Bow Bridge was a stone bridge built over the River Lea, in what is now London, in the twelfth century. It took its name from the distinctively bow-shaped (curved) arches.
It linked Bow in Middlesex with Stratford in Essex. The name has also been applied to replacement structures, with the current structure also, and more commonly, known as Bow Flyover.
The Roman Road from Aldgate to Essex and East Anglia had previously forded the Lea further north, upstream, at Old Ford; the new crossing led the highway to take a more southerly route. The road is known by various names throughout its length, for instance Bow Road (in Bow) and High Street and Romford Road in Stratford, while the whole road was long known as the Great Essex Road.
Prior to the construction of the first bridge, settlements on both sides of the river were known as Stratford. Afterwards, the western Stratford settlement become suffixed by “-atte-Bow” (at the Bow), eventually becoming known simply as Bow. The eastern Stratford became suffixed by "Langthorne" after a large and notable tree, but lost that suffix over time and is now known simply as Stratford.
There was a battle at Bow Bridge, on 4th June 1648, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
Origin
In 1110 Matilda, wife of Henry I, attempted to cross the Lea to get to Barking Abbey. The Queen (or some of her retinue) fell into the water while fording the Lea, a dangerous situation, especially with the heavy clothes worn by many women of the era.
Building
As a result of the incident, Matilda ordered a distinctively bow-shaped (arched) bridge to be built over the River Lea, on which stood a chapel dedicated to St Katherine. The bridge was built in what was then an agricultural area, east of the Aldgate on London's city wall. The bridge was accompanied by four smaller bridges over the associated Bow Back Rivers. These were to be linked by a new stretch of road on a raised causeway along the line now occupied by Stratford High Street.
The five bridges, from west to east, were: Bow Bridge, the largest, crossing the main channel of the Lea. St Michael's Bridge (also known as Harrow Bridge), over the western branch of the Waterworks River. Pegshole Bridge, over the eastern branch of the waterworks River. St Thomas of Acre's Bridge (often abbreviated to St Thomas's Bridge), over the Three Mills Back River. Channelsea Bridge, the second largest, crossing the Channelsea River. During the 19th century, confusion over the ownership of Pegshole and St Thomas Bridge led to the name of the two to be transposed
Maintenance
Initially, local land and Abbey Mill were given to Barking Abbey for the maintenance of the bridge, but these properties and the responsibility eventually passed to Stratford Langthorne Abbey. The Abbess of Barking and Abbot of West Ham (i.e. Stratford Langthorne Abbey) argued about the obligation, a dispute that was settled in 1315. West Ham was to maintain the bridge and highway, but the Abbess would pay £200 annually in recompense. The Abbey's subsequent dissolution caused further lengthy litigation over maintenance of the bridge at Bow – with the successor landowners found responsible in 1691. The matter was not finally resolved until 1834, with the formation of a Turnpike Trust.
In Song
Various versions of the nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down make reference to Bow Bridge. The oldest known version could be that recalled by a correspondent to the Gentleman's Magazine in 1823, which he claimed to have heard from a woman who was a child in the reign of Charles II (r. 1660–1685) and had the lyrics:
There are a number of theories about the identity of the Fair Lady, including the idea that it may refer to Matilda, the builder of Bow Bridge and its neighbours, or that it may apply to the River Lea itself.
In Literature
In 1724, Daniel Defoe began publication of his account, A Tour thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain, of his travels around Britain. He begins his tour in Essex, starting with the crossing of the Lea at Bow Bridge:
Strategic position
The bridge was formerly the lowest crossing of what was once a much wilder, river that formed a much greater barrier to the east-west movement of trade and of armies. The Essex forces of the Peasants Revolt passed over the bridge in 1381, while Essex supporters of the Lancastrian cause passed over in 1471 during the Wars of the Roses. They would take part in an unsuccessful assault on Aldgate, Bishopsgate and London's defensive wall during an action known as the Siege of London.