 In 1873 the privately owned Albert Bridge , between Chelsea and Battersea bridges , opened . Although Albert Bridge was not as successful as intended at luring customers from Chelsea Bridge and soon found itself in serious financial difficulties , it nonetheless caused a sharp drop in usage of Chelsea Bridge . In 1877 the Metropolis Toll Bridges Act was passed , which allowed the Metropolitan Board of Works ( MBW ) to buy all London bridges between Hammersmith and Waterloo bridges and free them from tolls . Ownership of Chelsea Bridge was transferred to the MBW in 1877 at a cost of £ 75 @,@ 000 ( about £ 5 @.@ 99 million in 2016 ) , and on 24 May 1879 Chelsea Bridge , Battersea Bridge and Albert Bridge were declared toll free by the Prince of Wales in a brief ceremony , after which a parade of Chelsea Pensioners marched across the bridge to Battersea Park . 
