Writer’s Journal – London Bridge

An update on where I’m currently at…

I think I can say that I am about half-way through my new novel, and as I’m spending more time on it than I was a year ago, this means that I am aiming for it to be finished by the end of this year.

Writing novels with a lot of historical content is time consuming because there is so much research involved – and I like to get things right (though I probably don’t always).  Sometimes this is enjoyable and fascinating, and sometimes it’s frustrating because I just want to get on with the writing!

I’m currently doing some enjoyable and fascinating research though – I’ve been looking into the history of London Bridge – particularly during the Tudor period.

I always knew of course that there were buildings on the bridge from the middle-ages up until the 18^th century, but the details of the bridge during this time are far more intriguing than I ever imagined!

If you are familiar with J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, then you will know about Diagon Alley, the London street for wizards, hidden from muggles.  If you haven’t read them or seen the films, then imagine, if you will, the Shambles in York, or just google ‘medieval street’. 

Now imagine this street is actually a bridge crossing a wide river.  The buildings – some five or six storeys high – hang out way over the water, supported by long piers and beams underneath, and arch across the bridge, with alleyways underneath.  The street itself is about twenty feet wide, and unless you entered one of the buildings and looked out of the windows at the back, much of the time you probably would not feel that you were on a bridge at all.

All the ground floors of the buildings are shops.  But in this case, not wizarding shops, but mostly haberdashers, glovers, cloth and linen sellers or trades such as bowyers and fletchers.  Imagine going to London Bridge to buy your ribbons, buttons, fabrics, or even your bow and arrows.

Towards the end of the street is a chapel.  Between the buildings there are gaps to accommodate two drawbridges with towers.  Above the shops the buildings were residential, with halls, kitchens and bedchambers like any other house.

The street is full of people – vendors, merchants, servants, peasants and the wealthy mingle together, as well as livestock being driven from south to north, or vice versa.  It’s crowded, noisy, smelly and enormously exciting.

Got it?  Then you have some idea of what it would have been like to be on London Bridge in the early 16^th century. 

Just a word of warning if you’re squeamish though.  Don’t look up when you reach the southern drawbridge tower (or later in the century on the stone south gate).  There you will find heads of the latest traitors on the ends of spikes; a gruesome warning to anyone not to attempt to challenge the Crown of England.

Historical research is such fun!