Charles Bridge of the statues have been systematically replaced by replicas, and the originals have been exhibited in the Lapidarium of the National Museum. Charles Bridge Charles Bridge ( ) is a historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342. This new bridge was originally called Stone Bridge ("Kamenný most") or Prague Bridge ("Pražský most") but has been "Charles
London Bridge Is Falling Down Dancing o'er The Lady-Lee. </poem> The oldest extant version could be that recalled by a correspondent to the "Gentleman's Magazine" in 1823, which he claimed to have heard from a woman who was a child in the reign of Charles II (r. 1660–85) and had the lyrics: <poem>London Bridge is broken down, London Bridge is broken down, The earliest printed English version is in the oldest extant collection of nursery rhymes, "Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book", printed by John Newbery in London (c. 1744), beginning with the following text: <poem> London Bridge Is Broken down, Dance over my Lady Lee.