This part starts with a brief history of the
River Thames and the bridges that were built across it.
The River Thames (Thames is an old word for river)
crosses London from west to east. The river has played a
very important part in London’s history and development
over the years. The first bridge across the Thames was
made of wood and called London Bridge. Later, in 1209,
a stone bridge was built that lasted for 622 years. It was in
fact, more than just a bridge, as it had shops and people
lived on it. One of the later London Bridges was bought
by an American and is now in the state of Arizona, in the
United States. Today, there are thirty four bridges, the
most famous of which is Tower Bridge, finished in 1894.