask for a tidbit of the tale?
I’m sure that the village was part of the tourist plan. Those poor people in those heavy costumes in that heat. The waterski story isn’t much really. I was able to stand up and ski forever because the water was as smooth as glass. I’m pretty sure we were among the first ten tourists to arrive… Anyway, the few times that I tried to waterski since, it’s been cold, crowded and so choppy– I managed to fall before getting up every time.
However, being “escorted” out of the hotel in my pajamas in the middle of the night– now there’s a story.
Escorted out of the hotel in your pajamas? On a trip with your parents? Would we be so fortunate to get that story?
It seems Mr McCulloch had a very entrepreneurial spirit.As you say can you imagine the heat of the Arizona desert under those English costumes. Don’t tell me they had to wear the Buckingham Palace guard hats!
Great post! Here is a picture we took of Tower Bridge opening a few years ago
http://i1.wp.com/www.tediandjordan.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_5127.jpg
I love that photo! For some reason the draw bridge did not seem to be opening. Perhaps it was too early in the season? No large boats needing to get through?
Thanks so much for sharing the photo. Feel free to put a link to the post here if you like.
I don’t think you are alone in mistaking Tower Bridge for London Bridge Sue, it ought to be really as it is so magnificent! I played the arch game as a child, but figured it was just about the bridge falling down and having to build it up again, though apparently there is a rather grim theory about it. I almost went to Havasu Lake on route to the Grand Canyon as it was a reasonable point for an overnight stay and I was curious to see the London bridge there, but Sedona won out 😀
Jude you are very kind. As I posted this I thought ‘ The readers in the UK will think I am completely daft!’ I appreciate you agreeing that it should be the more magnificent one.
I would very much love if you shared the grim theory Jude. I honestly don’t get the whole thing. I heard perhaps it was that the true London Bridge was falling apart?
Sedona sounds like a better spot than a flat bridge in the desert. although it might make an interesting blog post. 🙂
The old London bridge fell down several times I believe as it was first built of wood – hence the rhyme about building it with other materials. But there is a theory that the song refers to the burying, perhaps alive, of children in the foundations of the bridge, although there is no archaeological evidence. The capture of ‘my fair lady’ is supposed to refer to the poor child who would be sacrificed. Quite gruesome these nursery rhymes!!
Wow that is astounding Jude. I’m happy there was never any archaeological evidence found. Gulp. I suppose if there were many gruesome things going on in London Tower the story doesn’t seem so far out. I truly appreciate you sharing the explanation. As a child was it just a nursery rhyme for you or were you aware that there was more to it?
I had totally forgotten that the London Bridge ended up in Arizona until you mentioned it. I remember when that happened thinking how bizarre to put it in the desert. Haven’t seen it myself! But if you think about it…Vegas has an Eiffel Tower and that isn’t that far from Lake Havasu…kinda all makes sense…not! 🙂 Love your pictures….
Haha Kirt I had not thought of it that way. The monuments are all going on vacation. We are actually flying to Vegas this afternoon so I will be on the look out for other monuments joining the fun.
I really don’t know how the bridge in Arizona has escaped me all these years. Perhaps I just wanted to believe it was a lovely childhood vision.
Thank you for the kind comments on the photos. I do find structures challenging. Should all the lines be straight or can one have creative license?
Creative license is always numero uno:)
Seriously, it depends on what you are trying to accomplish….some structures look better taken at angles…others look better very linear…and when touring…it don’t matter, because you grab what you can when you can!
All right that sounds like a plan. I guess if there is a horizon involved then that needs to be straight right?
Very interesting! Cheers!
Thank you for your visit and taking the time to comment. Much appreciated.
No, I thank you…really nice post with great photos! Have a nice weekend.
I value your kind words. Have a great weekend too!
What an amazing structure. You captured it beautifully. And of course, I know where London Bridge is…. http://livelaughrv.net/2013/11/19/oh-yeah-happy-hour/
Ingrid that is fantastic!! Perhaps his was written before I found you! Thanks so much for sharing it with me and others. I appreciate your kind words about the photography.
