Some scholars believe that the English nursery rhyme tells the story of a Viking attack, while others think it's about human sacrifice.
“London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
Off to prison you must go,
You must go, you must go;
Off to prison you must go,
My fair lady.”
Alternate verses.
Though the reality of that attack has never been proven, the tale of it inspired a collection of Old Norse poems written in 1230, containing a verse that sounds close to the nursery rhyme. It translates to “London Bridge is broken down. Gold is won, and bright renown.”
But that wasn’t the only event that could have inspired the London Bridge rhyme. Part of the bridge was damaged in 1281 due to ice damage, and it was weakened by multiple fires in the 1600s — including the Great Fire of London in 1666.
Despite all of its structural failures, the London Bridge survived for 600 years and never actually “fell down” as the nursery rhyme implies. When it was finally demolished in 1831, it was only because it was more cost-effective to replace it rather than repair it.
One dark theory behind the bridge’s longevity maintains that there were bodies encased in its moorings.
Thanks for that. This is why I love these communities. So many smart people with all sorts of nuggets of information. Do you know much about "ring a ring a rosy" - I heard that nursery rhyme was about the plague.
London Bridge is falling down… falling down falling down.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/london-bridge-is-falling-down
Some scholars believe that the English nursery rhyme tells the story of a Viking attack, while others think it's about human sacrifice.
“London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady.
Off to prison you must go, You must go, you must go; Off to prison you must go, My fair lady.”
Alternate verses. Though the reality of that attack has never been proven, the tale of it inspired a collection of Old Norse poems written in 1230, containing a verse that sounds close to the nursery rhyme. It translates to “London Bridge is broken down. Gold is won, and bright renown.”
But that wasn’t the only event that could have inspired the London Bridge rhyme. Part of the bridge was damaged in 1281 due to ice damage, and it was weakened by multiple fires in the 1600s — including the Great Fire of London in 1666. Despite all of its structural failures, the London Bridge survived for 600 years and never actually “fell down” as the nursery rhyme implies. When it was finally demolished in 1831, it was only because it was more cost-effective to replace it rather than repair it. One dark theory behind the bridge’s longevity maintains that there were bodies encased in its moorings.
Thanks for that. This is why I love these communities. So many smart people with all sorts of nuggets of information. Do you know much about "ring a ring a rosy" - I heard that nursery rhyme was about the plague.