Choosing Britain's Best Buildings

Page 6 of 9

• 1. Starting the selection
• 2. Why four buildings?
• 3. Durham Cathedral
• 4. Windsor Castle
• 5. Blenheim Palace
• 6. Tower Bridge
• 7. Holyroodhouse
• 8. Highpoint
• 9. Find out more
• Print entire article

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge, in London, conceived and built during the 1870s, 80s and 90s, encapsulates the struggle between the artist architect and the engineer, between a concern for history (the new bridge had to sit happily beside the ancient Tower of London) and the application of modern building technology. Tower Bridge is - in a very idiosyncratic way - a happy marriage of these potentially conflicting concerns, and perfectly encapsulates the topsy-turvy artistic tastes and values of late Victorian Britain.

'It quickly became, and remains, a symbol, an image, of the city where it was built.'

Curiously, of all the structures discussed in the television series and book, Tower Bridge is the only one that - virtually upon completion - passed straight from mere function into myth. It quickly became, and remains, a symbol, an image, of the city where it was built.

The four additional buildings in the book, are Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh; Cardiff Castle; The Midland Grand Hotel, St. Pancras Station, London; and Highpoint, London.

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Published: 2002-11-01