Two main spans on a single deep water pier set in mid-steam, with a substantial masonry pier on each foreshore; together with a series of approach spans from each bank. A Bowstring suspension bridge with a wrought iron tubular arch or bow, with a profile generally in the form of a parabola with a set of suspension chains hanging on each side of the tube in a catenary curve. The depth of the truss is 72 ft, from the centre of the tube to the top of the chains 56ft 3in. The plate girder roadway was slung below each tube.
- Middle Pier
- 2 x Masonry Piers
- 2 x Main Tubes
- 4 x Suspension Chains
- Plate Girder Roadway
- “11” Pairs of vertical standards
- * x Intermediate hangers
- Diagonal bracing
- Transverse Struts
Main Tubes
The tubular strut of the elliptical cross-section is 16ft 9in wide and 12ft 3in deep. The radius at the sides is about 5ft, upper and lower parts are about 12ft. Fabricated from 1/2in, 5/8in and 3/4in thick wrought iron plates, generally 10ft long and 12ft wide
Suspension Chains
Two groups of wrought iron links spaced one above the other at roughly 14in centres. Each tier was a combination of 14 links, 1in thick or 15 links 15/16in thick, side by side in alternate panels. The links were 7in deep throughout their length, with each end enlarged to form an eye to accommodate a 4 1/8in diameter hole, at nominal 20ft centres.
Binding, John. Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge. Twelveheads Press, 1997.