My London Shoes approach has always been to focus on the lesser known and perhaps more unusual aspects of London’s history (old or more recent), whether it be landmarks/places/streets/people or anything else. I’ve always deliberately steered clear of the more popular, well known tourist attraction type landmarks scattered across the capital – for no other reason than the fact that their history is generally already known.
However – this particular Shoes blog is a bit of a weird one, as the subject matter is actually part of most probably, one of the most instantly globally recognised London landmarks – but I’m fairly sure that this specific fact about it, is probably not universally well known.
So……the subject matter for this Shoes publication is:-
“DEAD MAN’S HOLE”
TOWER BRIDGE – LONDON SE1
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“Dead Man’s Hole” is situated directly under the northern end, eastern side of the iconic and globally recognised London landmark…..Tower Bridge.
Without doubt Tower Bridge is (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful sites along the River Thames.
Officially opened in 1894, this historic steel framed bridge clad with Portland stone and granite, spans 244 metres across the Thames connecting the London Borough of Tower Hamlets at its northern end – to the London Borough of Southwark at its southern end.
During the construction of Tower Bridge, its Victorian designers/architects decided it might be a good idea to build a mortuary underneath its northern end – for the specific purpose of dealing with the aftermath of any dead bodies that might be washed ashore near the Bridge’s northern pier.
Throughout history (and even today), as with any major river or waterway the River Thames has seen its fair share of dead bodies as a result of drowning / suicides / murders / accidents etc – and because it is tidal, its brutal currents and under currents often lead to bodies being washed up and congregating at that particular part of the riverbank.
So those clever Victorians built “Dead Man’s Hole” into the northern end of Tower Bridge.
Dead Man’s Hole is probably best described as an alcove on the River’s edge that acts as a sort of architectural ‘net’ to capture bodies that have been carried down the Thames and left floating around Tower Bridge.
This specifically designed alcove has a sets of stone steps that lead directly down to the water’s edge (in low tide) so that, with the aid of a very long pole with a hook on the end of it – corpses could be captured and stabilised in the fast moving tide, and then pulled to the shore – then placed in the Dead Man’s Hole mortuary – so that the investigation and identification processes could be undertaken prior to eventual burial.
It is quite noticeable that one of the main features of Dead Man’s Hole is that it’s walls are completely covered with glossy white tiles.
Now – there is a very good reason for this tiling, because quite often, when decomposed corpses were dragged from the River, they had a tendency to ‘explode’ all over the place, due to the pressure of the bodily gasses built up inside – and so the white tiled walls provided a practical way of keeping the Dead Man’s Hole site clean and sanitised at all times.
Today – Dead Man’s Hole is sealed off from the public by large iron gates – but you can easily stick a camera through the rails (as my London Shoes did) to take photos of this unique historic albeit gruesome London landmark.
To get a closer look at Dead Man’s Hole from differing angles, my London Shoes climbed a wall and railings to the eastern side of the site, to get a view of it looking westwards up the Thames – then I went up onto Tower Bridge, walked a few hundred yards then turned around to look northwards, viewing the site from south to north – which enabled me to take some close-up photos of looking down into this unusual interesting historic London landmark.
Dead Man’s Hole ceased being used as as a mortuary, around the 1940’s – but I wonder just how many of the (estimated) 40,000 people who cross the Bridge every day – are actually aware of the gruesome historic part of the Bridge, directly below them – not many I bet.
Anyway – following an interesting and enjoyable time seeking out and exploring the Dead Man’s Hole site – and with thoughts of all those exploding bodies in my head, my London Shoes felt in need of a little liquid refreshment – and having wandered across Tower Bridge to its southern end – I turned left and made my way along Shad Thames to Bermondsey and headed to a famous old pub called ‘The Angel’.
The Angel is a Grade II Listed pub which dates back to 1830 – but there is a lot of history attached to the site and local area.
It is said that the captain of the Mayflower hired his crew from drinkers in the Angel pub, and Captain James Cook is said to have mapped out his Pacific voyages in the pub, or nearby.
Local folklore also claims that George Jeffreys (the notorious “Hanging Judge”) regularly drank at the Angel while watching executions across the Thames at Execution Dock in Wapping.
The interior walls of the pub are covered in paintings and other seafaring type memorabilia creating a very Victorian vibe to the place – and apparently, famous artists Turner and Whistler, are all believed to have knocked out some of their Thames drawings/paintings from the pub site.
Enjoying views of the River Thames from inside The Angel was an ideal place for my London Shoes to sink a couple of ‘cheeky’ ones before heading off back home.
Hope you enjoyed my Dead Man’s Hole story and its accompanying photos.
