The Chain Bridge over the Danube at Budapest, Hungary

The Chain Bridge over the Danube at Budapest is one of the most significant bridges built during the first half of the nineteenth century, both in terms of its design and the history of Hungary. It was realised between 1839 and 1849 to the designs of William Tierney Clark, who produced the drawings and directed the building from Hammersmith in England. As this paper describes, the critical components of the suspension system were manufactured in England and transported to the Danube using water and road transport. When completed the Chain Bridge had the longest central span of its type. It was a strategic military target in the final phases of its construction and also in the Second World War. It has been rebuilt twice, and its enduring quality and symbolism mark it out as a landmark bridge.