Permanent historical factsheet

Royal Albert Bridge

Great Britain · Science / Civil Engineering. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.

6Records
1848–1859Date range
1Named people
1Places

Chronological records

1848

Isambard Kingdom Brunel26 April 1848

Saltash · Science / Civil Engineering

Brunel launches a survey cylinder into the River Tamar to investigate foundations for the future bridge.

1853

Isambard Kingdom Brunel1853

Saltash · Science / Civil Engineering

Brunel finalises the distinctive lenticular truss design for the railway bridge across the River Tamar.

1854

Isambard Kingdom BrunelMay 1854

Saltash · Science / Civil Engineering

Construction begins on Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge across the River Tamar between Devon and Cornwall.

1859

Isambard Kingdom Brunel20 April 1859

Saltash · Science / Civil Engineering

The Royal Albert Bridge passes its official Board of Trade inspection and load tests.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel2 May 1859

Saltash · Science / Civil Engineering

Prince Albert formally opens the Royal Albert Bridge, although illness prevents Brunel from attending.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel4 May 1859

Saltash · Science / Civil Engineering

Public railway services begin across the Royal Albert Bridge as the Cornwall Railway opens through Saltash.

Names involved

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Provenance

This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.