Ancient law requires a bale of straw to hang from a railway bridge

If you head to Barnes railway bridge in southwest London at the moment, you’ll see a bale of straw hanging from the middle arch — because an ancient law requires it.The rule requires a bale of straw to be hung from a bridge as a warning to mariners whenever the height between the river and the bridge’s arches is reduced, as it is at Barnes at the moment. According to the Port of London Thames Byelaws, Clause 36.2, a bale of straw has to be placed under London bridges “whe