Building    From 1873 

Albert Bridge

Categories: Architecture

Designed and built by Rowland Mason Ordish, as an Ordish-Lefeuvre system modified cable-stayed bridge. It proved to be structurally unsound, so between 1884 and 1887 Sir Joseph Bazalgette incorporated some of the design elements of a suspension bridge. In 1973, two central concrete piers were added which transformed the middle span into a simple beam bridge. As a result, it is an unusual hybrid of three different design systems. It was opened as a toll bridge, but was commercially unsuccessful. The tollbooths are still in place, being the only surviving examples of such in London. Long before the problems with the Millennium Bridge, it was nicknamed 'The Trembling Lady' because of its tendency to vibrate when large numbers of people walked across it. At night it is illuminated by 4,000 LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes).

The Franz-Josef Bridge in Prague, demolished 1941, was near identical. Ordish built that in 1868 during a lull in the designing of the Albert Bridge brought about by the simultaneous designing of the Chelsea Embankment.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Albert Bridge

Commemorated ati

Albert Bridge boundary markers

A pair of these markers is attached to each side of the bridge, with CP alway...

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Albert Bridge - opened

The rope-framed roundel at the top carries the crest for the RBofK&C, and...

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Albert Bridge - troops

In 1831 the Broughton Suspension Bridge collapsed as a troop of 74 men marche...

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Other Subjects

James Edmeston

James Edmeston

Architect and prolific writer of church hymns (nearly 2000!). Born Wapping. Died Homerton where he was a church warden at St. Barnabas.

Person, Architecture, Music / songs, Religion

1 memorial
James Morton Lethbridge

James Morton Lethbridge

Born London, a son of George Lethbridge. He articled in architecture under his father for four years (September 1894 to early 1898). After assisting several British architects, including Charles F....

Person, Architecture, Armed Forces, Canada

1 memorial
Richard Seifert

Richard Seifert

Architect.  Born in Zurich, Switzerland as Reuben (but became Robin and then Richard) Seifert.  Educated in London.  Liked building high - Centre Point, the Natwest Tower (now Tower 42), Space Hous...

Person, Architecture, Switzerland

1 memorial
Royal Arsenal Gatehouse

Royal Arsenal Gatehouse

Also known as the Beresford Gate (after William Beresford, Master-General of the Ordnance and Governor of the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich), and was formerly the main entrance to the Royal Ar...

Place, Architecture, Armed Forces

1 memorial