The Bridgemasters of London - 850 years of engineering, ceremony and scandal

The Bridgemasters of London is on at The Royal Thames Yacht Club on Monday 16 November, from 17:30 to 19:00. It's a lecture that looks at one of the oldest appointments in civic society and bridge engineering, and the title—The Bridgemasters of London: 850 years of engineering, ceremony and scandal—gives you a fair idea of where it's going.

The Bridgemaster role goes back to 1176, when it was first created to oversee the construction of Old London Bridge and to manage its properties, accounts and ceremonies. Over the centuries the office and its responsibilities changed, but it wasn't always a clean run: the position was frequently marred by financial fraud, election manipulation and negligence. These days, the Bridgemasters support and promote the charitable work of the City Bridge Foundation, which owns the five Thames bridges in the City.

Sue Threader is the one taking you through it. She's a chartered civil engineer and the chief executive of the Rochester Bridge Trust, and she's also written Learning about Bridges. The evening is part of the Institution of Engineers and Scientists (IESF) 2026 Annual Programme of Lectures, Dinners and Voyages, which brings together engineers, scientists and lawyers to discuss questions of truth and the future of engineering.

It's free, though you'll need to book your place. The talk runs from 17:30 to 19:00 at The Royal Thames Yacht Club, 60 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LF.