London Bridge and its Houses

London Bridge lined with houses from end to end was one of the most extraordinary structures ever seen in London. It was home to over 500 people, perched above the rushing waters of the Thames, and was one of the city’s main shopping streets. It is among the most familiar images of London in the past, but little has previously been known about the houses and the people who lived and worked in them. Dorian Gerhold’s book uses newly-discovered evidence to tell the story of the bridge and its houses and inhabitants.

Dr Gerhold is an independent historian, and was formerly a House of Commons Clerk. He has written about carriers and stage-coaches, industrial history, Westminster Hall, London's suburban villas, urban cartography, Chancery records and Putney (where he lives). He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Society of Antiquaries, and a member of the Council of the London Topographical Society.

Copies of London Bridge and its Houses, c 1209-1761 will be available to purchase on the evening.