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Below are the entire gallery of photos take to accompany this London Shoes blog
Officially opened in 1894, the historic steel framed Tower Bridge clad with Portland stone and granite, spans 244 metres across the Thames connecting the London Borough of Tower Hamlets at its northern end – to the London Borough of Southward at its southern end.
Steps at the eastern side of the northern end of Tower Bridge – that lead down to the Dead Man’s Hole site.
At the bottom of the stairs on the eastern side of Tower Bridge – is the entrance to the Dead Man’s Hole alcove – that sits directly under the Bridge
During the construction of Tower Bridge, its Victorian designers/architects decided it might be a good idea to build a mortuary underneath its northern end – for the specific purpose of dealing with the aftermath of any dead bodies that might be washed ashore near the Bridge’s northern pier.
Me & my London Shoes – alongside the gates of Dead Man’s Hole – Tower Bridge
A view of the Dead Man’s Hole alcove from its gates
A view of Dead Man’s Hole – with its distinctive white tiled walls – which are there for a purpose
There is a very good reason for this tiling, because quite often, when decomposed corpses were dragged from the River, they had a tendency to ‘explode’ all over the place, due to the pressure of the bodily gasses built up inside – and so the white tiled walls provided a practical way of keeping the Dead Man’s Hole site clean and sanitised at all times.
Dead Man’s Hole is probably best described as an alcove on the River’s edge that acts as a sort of architectural ‘net’ to capture bodies that have been carried down the Thames and left floating around Tower Bridge.
The Dead Man’s Hole alcove has a sets of stone steps that lead directly down to the water’s edge (in low tide) so that, with the aid of a very long pole with a hook on the end of it – corpses could be captured and stabilised in the fast moving tide, and then pulled to the shore – then placed in the Dead Man’s Hole mortuary
Dead Man’s Hole riverside entrance – looking westwards down the Thames
Dead Man’s Hole riverside entrance – looking eastwards down the Thames
Me & my London Shoes – on the western side of Dead Man’s Hole – looking eastwards down the Thames
To get a closer look at Dead Man’s Hole from differing angles, my London Shoes climbed a wall and railings to the easter side of the site, so as to get a view of it
To get a view looking into Dead Man’s Hole, my London Shoes went up onto Tower Bridge, walked a few hundred yards southwards down it – then turned around to look northwards, viewing the site from south to north – which enabled me to take some close-up photos of looking down into this unusual interesting historic London landmark.
A view of Dead Man’s Hole from Tower Bridge
A much closer view of Dead Man’s Hole slipway and stairs – from Tower Bridge
Me & my London Shoes up on Tower Bridge – having checked out its historic Dead Man’s Hole.
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THE ANGEL – BERMONDSEY
The ANGEL Bermondsey Wall East London SE16
Me & my London Shoes outside the historic Angel pub next to the River, in Bermondsey – SE London
The current pub building dates to 1830 – but there is a lot of history attached to the site and local area.
It is said that the captain of the Mayflower hired his crew at the Angel pub, and that Captain James Cook is said to have mapped out his Pacific voyages in the pub, or nearby.
Local folklore also claims that George Jeffreys (the notorious “Hanging Judge”) regularly drank at the Angel while watching executions across the Thames at Execution Dock.
Samuel Pepys wrote about the Angel in his diaries in 1682 and referred to it as “the famous Angel”.
Famous artists Turner and Whistler, are all believed to have done some of their Thames drawings/paintings from the pub.
The Angel is divided into several small rooms whose walls are covered in paintings and other memorabilia creating a very Victorian vibe to the place.
A nice refreshing ‘cheeky’ one just waiting to be consumed in The Angel – Bermondsey
Me & my London Shoes enjoying a refreshing ‘cheeky’ one in The Angel – whilst contemplating a successful Shoes day out – visiting the Dead Man’s Hole under Tower Bridge
You’ve made a grizzly subject really interesting Geoff. Amazing the things that go on under our feet, unnoticed.The idea of dead bodies ‘congregating’ at that spot.
My grandfather was a young Riveter in the making of this bridge, my older cousin told me he was in one of the group photos but I’ve never seen it. She remembers him but he died in 1945 before I was born. He went on to become a very successful fishmonger.
Thank you for sharing👍
What a fantastic post; thoroughly interesting and so well written – thank-you very much for taking the time to share with us – absolutely fascinated (and will certainly make a point of seeking this out for myself at some point now too!)!!🤓🕵️♂️😃
Fascinating, thank you 👍
Excellent write up..
And glad you enjoyed a pint of Yorkshires finest ! 😃
Did you have ‘Alpine’ or ‘Taddy’ ?
Brilliant as always mate. Makes me feel like I was there with you 😉
Really interesting article that mate. Not sure someone of your advanced years should be climbing gates and railings though 😃😃😃
That’s a fascinating read, thanks for posting, thoroughly enjoyed reading it 😊