London: Why a hay bale hangs from the Millennium Bridge

10/19/2023, 9:36:38 AM

Highlights: A hay bale hangs from the Millennium Bridge in London, as a warning for passing ships. The bridge is currently being repaired, and the bale is used to orient the height of the passing ship traffic. It's "one of those quirky traditions that London is famous for" that has lasted for hundreds of years. In the dark, the hay has to be replaced by a white, clearly visible light, which is not available on the bridge in the dark. The Millennium Bridge was opened in 2000, connecting the north and south banks of the Thames.

An unusual sight in London: One of the bridges in the city of the Thames, the Millennium Bridge, is currently being repaired. The warning for passing ships does not originate from the digital age.

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Repair work on the Millennium Bridge, as a warning a hay bale hangs from the bridge

Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS

On June 10, 2000, the "Millennium Bridge" was opened, a pedestrian bridge connecting the north and south banks of the Thames. Now repair work is necessary, and onlookers are presented with a curious picture: a hay bale hangs from the bridge to orient the height of the passing ship traffic and as a warning that work is currently being carried out.

A hay bale as a warning system in the 21st century? Seems funny, but it's in line with the regulations, reports the London Times, quoting the organization responsible for maintaining the most famous bridges in the British capital, the City Bridge Foundation (CBF): It's "one of those quirky traditions that London is famous for" that has lasted for hundreds of years.

However, the capabilities of the hay bale, you guessed it, are limited: in the dark, it has to be replaced by a white, clearly visible light.

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