From Henry Ⅲ to now: tolls may be the best way to bridge the gap

摘要

Legend says that the song'London Bridge is falling down' originated when Henry Ⅲ gave control of the tolls on the bridge to his wife, Queen Eleanor. She, being keen on the best handbags the 13th century had to offer, duly frittered it away rather than spending it on the upkeep of the bridge. This led to embittered Londoners lamenting their poorly maintained river crossing. Indeed, Eleanor's toll-pinching habits tarnished an already bad reputation (on one occasion, onlookers pelted her with dung, rotten eggs and even loose paving slabs as she travelled up the river).