Four hundred years after the first London Bridge was built we are able to see how it has significantly changed thanks to paintings by artist Robin Reynolds.

The Bridge is one of the main tourist attractions in London. It sits in the heart of London and there have been four bridges at the site on the River Thames since 1176, as well as being sited near the Tower of London.

Reynolds has updated that classic view for the present day, recreating Claes Visscher, a Dutch Golden Age draughtsman and mapmakers perspective as closely as possible, with the changes that are evident in 2016.

However, the London Bridge that we love and know did not always look like this and has transformed significantly over the centuries. Many era’s of history contributed to the modern Bridge that we have now; from the Romans to Medieval contributions and the influences of the Victorian architects.

From Reynolds paintings there is still a river crossing called London Bridge in the same place as the medieval version – but it is no longer lined with houses and shops, and fortunately lacks the heads of beheaded traitors. Also, the 1990s reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe theatre can be seen on the South Bank, a few hundreds metres from the site of the original. It is evident that from the original painting, church buildings dominated the London Bridge scene however city skyscrapers and skylines seem to take over the frame in Reynolds modern painting.

We can be very much assured that in the next few decades the infamous bridge will undergo many more changes.

So here’s to the next 400 years !