London Bridge & The Thames

Question 1

Why did the Romans choose to build the bridge where they did?

Answer 1

It was the most narrow and shallow part and the point the tidal waves stopped

Question 2

What are the theories of where the nursery rhyme London Bridge is Falling Down came from?

Answer 2

1. Parts of the bridge collapsing from deterioration
2. The incidence when the Saxons, led by Olaf the Norwegian Prince and his army pulled down the bridge to invade the Vikings in 1014
3. Great Fire of London

Question 3

What year in the 1800s did a new bridge began being built and by who? How long did it last?

Answer 3

1831 by John Rennie lasting only 100 years whilst slowly sinking

Question 4

The bridge built in 1831 was sold to who?

Answer 4

An American for $2.46 million. It was moved to Arizona but it’s speculated the buyer thought he was purchasing the Tower Bridge

Question 5

What year of the 1900s was a new bridge built and opened by who?

Answer 5

1983 and opened by Queen Elizabeth - still the current bridge

Question 6

What was the London Bridge sometimes used for in medieval times?

Answer 6

A gallery to display the heads of traitors on spikes.

Question 7

Whose famous heads were displayed on the London bridge?

Answer 7

Guy Fawkes and Thomas Moore

Question 8

When was Guy Fawkes executes?

Answer 8

1606

Question 9

What was the Gunpowder Plot?

Answer 9

A plot by Guy Fawkes and friends to detonate 36 barrels of explosive gunpowder beneath the Houses of Parliament, also meant to destroy Westminster Abbey and Whitehall

Question 10

Who would the Gunpowder Plot have killed?

Answer 10

The entire royal family except the daughter, Elizabeth and most of the government and leaders of state

Question 11

What was the purpose of the Gunpowder Plot?

Answer 11

Guy Fawkes and friends wanted to set up a Roman Catholic Church in England (who were being heavily oppressed at the time) and thought they could puppet Elizabeth, the remaining royal, into doing so

Question 12

What is Guy Fawkes’ legacy?

Answer 12

Protest - V for Vendetta and other media such as Mr Robot have popularised the Guy Fawkes mask which symbolises protest

Question 13

What other purpose was the River Thames used for?

Answer 13

Sewerage disposal

Question 14

What did the River Thames become prior to the 1800s?

Answer 14

A breeding grounds for disease such as cholera and typhoid

Question 15

What was the name of the man who discovered a cholera outbreak from a singular drinking pump?

Answer 15

John Snow in 1854

Question 16

How many people did the cholera outbreak of 1853-1854 kill?

Answer 16

10,000 before John Snow disabled the pump

Question 17

How many people did the 1831-1832 and 1848-1849 cholera outbreaks kill?

Answer 17

20,000

Question 18

What did officials believe the source of the outbreaks of cholera was?

Answer 18

From the smell of the River Thames (sewerage)

Question 19

What year was The Great Stink?

Answer 19

1858

Question 20

Who was the first sewerage system created by and what year was it finally completed?

Answer 20

Joseph Bazalgette in 1870 the Victoria and Albert embankments were completed