London Bridge's construction across the river Thames in London was begun in 1176 by Peter de Colechurch and the work lasted until 1209. The stone bridge replaced a wooden structure that had been damaged by a storm in 1091 and a fire in 1136. The stone bridge had 19 small arches, a gate tower at each end and was wide enough to have houses and shops running along both sides. The arches constricted the flow of the Thames creating a row of fast flowing rapids between them.  London Bridge Reconstruction Ships could not pass under the arches so goods had to be unloaded from ships on one side and reloaded onto new ships on the other.
Mini Timeline
| 1091 | | Violent storm hits London
| | | London was hit by a terrible storm, possibly a tornado. Damage was done to the Tower of London, the old wooden London Bridge and many churches and buildings. | | 1136 | | London Bridge damaged by fire
| | | The old wooden London Bridge across the Thames was destroyed by fire this year or in 1135. Note that St. Paul's was also damaged so the fire must have affected a large area of the city. | | 1176 | | Work begins on new London Bridge
| | | Peter de Colechurch began the construction of a new London Bridge across the Thames, replacing the old wooden structure that had been destroyed by fire in 1136. The new bridge was built of stone and took until 1209 to complete. |
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