These measures being taken, orders were soon given for taking down the houses on both sides of the way, for a considerable distance north of the gate. This not only pleased every inhabitant of the city of London and the borough of Southwark, but every one who had occasion to pass and repass over this useful bridge; and all whose business leads them to pass in any kind of craft thro’ the arches, began to please themselves with the thought, that their lives would hereafter be secure in the exercise of their lawful employments. The houses and arches that extended across the bridge being taken down, in all the middle part of that structure a strong temporary bridge, made of wood, was with amazing expedition erected upon the western sterlings of the old structure, for the passage of carriages, horsemen, and foot passengers, till the intended alterations should be completed; and this edifice, which was rendered as safe and convenient as possible, was opened in October 1757. But when the pavement was dug up, and an opening made into the cavities of all the piers; when some of them were demolished almost to the water’s edge, and the whole space where the houses had been taken down was a confused heap of ruins, that had not the least resemblance of a bridge, the temporary structure burst into a flame, and was intirely consumed. The fire began on Tuesday the 11th of April 1758, at about eleven at night; and by nine o’clock the next morning, the whole temporary bridge was consumed; though the drawbridge and some pieces of timber among the ruins of the old structure continued burning all the next day. Various have been the reports of the manner in which this useful structure was set on fire. Some have said, that about ten in the evening they saw several persons who appeared in liquor, coming over the bridge with a torch, and endeavouring to get it from him who held it, while he strove, in play, to defend himself by burning them, at last threw it over the boarded fence of the bridge, when the light disappeared, till the timber below burst into a flame. On the other hand, the watchmen on the Customhouse key on the east side, and at the Steelyard on the west, with many others, are said to have observed about eleven, some lights under the bridge, which appeared in several places like candles in lanthorns; and that soon after, the bridge, from one end to the other, burst into flames: but those who first saw the progress of the fire, observe, that it began in one spot, and extended itself both ways progressively.