4/5 Rashed A. 2 years ago on Google
The
first
Chelsea
Bridge
was
proposed
in
the
1840s
as
part
of
a
major
development
of
marshlands
on
the
south
bank
of
the
Thames
into
the
new
Battersea
Park.
It
was
a
suspension
bridge
intended
to
provide
convenient
access
from
the
densely
populated
north
bank
to
the
new
park.
Although
built
and
operated
by
the
government,
tolls
were
charged
initially
in
an
effort
to
recoup
the
cost
of
the
bridge.
Work
on
the
nearby
Chelsea
Embankment
delayed
construction
and
so
the
bridge,
initially
called
Victoria
Bridge,
did
not
open
until
1858.
Although
well-received
architecturally,
as
a
toll
bridge
it
was
unpopular
with
the
public,
and
Parliament
felt
obliged
to
make
it
toll-free
on
Sundays.
The
bridge
was
less
of
a
commercial
success
than
had
been
anticipated,
partly
because
of
competition
from
the
newly
built
Albert
Bridge
nearby.
It
was
acquired
by
the
Metropolitan
Board
of
Works
in
1877,
and
the
tolls
were
abolished
in
1879
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