Originally a means of erecting a substantial bridge from mere planks employing lower–skilled labor, rather than heavy timbers and more expensive carpenters and equipment, the lattice truss has also been constructed using many relatively light iron or steel members.

This is resisted by pinning the lattice members to the top and bottom chords, which are more substantial than the lattice members, but which may also be fabricated from relatively small elements rather than large beams.

It was developed in Ireland as a wide-span shallow rise roof truss for industrial structures.

McTear & Co of Belfast, Ireland began fabricating these trusses in wood starting around 1866.

[1] Howard Carroll built the first completely wrought-iron lattice truss bridge.