These measures being taken, orders were
soon given for taking down the houses on
both sides of the way, for a considerable
distance north of the gate.  This not on-
ly pleased every inhabitant of the city of
London and the borough of Southwark,
but every one who had occasion to
pass and repass over this useful bridge;
and all whose business leads them to
pass in any kind of craft thro' the arches,
began to please themselves with the
thought, that their lives would hereafter
be secure in the exercise of their lawful
employments.

The houses and arches that extended
across the bridge being taken down, in
all the middle part of that structure a
strong temporary bridge, made of wood,
was with amazing expedition erected up-
on the western sterlings of the old struc-
ture, for the passage of carriages, horse-
men, and foot passengers, till the intended
alterations should be completed; and this
edifice, which was rendered as safe and
convenient as possible, was opened in Oc-
tober 1757.

But when the pavement was dug up,
and an opening made into the cavities of
all the piers; when some of them were
demolished almost to the water's edge,
and the whole space where the houses had
been taken down was a confused heap of
ruins, that had not the least resemblance
of a bridge, the temporary structure burst
into a flame, and was intirely consumed.

The fire began on Tuesday the 11th of
April 1758, at about eleven at night; and
by nine o'clock the next morning, the
whole temporary bridge was consumed;
though the drawbridge and some pieces
of timber among the ruins of the old
structure continued burning all the next
day.

Various have been the reports of the
manner in which this useful structure was