Philatelic Photograph: Millennium Bridge - London, England

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Millennium Bridge

London, England

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

Looking South Across The Thames

Millennuim Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral

GPS: N 51° 30.652; W000° 05.908

Quick Description: 

The Millennium Bridge spans the Thames River between the City of London and Bankside in London.

Long Description:

The London Millennium Footbridge, is a modern design steel suspension pedestrian bridge that crosses the Thames River between the City of London on the north bank to the Bankside section of London on the south, where the Globe Theater is located. Construction of the bridge began in 1998 and was opening in the millennium year on June 10, 2000.

As a result of a design competition the firm of Arup, Foster and Partners and Sir Anthony Caro were awarded the contract for the bridge. For aesthetic reasons, e.g. St. Paul's Cathedral is framed by the bridge when looking north, the profile of the bridge had to be kept low resulting in unusual method of suspending the bridge. Eight tension pulled supporting cables are below the 4 meter wide (13') aluminum deck of the bridge. Two river piers create three main sections. They are, from north to south, 81 meters (266'), 144 meters (472') and 108 meters (354') long. The total length is 325 meters (1,066'). The cables are tensioned to pull with a force of 2,000 tons against the piers and can to support 5,000 people on the bridge at one time.

The bridge seems to soar across the Thames River. To due resonance forces the bridge can sway during windy conditions. Thus, Londoners have nicknames the bridge the Wobbly Bridge. It was seen dramatically destroyed by Death Eaters in the film Harry Potter and the Half Blooded Prince

The stamp is part of a five stamp set issued by Great Britain (U.K.) in 2002 depicting bridges over the Thames River.