LAUNCHING A LANDMARKTHE UNSEEN OPENING WEEKS

In the depths of his family’s attic, Patrick Cruttwell Molineux stumbles upon hidden treasures, long forgotten by time.

Among the dust of two archive boxes of family papers, he uncovered some rare documents: candid photographs of Tower Bridge’s construction, intimate letters exchanged between architectural giants, and more.

Each discovery reveals a forgotten chapter of history meticulously preserved by his great-grandfather, Edward Cruttwell.

The project of bringing colour to historic photographs is a meticulous and fascinating process, blending advanced technology with artistic sensitivity.

Discover more about the process of how the team brought out the historical detail in these photographs, making these images vibrant and accessible for contemporary audiences.

As the population of Victorian London expanded, so did the need for better transportation. The city was crying out for a new bridge to help ease the traffic over the Thames.  

Take a journey with us through time, to the Victorian era, and discover the race to build a new river crossing for the people of London.  

From architects to riveters, engineers to divers, there are so many different people with varied careers who contributed to the building of Tower Bridge.

Discover more about the people who helped launch the landmark.   

As the first Superintending Engineer of Tower Bridge, Edward Cruttwell oversaw the building of the new Bridge.

In the last few weeks before its opening, he commissioned a photographer to document the final works. These pictures were only recently rediscovered by his family.

The 19th century saw a huge change in how people viewed clothes and fashion.

From bowler hats to Sunday best, help us unpick the clues found in Victorian clothing which show insights into the people featured in these previously-unseen pictures.

We interviewed Art and Cultural Historian Michael I. Ohajuru, who was able to help paint a picture of the diverse society in late 19th century London, at the time Tower Bridge was built.