A French cannon along the River Thames!

Along the Thames, just under Southwark Bridge and opposite the Zizzi Italian restaurant, you’ll find this bollard, now full of cigarettes.

Bollard French Cannon London — © Wonders of London

It is said to be a French cannon from the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.

The story goes that after the victory of the British led by Admiral Nelson, the French ships were completely stripped of their contents, which were reused for various purposes.

But apparently the cannons were too large to be adapted to British ships.

It is therefore said that the British decided to reuse them as road bollards in London to flaunt their victory.

Surely this is a real cannon, and it is not the only one in London used as a bollard, but in fact it does not seem to come from the French ships during the battle of Trafalgar, because according to in-depth research by some historians, it seems that no French ship reached London before 1815.

And how about you, have you ever noticed one of these cannons around London?

If you’re curious you can watch the video of the French cannon in London on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin!