The Water-Gate of London: Tower Bridge from the East Side of the Tower, by Joseph Pennell (1857-1926)

The Water-Gate of London: Tower Bridge from the East Side of the Tower

Joseph Pennell (1857-1926)

1899

Illustration for Walter Besant's East London (London: Chatto & Windus, 1901), p. 63.

Scanned image and text by Jacqueline Banerjee

[This image may be used without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

This is the only one of Pennell's illustrations for Chapter 3 to show a mass of people. The new Tower Bridge, opened with much fanfare in 1894 after ten years' work, was a matter of great pride to Londoners. Besant describes it as "the new Water Gate, the noblest and most stately bridge possessed by any city" (61), giving all the measurements and going into some detail about it — its upper walkway, accessed by lifts from the lower level, the action of the bascule, the frequency of opening etc. He also talks of the new road constructed to lead up to the bridge, and delights in the fact that it gives a fresh view of the Tower of London, a view which, he says, he has yet to see represented anywhere. It is the bridge itself that takes centre-stage here. Compare this unusual and stately view of it with the more usual one, seen here, for example. Also, although there are many people, notice how the heavy black used by Pennell makes them look like swarms of ants beneath the magnificent structure.

Bibliography

Besant, Walter. East London. London: Chatto & Windus, 1901.

Last modified 21 April 2008