Lambeth Bridge — The Spy's Crossing

Lambeth Bridge in London is a red-painted bridge opened in 1932 whose color matches the leather benches of the nearby House of Lords. Built by Dorman Long, the crossing replaced a historic horse ferry where Oliver Cromwell's coach sank in 1656. Following a deadly flood on January 7, 1928 that claimed 14 lives, the surrounding area was rebuilt, leading to the construction of Thames House, which became the headquarters of MI5 in 1994.

London · from the walk “Secrets of Westminster & MI6” · audio ~3 min · Generated

Lambeth Bridge, London SW1P 4JU

Why is London's Lambeth Bridge painted red?

You are standing on one of London's most quietly dramatic bridges... Lambeth Bridge. Painted a deep, striking red. Now, most people assume it is just a design choice. But look across the river at the Palace of Westminster... the red matches the leather benches of the House of Lords, the nearest chamber to this bridge. And Westminster Bridge, further north? That one is green... to match the House of Commons. A hidden colour code, right under your feet.......... But the story of this crossing goes back Centuries before any bridge existed here. For hundreds of years, the only way to get a horse across the Thames in central London... was a rickety horse ferry, right on this spot. It was owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose Lambeth Palace still stands just over there on the south bank. And this ferry was Notorious for disaster. In sixteen thirty three, the ferry sank while carrying Archbishop Laud's servants and horses to his new residence. Everyone survived... but the incident was later seen as a dark omen, because Laud was eventually executed for treason. Then in sixteen fifty six, Oliver Cromwell's coach and horses went straight to the bottom of the Thames in the Same spot. Three of his horses drowned, still harnessed to the carriage. People whispered that he, too, was heading for disaster.......... And then... one stormy December night in sixteen eighty eight, Queen Mary of Modena, wife of King James the Second, fled across this very ferry in darkness with her baby son, escaping England during the Glorious Revolution. The night was so dark the passengers could not even see each other in the boat.......... Now, the bridge you are standing on today opened in nineteen thirty two, built by Dorman Long... the same company that constructed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But what Shaped this entire neighbourhood? A catastrophe. On the seventh of January, nineteen twenty eight, the Thames burst its embankment right Here near Lambeth Bridge, sending a wall of water into the surrounding streets. Fourteen people died, many of them trapped in basement flats. The destruction was so total that the entire Millbank area was rebuilt from scratch... and That is how Thames House came to be built right at the bridge's northern end.......... And Thames House? Since nineteen ninety four, it has been the headquarters of MI Five, Britain's domestic intelligence service. Look downstream toward Vauxhall Bridge, and you will spot the unmistakable ziggurat of the MI Six building. You are standing between Both of Britain's spy headquarters. There are even rumours of a secret tunnel running beneath the river, connecting them. Whether that is true... well, nobody is telling.

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