For those new to CabbieBlog or readers who are slightly forgetful, on Saturdays I’m republishing posts, many going back over a decade. Some will still be very relevant while others have become dated over time. Just think of this post as your weekend paper supplement.

Happy Birthday CabbieBlog (23.02.13)

Today marks an anniversary; it is 4 years since CabbieBlog started, just let me blow out my candles and I’ll be with you in a moment.

After sampling other platforms over the previous six months I started using WordPress under the CabbieBlog banner on 23rd February 2009. Now after 434 posts and over 400,000 hits, I thought it was about time to say a big thank you to everybody who has checked me out and especially my thanks go out to anyone who has posted comments.

During that time I have learned a few things about blogging which I hope to share with you, whether you are a seasoned blogger, in which case please post your opinion of my summation, or if you are just thinking of starting down the rocky road of blogging then hopefully I can point you in the right direction.

Blogging is proper writing: It is not easy writing, well not for me it isn’t, each post has to be researched if necessary and has to be thought out and must be reasonably grammatically accurate.

Blogging is rewarding: It reaches out to regular readers and unlike regular writing or journalism you get responses instantly, the comments on your blog mean a lot, reply to them all.

Blogging is not a guilt trip: You shouldn’t put pressure on yourself to write regular posts if you are uncomfortable with that kind of discipline. One of the best London bloggers posts only two or three times per month.

Don’t mess around with your website: You are just wasting valuable time rather than writing. However, change it when there is a good reason. CabbieBlog was changed last year after over three years with roughly the same design.

Don’t get into blogging to make money: It’s hard to make money just from writing a blog. But sometimes quite unexpected things turn up. I have done work for the BBC and I am paid for running a commercial blog, unless you are prepared to work full-time on it treat it as a hobby.

Don’t write posts just to make money: Focus on integrity. Be happy about what you publish, not what you think will attract readers. Forget the articles you read telling you how to ‘write killer posts’, they don’t exist.

Offer something worthwhile: Will your readers take something from your writing? If they do they are more likely to return or put you on their RSS feed.

It’s not all about you: Share your personality. It should be a bit of you with some context of the blog’s author. Making it personal is more engaging, but your readers don’t want to read the minutia of your life.

Find a routine: I write regularly because I need some kind of discipline in my work, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t, one good post is worth ten poor ones.

Keep your posts short: I’m sorry to say that dear reader but most of you on the web have short attention spans, it’s just the way it is. 500-2,000 words are sufficient. If you want to go into greater detail make a separate page with a link so readers can check it out if they wish.

Don’t worry about the stats: That again leads to writing ‘killer headlines’ and will reduce the quality of your writing. I check my stats every day and all the search links. Don’t do as I do, do as I say.

Branch out Write guest posts for others: Invite them to write on your site. I plan to start a series entitled London Grill inviting contributors to answer the same 10 questions about – well London.

Collaborate with others: Send out emails inviting them to write something for your site.

Don’t give up easily: Many bogs are lying there redundant. It could be that the authors are dispirited by the lack of readers, but it takes time – to persevere and try different things.

Write for yourself: Don’t write what you think people will want to read.

Be nice to people: Reply to all comments, and write with constructive criticism, there has been enough talk lately of trolls on the internet.

Don’t get jealous: Everyone seems to be bigger and better. Blogging is an ego trip – get real. A few regular engaged readers are better than thousands of casual hits.

Be controversial: Give an opinion, people like to read views based on facts and good research.

Remember real life: Don’t get obsessive, much of what you write about will be from real life, there is still life beyond the internet.

Other opportunities: You might not make much money but in addition to the work already mentioned I have collaborated on two books, one for the 2012 Olympics and a French travel guide to London. Your blog is your window on the world and leads to other projects.

Use your blog: It says a lot about you, remember prospective employers might just check it out, use your blog wisely.

Most important: Enjoy your blog, it is a creative endeavour, so take pride in what you produce and how it is designed.

For those new to CabbieBlog or readers who are slightly forgetful, on Saturdays I’m republishing posts, many going back over a decade. Some will still be very relevant while others have become dated over time. Just think of this post as your weekend paper supplement.

Lost Bits of London Bridge (19.02.13)

The first London Bridge was constructed by the Romans during their occupation of London around 50 AD. After the Romans abandoned Londinium the bridge fell into disrepair as the River Thames marked the boundary between the Saxon Kingdoms of Marcia and Wessex nobody bothered to maintain the structure.

A later bridge was thought to have been destroyed by Norwegian Price Olaf in the service of Anglo-Saxon King Aethelred against the Danes. This act might have given rise to the nursery rhyme London Bridge is Falling Down.

King John replaced an older bridge which had been destroyed by fire in 1136, all traces of the bridges prior to this date have been lost. Taking 33 years to build it boasted of having 7 storeys with shops below.

When this bridge was demolished in 1831 some features were sold off. Fourteen stone alcoves originally graced the bridge and four still survive. Two stand in Victoria Park, one stands in the grounds of Guys Hospital while the fourth bizarrely ended up in the garden of a block of flats in East Sheen.

A coat of arms which was located above the bridge tollgate now can be seen above the door of the Kings Arms on Newcomen Street.

In 1896 it was estimated that the bridge was the busiest point in London, with 8,000 people crossing the bridge by foot and 900 crossing in vehicles every hour. London Bridge was widened in 1902–04 from 52 to 65 feet, in an attempt to combat London’s chronic traffic congestion. A dozen of the granite ‘pillars’ quarried and dressed for this widening, but unused, still lie near Swelltor Quarry.

This bridge even after widening lasted barely a century when in the 1960’s it was decided to replace it. Instead of demolishing it one member of the body responsible for London’s bridges proposed that the bridge be sold.

Ivan Luckin – if ever a man needed to live up to the name – thought he could find someone to take the bridge off the City’s hands. This was not some 19th-century granite monolith; this bridge was the embodiment of London’s 2,000-year history.

Robert P. McCullock was building a city on the shores of Lake Havasu from scratch. The Colorado River had been dammed but the water at one end was in danger of going stagnant, he needed to redirect it by turning the peninsular obstructing the flow into an island, hence the need for a bridge.

McCulloch’s bridge was reconstructed around a concrete frame using the 1831 London Bridge’s stones as cladding. A few corbels from the Swelltor Quarry were sent as spares to America during this construction.

Not all of the Rennie Bridge made it to America. There’s a piece of granite from it behind the Duke of Wellington statue at the Bank, commemorating his involvement with the London Bridge Approaches Act 1827. Wonder how that compared with the Battle of Waterloo?