, ▁was ▁taken ▁into ▁the ▁public ▁ownership ▁of ▁the ▁Metropolitan ▁Board ▁of ▁Works . ▁Despite ▁having ▁run ▁at ▁a ▁loss ▁throughout ▁its ▁lifetime , ▁the ▁Board ▁of ▁Works ▁paid ▁£ 5 3 , 3 1 3 ▁( about ▁£ ▁in ▁) ▁for ▁the ▁bridge , ▁a ▁substantial ▁prem ium ▁on ▁its ▁£ 4 0 , 0 0 0 ▁construction ▁cost . ▁On ▁ 2 6 ▁June ▁ 1 8 8 0 ▁Edward , ▁Prince ▁of ▁Wales , ▁and ▁Alex andra , ▁Princess ▁of ▁Wales , ▁pres ided ▁over ▁a ▁ceremony ▁abol ishing ▁to ll s ▁over ▁the ▁three ▁brid ges . ▁ ▁By ▁the ▁time ▁it ▁was ▁taken ▁into ▁public ▁ownership , ▁the ▁bridge ▁was ▁in ▁very ▁poor ▁condition . ▁In ▁ 1 8 9 1 ▁a ▁weight ▁limit ▁of ▁ 5 ▁tons ▁was ▁introduced , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 7 ▁a ▁ ▁speed ▁limit ▁was ▁im posed . ▁With ▁its ▁narrow ness ▁and ▁weight ▁restrictions , ▁by ▁this ▁point ▁it ▁was ▁effectively ▁a ▁foot bridge . ▁As ▁narrow ness ▁and ▁weight ▁restrictions ▁meant ▁that ▁it ▁was ▁unable ▁to ▁carry ▁bus es , ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 6 ▁a ▁Royal ▁Commission ▁recommended ▁its ▁replacement ▁and ▁the ▁London ▁County ▁Council ▁agreed ▁to ▁fin ance ▁a ▁new ▁bridge ▁on ▁the ▁site . ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 8 ▁it ▁was ▁decided ▁instead ▁to ▁give ▁priority ▁to ▁w iden ing ▁the ▁much ▁bus ier ▁Put ney ▁Bridge , ▁and ▁the ▁replacement ▁of ▁W and sw orth ▁Bridge ▁was ▁delayed . ▁▁ 1 9