The Clifton Suspension Bridge crosses the 702-foot wide and 250-foot deep Avon Gorge in Bristol, England. In 1829, the Society of Merchant Venturers held a competition to choose the best bridge design. In the 1760s a bill to replace the bridge was carried through parliament by the Bristol MP Sir Jarrit Smyth. In the four years after installation this reduced the suicide rate from eight deaths per year to four. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Many believed it would tip or buckle. Human toll collectors were replaced by automated machines in 1975. The custom of lighting the bridge has continued with more recent events, although later thousands of electric light bulbs were attached to the bridge instead of flares. In 1811 Sarah Guppy patented a design for a suspension bridge across the gorge but this was never realised and was not submitted to the later competition. The celebrations also saw the activation of an LED-based lighting array to illuminate the bridge. The construction of a bridge across the river with the supports, structural elements, cranes. The most distinctive symbol of Bristol is a famous bridge. Brunel's design was for a suspension bridge, still a very new idea at the time that relied on the latest techniques in steel production. The Clifton Suspension Bridge (designed in 1831, completed in 1864 with a 214 m central span), is similar to the Sagar bridge. In letters found between the two, it was discovered that his father actually recommended adding a central support tower to the bridge. There were additions to this number in the weeks which followed, so by early July 1830 there were 31 in all, although not everyone had been formally sworn in by that date. Its clear that the annual income of the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust exceeds the maintenance cost because, in 2011, it was announced that a completely new visitors center would be constructed on the Leigh Woods end of the bridge. [38] The bridge is managed by a charitable trust, originally formed by the Society of Merchant Venturers following Vick's bequest. Since opening in 1864, it has been a toll bridge, the income from which provides funds for its maintenance. On Monday, June 20, 1831, it was finally the day to mark the start of the construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. After completion of the chains, vertical suspension rods were hung from the links in the chains and large girders hung from these. The initial funding for the bridge was generated in 1754 by Bristol wine merchant William Vick, who left 1,000 in his will to go towards the construction of a toll-free stone bridge across the Avon Gorge. The new facilities were scheduled to be completed before the 150th anniversary of the opening, which was celebrated on 8 December 2014. They paid 50 each year to the trustees who gradually purchased the shares in the company. [34] During this time a tunnel was driven through the rocks on the Leigh Woods side beneath the bridge to carry the Bristol Port Railway to Avonmouth. The Clifton Suspension Bridge Commissioning the Project Back in the 1700s, a wine merchant in Bristol left 1,000 British pounds in his will for the construction of a stone bridge over Avon. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a remarkable structure, designed by a remarkable person. ", "Clifton Suspension Bridge toll to rise from 50p to 1", "LEDs help to light Clifton Suspension Bridge", "Fireworks mark Olympic torch's suspension bridge crossing", "New Clifton Suspension Bridge visitor centre planned", "1.3m lottery windfall to enhance two of our finest Victorian landmarks", "National Archives Discovery Catalogue page, University of Bristol Special Collections", "Suspension Bridge Frequently Asked Questions", "What are the dimensions of the Clifton Suspension Bridge? This is to ensure that we give you the best experience possible. Alderman Thomas Daniel was in the chair. Roller-mounted "saddles" at the top of each tower allow movement of the three independent wrought iron chains on each side when loads pass over the bridge. 195 lessons. Four months later work was halted by the Bristol riots, which took place after the House of Lords rejected the second Reform Bill, which aimed to eliminate some of the rotten boroughs and give parliamentary seats to Britain's fast growing industrial towns such as Bristol. With financial help from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), work resumed on the bridge in 1862 under the supervision of Sir John Hawkshaw and William Henry Barlow, who modified Brunels original plan by widening the roadway and by increasing the suspension chains from two to three on each side. This means that the Trust operating the bridge has an annual revenue of over 4 million! The bridge opened in the 1860s. [40] A toll of 0.50 has been levied on vehicles since 2007,[41] but the 0.05 toll that the Act allows for cyclists or pedestrians is not collected. There were long delays in its 33-year construction and the bridge was not completed until 1864, five years after Brunel's death. [50] On 23 May 2012, the London 2012 Olympic Torch relay crossed over the bridge, where two of the torchbearers came together in a "kiss" to exchange the flame in the middle of Brunel's iconic landmark. [21][22], A ceremony to mark the start of the construction works was held Monday 20 June 1831. The bridge is managed by a charitable trust, originally formed by the Society of Merchant Venturers following Vick's bequest. It had houses with shopfronts built on it to pay for its maintenance. 