I hope the travel is going smoothly and no more ‘incidents’.
I LOVE your husband ! – he sounds just like mine was. 🙂 Had all the information in the world inside his head, and was able to reproduce it at will. Lucky you, Susan !
And I also love (with sympathy) your disappointment. Yes, I had read about LB being sold to the USA somewhere. The story sounded like one of those enormous con tales. [grin]
MR they do sound so similar! You will hear much more about him for sure:) lucky me every day.
Doesn’t it sound like a big con? Good wording 🙂
Hugs from me to you.
The Tower Bridge is a beauty, even if you were expecting the London Bridge. As for the London Bridge, I have waterskied underneath her a time or two in Lake Havasu. She is also rather attractive. 🙂
LuAnn you are the second person to have commented that you have water skied under London Bridge. Makes me smile thinking about it. Glad to hear that at least it is pretty . Hard to beat that Tower one isn’t it? Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to share. Much appreciated.
The Tower Bridge is very impressive! 🙂
It really is! Hubby basically had to pull me away from taking photos at every angle.
It’s such fun to think that the millionaire was duped! Great photos, whatever bridge it is!
It is a fun thought isn’t it? As they are rebuilding it in Arizona with Mr McCulloch overseeing the shocking revelation appears. Makes me giggle thinking of the disappointment. Thanks for the kind comments on the photos. I almost blew right off the bridge that day. Anything for a good shot 🙂
I had a vague memory that the London Bridge was moved to the US years ago, but until I read your post I couldn’t have come up with where it was. It doesn’t seem like it has become a major tourist attraction. I’ve never heard of anyone going to see it.
Sheryl I can’t even say I vaguely heard about it! 🙂 In the comments there are some who have seen it and even water skied under it! I wonder if Mr McCulloch was pleased with the results at the end of it all?
Well I guess I need to join the support group for the bridge bewildered too! hehe. I had no idea that London Bridge was in Arizona, so you’ve taught me something new. Tower Bridge is awesome. Now that’s a bridge worthy of picture taking!
Oh excellent another person for the support group of bridge bewildered.:) I will say although disappointed I loved a Tower Bridge. Hard to take it all in especially through a camera lens. Glad to share my surprise learning.
Nice write up, Sue 🙂
I used to hear my daughter singing this rhyme 🙂
Thank you Sreejith. That’s a lovely vision of her singing. Obviously a world wide children’s song.
I remember when the bridge was sold and shipped out – stone by stone – to Arizona
The take in UK newspapers of the time was that a dumb-assed US millionaire had been duped into buying the wrong bridge 😆
Check out this link – http://www.cracked.com/article_20032_5-terrifying-origin-stories-behind-popular-childrens-songs.html
I remember playing this children’s game when I was a kid
Duncan I so appreciate you sharing this. I can’t imagine the amount of work it must have been to actually move this bridge. It just seems that Mr McCulloch must have been duped. Surely he could have found a plain old bridge must closer to Arizona than moving one from London.
It seems that your link agrees with Jude’s comment about the horrific origin of the rhyme. Sad to imagine such a human sacrifice could have happened and that children around the world sang about it.
Wow … what a story. So far I know that his London brige where my daughter was with her photo on the bridge.
So basically that’s Tower Bridge. Very confusing 🙂
Definitely confusing to me! I would be interested to know what your daughter thinks the name of the bridge is.
Thanks my friend for your response; My daughter said; many people in the confuse about this; between Tower and London Bridge. She said, your travel story is true. London Bridge is not Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is bigger dan London Bridge. 🙂 By the way I admired your travel stories, Keep it up my friend 🙂
Thanks so much and my appreciation to your daughter as well. She is right Tower bridge is bigger and certainly more fun to photograph. 🙂 Thank you for the kind words about the stories. Happy to have you reading and enjoying.
