Old London Bridge. Artwork dated to 1745 of rowing and sailing boats in rough water next to Old London Bridge, across the Thames, in London, England. This bridge had 19 small arches, some obstructed by waterwheels. There could be a difference in height of two metres between the water levels on either side, and ferocious rapids were common. Many people drowned trying to navigate small boats through the arches. The bridge was also famous for the houses and shops that had been built on it since it was constructed in 1209. The houses were eventually cleared in the period 1758-1762, and the bridge itself was demolished after a new bridge nearby was opened in 1831. This artwork was by the British painter Samuel Scott (1702-1772).