Joseph Mallord William Turner

Old London Bridge with Piledrivers on the River Thames

?1824

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Old London Bridge Sketchbook
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 98 x 162 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D17848
Turner Bequest CCV 8

Catalogue entry

This view shows the southern end of the upstream side of Old London Bridge from the west, focusing on the early stages of building operations for its replacement, which began in March 1824. The vertical features are piledrivers used in establishing coffer-dams in the river to facilitate the construction of the new bridge’s piers. The wisp of smoke towards the left comes from a smoke-stack above the hull of a vessel, apparently steam-powered itself or bearing a steam engine on its deck. As so often, Turner has made careful written notes of the workers’ dress. Around the right-hand end of the drawing are supplementary sketches of the waterfront.
More than half the drawings in this sketchbook show the river around the bridge, and are likely to date from 1824; see the Introduction.

Matthew Imms
December 2014

Read full Catalogue entry

Explore

You might like

Left Right
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Old London Bridge; Stagings, Piledrivers and the Thames Waterfront’ ?1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner Old London Bridge; Stagings, Piledrivers and the Thames Waterfront

?1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘A Coffer-Dam and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with the Shot Tower Beyond’ 1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner A Coffer-Dam and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with the Shot Tower Beyond

1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Coffer-Dams and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with St Magnus the Martyr’s Church and the Monument; Southwark Bridge with St Paul’s Cathedral’ 1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner Coffer-Dams and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with St Magnus the Martyr’s Church and the Monument; Southwark Bridge with St Paul’s Cathedral

1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Staging and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with St Magnus the Martyr’s Church and the Monument Beyond’ ?1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner Staging and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with St Magnus the Martyr’s Church and the Monument Beyond

?1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Old London Bridge with Piledrivers and the Thames Waterfront below Southwark Cathedral’ ?1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner Old London Bridge with Piledrivers and the Thames Waterfront below Southwark Cathedral

?1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Old London Bridge on the River Thames from the Pool of London with Southwark Cathedral Beyond’ ?1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner Old London Bridge on the River Thames from the Pool of London with Southwark Cathedral Beyond

?1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘London Bridge with Thames Barges’ 1820–5

Joseph Mallord William Turner London Bridge with Thames Barges

1820–5
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Coffer-Dams and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with St Magnus the Martyr’s Church and the Monument’ 1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner Coffer-Dams and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with St Magnus the Martyr’s Church and the Monument

1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Lord Mayor’s Day Pageant on the River Thames at Blackfriars Bridge or Waterloo Bridge’ 1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner The Lord Mayor’s Day Pageant on the River Thames at Blackfriars Bridge or Waterloo Bridge

1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘A Coffer-Dam and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with the Shot Tower Beyond’ 1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner A Coffer-Dam and Piledrivers on the River Thames above Old London Bridge, with the Shot Tower Beyond

1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Boats on the River Thames off Old London Bridge and Southwark Bridge’ 1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner Boats on the River Thames off Old London Bridge and Southwark Bridge

1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Shipping on the River Thames off the Tower of London; the Hulk ‘Perseus’; the Pool of London with Old London Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral Beyond’ ?1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner Shipping on the River Thames off the Tower of London; the Hulk ‘Perseus’; the Pool of London with Old London Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral Beyond

?1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The London Bridge Foundation Stone Ceremony: The Marquee beside Old London Bridge, with Thames Barges’ 1825

Joseph Mallord William Turner The London Bridge Foundation Stone Ceremony: The Marquee beside Old London Bridge, with Thames Barges

1825
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Lord Mayor’s Day Pageant on the River Thames at Blackfriars Bridge or Waterloo Bridge’ 1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner The Lord Mayor’s Day Pageant on the River Thames at Blackfriars Bridge or Waterloo Bridge

1824
View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Lord Mayor’s Day Pageant on the River Thames at Blackfriars Bridge or Waterloo Bridge’ 1824

Joseph Mallord William Turner The Lord Mayor’s Day Pageant on the River Thames at Blackfriars Bridge or Waterloo Bridge

1824
View by appointment