Amazing hisory about London Bridge! I lived in London for years before discovering that ‘London bridge’ was actually ‘Tower bridge’. You’re not the only one, don’t worry 🙂
I appreciate you saying that 🙂 Always nice to know I wasn’t the only one fooled. Thank you for your visit and that reassuring comment.
Thank you for the educational component of my Saturday morning. Add my name to the list of people who didn’t know that. I guess I just assumed that the London Bridge and Tower Bridge were the same thing – although now that I think of it, that was rather dumb of me.
What I find remarkable is that a bridge can be sold and MOVED to another location …. never mind half way around the world!!!
Joanne glad to hear there are numbers adding to the bewildered bridge group. I think children’s illustrators might be held responsible for promoting the misconception.
I wonder if the million pounds paid for the bridge included shipping costs which must have been unbelievable. Perhaps by boat first and then by train to Arizona. Remarkable…or bizarre. One or the other. 🙂
actually ‘stupid’ came to mind, but that might be just me. I can think of a LOT of things to do with a million dollars …. buying a bridge isn’t even close to the top 100.
Well that’s for sure and to think it was a million pounds in the 1960s!
On the plus side, Sue, the one in Arizona obviously isn’t in danger of falling down any time soon. 🙂 Your photos of Tower Bridge really do it justice. Wonderful shots!
Jo there is a positive way of looking at it! Likely no tales of children being sacrificed in the foundation either. ( see Jude’s comments).
Thank you for the kind words on the photos. I felt very lucky to have some a London sunshine that day. Who says it is wet in the UK? 🙂
Rain? Don’t be silly! 🙂
It’s always bright and sunny in your posts:) Careful for the puddles though….
Never knew that! So weird, too! Like, what is London Bridge doing in Arizona of all places? Can you imagine how much it cost to ship that? Boggles the mind. A another wonderful read, Sue! You always make my day with your posts! And now I’m smarter too!
I think we are very like minded Sue. London Bridge in Arizona…it must have cost a scad zillion dollars to get it there and then to rebuild it with all the necessary reinforcement. Mind boggling indeed. Thank you for the generous compliment on the posts Sue. Very kind of you.
Oh, yeah, and Tower Bridge is pretty cool too – can you walk on those upper sections?
We didn’t see anyone up there Sue so I am guessing no. Certainly if I could have found a way I would have given it a try. Always looking for those interesting photos. 🙂
I should have known, but I didn’t know it. I was actually surpriced. Thanks Sue 😉
That makes me feel very good actually Stefy. Perhaps you can quiz your students and see if they know. 🙂
Be sure, I will 😀
I would love to hear the responses Stefy of the pop quiz:)
Great photos…yes I did know London Bridge had gone to Arizona but always imagined it in my minds eye sitting there in some desert! Thanks for setting me straight and so glad it found another river!
Now that would be really something to see if it was sitting in the middle of the sand dunes! Thank you for your kind words about the photos and congrats on knowing that tidbit of history!
Don’t you just love Tower Bridge – so stately yet whimsical at the same time. Beautiful photos. I didn’t know about the bridge relocation until I heard Jerry Jeff Walker sing Gary P. Nunn’s “London Homesick Blues.” I remember saying to James, “Is that true or is he making that up?” 🙂 I’ll stick with Tower Bridge. ~Terri
Terri that’s exactly it. So far fetched is the story that it seems impossible! When researching the post I did see reference to that song but have not actually heard it. Glad we are in agreement on choosing Tower Bridge. Thank you for your generous words re the photos. Busy learning every day. 🙂
Have you headed out on your coastal trip?
Sue, the lyrics to London Homesick Blues are great because they’re written from the perspective of a homesick Texan who just doesn’t seem to fit in in London. It was quite popular when we lived London. http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jerry_jeff_walker/london_homesick_blues.html
Yes, we are enjoying Spring across the coastal South – Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana so far. Right now we’re camped north of New Orleans with access to so many cool places. ~T
I will have a listen for sure Terri. I appreciate the background on the song.
