With London’s defining landmark only 126 years old, the many staff, engineers and visitors today are a key part of its history. The new campaign will celebrate the lives of Tower Bridge today more prominently than ever before; piecing together the story of the people working behind the scenes at the historical bridge, and the visitors who walk its floors.
Tower Bridge wants you!
For a chance to feature in the Lives of a Landmark exhibition, Tower Bridge is launching an open call-out on 1 October to find out the public’s connections with the Bridge. Whether they’ve never been inside or it’s a place that simply inspires, embodies a feeling, or even reminds people of their favourite TV show or film; to those with fond memories of visiting with friends and family, or may have ancestors that worked there.
Stories with an image or video should be submitted via social media with the hashtag #MyTowerBridge, for an opportunity for them to be displayed on a digital screen in the Lives of a Landmark exhibition at Tower Bridge, alongside photography and stories from staff.
All stories will also be in with a chance of winning two complimentary tickets to visit inside Tower Bridge every month throughout the exhibition run.
Documenting today: Visiting Lives of a Landmark exhibition
A photography exhibition capturing images of staff will go on display in the Engine Rooms at Tower Bridge from Friday 16 October 2020, by documentary photographer, Lucy Hunter.
Lucy was commissioned in 2019 to celebrate the monumental 125-year anniversary of the Bridge; tasked with recording the modern life of Tower Bridge and some of the members of staff who worked there in its busiest year. A perfect trip for anybody who wants to know what it’s like to be the Head of Tower Bridge, or to open the great bascules to passing ships every day, can do so by discovering their stories.
Chris Earlie, Head of Tower Bridge, said: “It’s incredible that despite standing as a symbol for our city, the history of London’s defining landmark is so young. Rather than sifting back through the history books, we have the privilege and opportunity to speak directly with the people that have their own stories to tell about the landmark today.
“We can’t wait to see all the wonderful stories that people from all over the world will share with us via #MyTowerBridge.”
Book your visit
A trip to Tower Bridge allows visitors to make their way up the iconic towers and through the high-level West Walkway while learning about workers of the past; before making their way into the Engine Rooms where Lives of a Landmark will go on display. Here, visitors can discover stories from the current staff who look after it today, and the visitors who come every year to see inside London’s defining landmark. They may even see their own stories displayed for all to see!
Opportunities to ‘ask the expert’ which will allow the public to speak in conversation with the workers at Tower Bridge, along with special family activities, are to be announced soon.
For more details and to book, see: https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/lives
Images: M. Holland