Broughton Suspension Bridge was a suspended-deck suspension bridge built in 1826 to span the River Irwell between Broughton and Pendleton, now in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It was one of the first suspension bridges constructed in Europe. On 12 April 1831, the bridge collapsed, reportedly due to mechanical resonance induced by troops marching over the bridge in step. A bolt in one of the stay-chains snapped, causing the bridge to collapse at one end, throwing about 40 of the men into the river. As a result of the incident, the British Army issued an order that troops should "break step" when crossing a bridge.
The bridge's construction has been attributed to Samuel Brown, but this has been questioned. Some sources have suggested that it may have been built by Thomas Cheek Hewes, a Manchester millwright and textile machinery manufacturer.
The bridge was rebuilt and strengthened after the collapse but was propped with temporary piles whenever a large crowd was expected. In 1924, it was replaced by a Pratt truss footbridge, which is still in use.
Read more about Broughton Suspension Bridge: Construction, 1831 Collapse, Cause, Aftermath, See Also
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