London did not exist in A.D. 43 when the invading Roman army marched inland - with only the river Thames to be crossed. The first bridge to be made was most probably erected near the site of the later Mediaeval Bridge.
Around AD80, the first London Bridge was built from the Southwark settlement and at its northern end a large town grew up. This was to become London.
After the Romans left Britain, the bridge, which was most likely built of timber, would have fallen into disrepair to be replaced by a ferry and intermittent timber bridges built during Saxon Times.
The next record of a bridge being in place was in 984 when a report was recorded of the punishment by the Thames of a widow and her son who had driven pins into the image of a man. The woman was taken to London Bridge and drowned while her son escaped. The bridge at this time was built out of wood.
In 1014, when the Danes held London, the Saxons, under King Ethelred The Unready, were joined by a band of Vikings from Norway led by their King Olaf. Together they sailed up the Thames to attack the Bridge and divide the Danes.
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