I can still remember an incident around this time when my family was taking our annual Christmas visit to London. The bridge was not operating. We had to get on board a tug and it took us up to, probably, Chatham - where we then boarded a bus. It was night time, and as a little boy I remember being in the tugs interior huddling round an old stove.
Tom Burnham
20-Aug-2010 21:11
There were several incidents in the 1950s when the bridge was struck by ships heading for Ridham Dock. I don't know for sure but I suspect this may be when it was hit by a Norwegian steamer on Friday 5th October 1956. A pontoon ferry was in operation by late on the Saturday and continued (with other transport) until the bridge was reopened on 10th October.
