Lambeth Bridge, which connects Lambeth and Westminster, located where long ago there was a ferry across the River Thames. This is reminiscent of a suitable bridge to the street - Horsferri Road. "Horsferri" is translated as "horse ferry": here cruised to a rare form of transport Thames - ferry, carrying not only the people but also horses with carriages.

From this crossing were related dramatic events. Here in 1633 the ferry sank with things, servants and horses, the Archbishop of Canterbury Lod (his residence - Lambeth Palace - was near), and in 1656 went to the bottom of the ferry crew Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. There were no casualties, but people have regarded the incident as an ominous sign (Cromwell died two years later, Laud was executed - though after 12 years).

Here was shipped across the Thames on the night of December 10th, 1688 Maria Modena, wife of King James II, fled to France from the so-called Glorious Revolution. With the six-month son and two servants had left during the night Maria Whitehall. The night was so dark that closely sitting in the boat, passengers did not see each other. Strong storm. According to some accounts, on the other side of the queen had an hour shivering in the dark and the cold waiting for the crew with the right people, but ended up all right. The next night, the same way he ran and James II. In the middle of the river, he threw it into the water, a great sadness that carried away with itself, suggesting that without her, Wilhelm, overthrew him from the throne, will not be able to rule. Wilhelm was able to, and print many months accidentally caught by fishermen.

The first bridge on the site was built only in 1862. Charles Dickens, Jr. wrote in the "Dictionary of the Thames", "Lambeth Bridge, perhaps the ugliest ever built." It was a simple suspension bridge with no frills, to the extent cost that were used in its construction than traditional chains and ropes. The bridge went unsuccessful: the entrances to it were steep, the horse climbed slowly formed traffic jams. Eventually he became pedestrian.

Modern Lambeth Bridge, designed by engineer Sir George Humphreys and architect Sir Reginald Blomfield and George Forrest, was inaugurated in 1932 by King George V. It pyatiarochny steel bridge, which arches and lattice painted red - the color of the leather benches in the House of Lords. It is decorated with eight cast-iron lanterns in the center - two granite and four obelisks at the entrance.

Obelisks are topped with large stone cones - or pineapple. According to urban legend, this is pineapple, raised in memory of the Lambeth area resident John Tradescant Jr., royal gardener. They say that it is the first in the UK has grown pineapples.