Glad to hear you are camped and enjoying spring. Looking forward to following along on the adventures. Have a great day!
I had no idea that London Bridge was actually in Arizona. Your Tower Bridge photos are lovely, it is a beautiful structure.
Thank you for the kind comment and reassuring me that I am not unique in lacking that trivia 🙂 The Tower Bridge is astounding to see.
That is new to me… Glad I’m not the only one… 🙂 Beautiful bridge!
Thank you so much Amy. It seems like I am not alone in my confusion. 🙂
Tower Bridge is pretty awesome, especially the way you’ve photographed it, Sue. I also used to sing that nursery rhyme, but didn’t realise how true it was. I vaguely recollect hearing about it being sold, but didn’t know the details. Now I wish I’d gone looking for it when I was in Arizona. 🙂
Thank you for your generous words. I didn’t even know bridges could be sold! 🙂 The mammoth task it must have been is hard to imagine. I too wish I would have gone looking for the bridge. Perhaps next time.
I did know about this but completely forgot until I read your post. I’m with you, though. The Tower Bridge is what comes to my mind when I think of London Bridge.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Much appreciated. Glad the same bridge vision comes to mind for you with the age old rhyme. 🙂
Yeah! What is that nursery rhyme all about?! I’ve always thought it was in London. I feel duped but the Tower Bridge looks awesome!
Well there is a replacement bridge in London that is just as ordinary so don’t feel too duped.:) There are theories about the rhyme. Reading through the comments you will see that some are very grim including children being sacrificed and put into the bridge. Gulp. No archaeological evidence of it thank heavens.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated.
Just found this post and thought of you:
http://distantdrumlin.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/thames-path-bridges-and-skyscrapers/
That’s a great post! You mean I wasn’t the only one with the idea? 🙂
Different idea, really 🙂 . But related!
Thanks Bronwyn I will go with that 🙂
Haha love this! I also thought this was London bridge when I first saw it but my know-it-all boyfriend quickly corrected me lol.
Perhaps they are born with some trivia gene these boys? Glad you enjoyed it. Imagine the souvenirs one could buy at the London Bridge in Arizona! I see a post with your name on it. 🙂
well nice blog.!!
Thank you so very much! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂
Ah yes, the He-Thought-He-Was-Getting-Tower-Bridge story – makes me chortle every time! And anyway, the millionaire chap couldn’t possibly have had that one – it’s way too cool to be moved. But there’s another bridge that’s my personal favourite – Westminster, not because it’s a looker in itself, but because it gives me my favourite nighttime view of the city- heading back south over the river with the London Eye all lit up on one side, and looking back at the Palace of Westminster on the other. Magic.
Yes I would agree the Westminster provides night time scenes that are absolutely captivating. Do you live right in London? If you tell me that you get to see that view every night I will have a serious case of envy.
Whether the bewildered bridge story is true or not it certainly has great entertainment value. Having a close up look at Tower Bridge you are right…how could it possibly be moved…and to Arizona no less?
Great series of photos, and really enjoyed the fun history lesson…great reading for the day!
Thank you so much for your visit. I appreciate your generous words. The photos on your blog are outstanding! Have a great day!
Yes at school they taught us about how an American brought the wrong bridge and I was disappointed to read more recently that it’s an urban myth and he didn’t buy the wrong bridge at all and knew exactly what he was getting. Find i hard to believe that someone would knowingly pay all that money for a rather dull concrete bridge though.
I am with you Sarah. After all I’m not sure I would want to admit to such an error. Thank you for your visit and your comment. 🙂
I had no idea there was a London Bridge in Arizona. Thanks for sharing this fun bit of history.
You are most welcome. A big surprise for me that’s for sure 🙂
No, I had no idea it was in Arizona 😀 I love these takes, Sue, all the unusual angles 🙂
You are very kind Paula. We had great fun exploring the bridge however I will admit to almost blowing off of it at one point trying to get a unique shot. 🙂
Can you imagine the cost of shipping a bridge to Arizona from London?
😀 Nope