“It might have been expected that, in excavating the new foundations, several interesting antiquities would be discovered, illustrative of London history, and of the ancient Bridge in particular; though, if we consider the impetuous rush of the River at this place, it is not surprising that but few articles of value have been yet brought up. The most numerous have been, defaced brass and copper coins of Augustus, Vespasian, and later Roman Emperors; Venetian Tokens; Nuremburg Counters; and a few Tradesmen’s Tokens, very perfect; though I have seen none of persons dwelling on the Bridge itself. There have also been found, an old red earthen pitcher, or bottle, nearly perfect; various rings and buckles of wrought and engraved brass, and silver; some very ancient iron keys, and silver spoons; the remains of a dagger which had once been engraven and gilt, and an iron spear-head, engraven on the shaft; most of which are in the possession of Robert Finch Newman, Esq., the Bridge-House Comptroller; whilst in the City Library, at Guildhall, are some ancient carved stones with dates, found in taking down the Arches of the old Bridge. There has also been discovered a particularly fine bronze lamp, representing a head of Bacchus, wreathed with ivy; standing upon the neck, which is made flat, and on its forehead a circular lid, raised by the two curling horns, whilst a handle is attached to the back of the head. This beautiful antique is in very excellent preservation. One of the most interesting reliques, however, which I have yet seen, is a small Silver Effigy of Harpocrates,

which was presented to the British Museum, by Messrs. Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell, of Ludgate-Hill, November 12th, 1825; and is preserved in the Hamilton Room, No. xii. of the Gallery of Antiquities, Case, No. 11, under the care of Mr. J. T. Smith. The figure is about 2½ inches in height, and one in breadth, and represents the son of Osiris as a winged boy, with his finger pointing to his mouth, as God of Silence; the horns, emblematical of his mother Isis, on his head; and at his feet his other attributes, of a dog, a tortoise, an owl, and a serpent twined round a staff; by the number of which we may guess the figure to have been made in Greece, after the time of Alexander the Great. The style of sculpture is firm and massive; and on the back is a strong rivet, through which pass a large ring and a very delicate chain of pure gold, crossing like four belts in front; it being probably of that class of figures which Winckelmann states to have been worn as amulets, or the attributes of Priests.

“To proceed, however, with New London Bridge, I should state, that, Mr. Rennie, senior, having died in 1821, the works have been principally superintended by his son, Mr. John Rennie; and that the builders, who have contracted to erect it, are Mr. William Jolliffe, and Sir Edward Banks; the original amount of whose contract was £426,000, and £30,000 for making alterations in the present structure; the whole to be completed in six years, from March 2nd, 1824: which contract is now increased to £506,000, by the addition of £8,000 for a new set of centering for the 4th Arch; and of £42,000 granted by the Treasury in 1825, for making the Bridge 6 feet wider; namely, 2 feet in each foot-path, and 2 feet in the carriage-way. The exterior of the edifice will be of three sorts of Granite; the Eastern side being of purple Aberdeen; the Western, of the light-grey Devonshire Haytor; and the Arch-stones of both, united with the red-brown of Peterhead: the heartings of the Piers being of hard Brambley-Fall, Derby, and Whitby stone. These materials are roughly shaped at the quarries; and after being carefully wrought at the Isle of Dogs, are finally dressed and fitted to their places, at the Bridge. The Pier-foundations are formed of piles, chiefly beech, pointed with iron, and driven about 20 feet into the blue clay of the River, about 4 feet apart; having two rows of sills, each averaging about a foot square, and filled in with large blocks of stone, upon which is laid a six-inch beech planking, bearing the first course of masonry. The proposed form of the Bridge is a very flat segment, the rise not being more than 7 feet; and it is to consist of 5 elliptical Arches, having plain rectangular buttresses, standing upon plinths, and cutwaters; with two straight flights of stairs, 22 feet wide, at each end. That on the Western side, at the City end, will, however, cut so deeply into Fishmongers’ Hall, that it is to be taken down, the Corporation paying £20,000 to the Company. My narrative is now so near a termination, that I have to add only a few notices concerning the Bridge-Officers, and a more particular and exact account of the measurements of the new edifice than has yet been recorded. Which dimensions, from high-water line, are as follow:—

Feet. Feet.Inches.
“Centre Arch of the New London Bridge,Span150Rise296
  Piers to ditto, 24 Feet.
Second and Fourth Arches—140—276
  Piers to ditto, 22 Feet.
Land Arches—130—246
  Abutments at the base, 73 Feet.

Total width of water-way, 690 feet; Length of the Bridge including the Abutments, 928 feet; Length within the Abutments, 782 feet; Width of the Bridge from outside to outside of the Parapet, 56 feet; Width of the Carriage-way, 36 feet, and of each Footpath, 9 feet; and the total height of the Bridge on the Eastern side, from low-water, 60 feet.

“All which particulars, however, are much better illustrated by A Ground-Plan and Elevation of The New London Bridge.