Современная архитектура. Гусева О.Г - 15 стр.

UptoLike

ВУЗ: 

УлГТУ | Ульяновск

Составители: 

Рубрика: 

14
The first bridge was built of wood, and it is guessed that the planks of which it was
made were put together so loosely that there were cracks between, because in the
river-bed below, many ancient coins have been found, and it is supposed that they
must have been dropped by the people crossing the bridge. The people had to pay
money for crossing, they had their money ready and so it was easy for them to lose it.
In the year 1212a most terrible accident befell the bridge then standing, which
was the first one built of stone. It had only been finished about twelve years when a
great fire broke out on the south side of the river not far from its end. Hundreds of
people ran across the bridge, or stood on it, in order to watch the fire. At last the fire
caught the south end of the bridge itself, and the people began to crowd backwards; but
there was a strong wind blowing, and it carried the flames over the heads of the
people to the north end of the bridge, which also began to burn, and so the people
were in a position of great danger between two fires! A panic began, people ran to and
fro; the strong trampled down the weak, and some went almost mad with fear as they
saw that the two fires were approaching each other. Hundreds jumped into the
water. Some were saved in the boats, but others were drowned. Something like
3,000 people perished (burned or drowned) that day!
After that the bridge had to be rebuilt, and it is this bridge generally called Old
London Bridge, which is the most interesting of all. It really was a wonderful piece of
work. On each side were houses which projected out above the water. The houses
formed a street, which was very narrow and dark because the upper storeys of the
houses were built out toward each other, as was the fashion in those days. There
were shops on the ground floors of the houses. Upon the bridge, besides the houses,
which were as charming as a picture, though no doubt very inconvenient to live in,
there were other objects of great interest. For instance, there was the Chapel of St
Thomas, in two storeys, most beautifully built. The windows were of stained glass,
and the pillars were carved. At one end of the bridge stood a very remarkable house
called Nonsuch House,* and indeed it is quite likely there was none such another
house in the world, not a nail was used in its construction. The pieces were made in
Holland. The front was wonderfully carved, and on each side rose domes with short
spires. In the middle of the bridge was a drawbridge - that is a part which could be
drawn up so as to leave a gap and thus prevent any enemy from passing over into the
City. As there was no other bridge at that time, this really did prove a defence. At the
south end of the bridge was the great gate on which the heads of the executed people
were set on poles.
Of all the stories about the bridge none is more interesting than that of the
apprentice, Edward Osborne. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, there lived on
London Bridge a rich merchant. He had several apprentices, of which Edward was
one. One day Edward was looking out over the river in his master's house, suddenly
he saw his master's only little daughter, Anne, fall from an open window, where she
had been playing. The boy jumped into the water and saved the drowning child.
When they grew up, Edward married Anne and finally became Lord Mayor of
London, and was called Sir Edward Osborne.

Страницы