skip nav search

Family favourite object one

Watercolour illustration of a model of London Bridge in 1440

These two huge models of London Bridge show what it was like in 1440 and 1600. The Romans first built a crossing at the location of the current London Bridge around 2000 years ago. By 1440 there were many shops and buildings on the Bridge.  Are there any today?

If you travelled over the Bridge you would have seen skulls on poles. These were the skulls of traitors who had been killed. In those days a traitor was someone who didn’t agree with the King or Queen. The skulls were a warning to obey the Royal Family. 

Find out more by visiting our Thames Highway gallery and completing this London Bridge models challenge (Word 661kb).

The Museum of London Group is funded by the City of London and the Greater London Authority. Museum of London, London Wall, LONDON EC2Y 5HN, United Kingdom. Copyright & legal notices. This site is maintained by the Museum IT Team.