8 December 2014. Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed in 1829-31 by IK Brunel, and completed in 1860-4 by Sir John Hawkshaw and William Henry Barlow, is listed at Grade I for the following principal reasons: . They paid 50 each year to the trustees who gradually purchased the shares in the company. suspension bridge; bridge; tower bridge; 1. . In April 2006, the bridge was the centrepiece of the Brunel 200 weekend, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. We offer a variety of bookable tours, workshops and outreach activities covering a range of curriculum topics and suitable for all ages and abilities. Dimensions. Clifton Suspension Bridge under construction, Bristol, 1864. The chains are anchored in tapering tunnels, 25 metres (82ft) long, on either side of the bridge and plugs of Staffordshire blue brick infilled to prevent the chains being pulled out of the narrower tunnel mouth. His son chose to ignore his advice. A toll of 0.50 has been levied on vehicles since 2007, but the 0.05 toll that the Act allows for cyclists or pedestrians is not collected. A company to manage the bridge was created back in 1860, funds were raised by selling shares, and construction resumed until the bridge was completed on December 8, 1864. Can Brunel really be credited with the design? Construction on the Clifton Suspension Bridge began in 1831. The bridge is now managed by a charitable trust, 14. [42] Human toll collectors were replaced by automated machines in 1975. The trust subsequently purchased the company shares, completing this in 1949 and took over the running of the bridge using the income from tolls to pay for maintenance. Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre, Clifton See displays and artefacts explaining the history, construction and maintenance of the world famous Clifton Suspension . [56][57] In December 2012 it was announced that the bridge had received 595,000 of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to improve the visitor centre.[58]. [15] Telford rejected all the remaining designs, arguing that 577 feet (176m) was the maximum possible span. The Construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge In June of 1831, construction began on the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Five to six hundred young men were involved in the riots and Brunel was sworn in as a special constable. The riots severely dented commercial confidence in Bristol; subscriptions to the bridge company ceased, and along with it, further construction of the bridge. There are two vehicle lanes and two prosaic waies. 11. Since 2006, on the year of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, LED lights were introduced which give the bridge an amazing appearance at night! [73] A helicopter from National Police Air Service Filton flew under the bridge during a search in 1997. Get FREE access to HistoryExtra.com. Some experts expect another 150 years out of it without anything besides standard maintenance, even with the greatly increased weight and pressures of modern automobile traffic. To avoid another fiasco like this, thousands of light bulbs were attached to the bridge to lighten up the bridge at night. [59] Letter books of the trustees of Clifton Suspension Bridge dated 18311862 are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. The bridge is a distinctive landmark, used as a symbol of Bristol on postcards, promotional materials, and informational web sites. Since opening in 1864, it has been a toll bridge, the income from which provides funds for its maintenance. During this time a tunnel was driven through the rocks on the Leigh Woods side beneath the bridge to carry the Bristol Port Railway to Avonmouth. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Letter books of the trustees of Clifton Suspension Bridge dated 18311862 are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. FREE tours of the bridge take place on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays at 2pm from November to March. The trust was authorised to manage the bridge and collect tolls by Acts of Parliament in 1952, 1980 and 1986. Some people claim that these revisions basically turned the design into a completely new bridge. They then called in Scottish civil engineer Thomas Telford to make a final selection from the five remaining entries. The story of the Clifton Suspension Bridge started all the way back in 1753 when the idea to build a bridge on its location first surfaced.. One of the most remarkable facts about Clifton Suspension Bridge is that this original idea was turned into this amazing structure and opened well over a century later in 1864! [32] The chains are anchored in tapering tunnels, 25 metres (82ft) long,[33] on either side of the bridge and plugs of Staffordshire blue brick infilled to prevent the chains being pulled out of the narrower tunnel mouth. Suggested duration < 1 hour Suggest edits to improve what we show. [9] In 1793 William Bridges published plans for a stone arch with abutments containing factories, which would pay for the upkeep of the bridge. The Clifton Bridge Company initially managed the bridge under licence from a charitable trust. The University of Bristol Special Collections holds substantial records related to the bridge. In 1753 Bristolian merchant William Vick had left a bequest in his will of 1,000 (equivalent to 160,000 in 2021),[7] invested with instructions that when the interest had accumulated to 10,000 (.mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}1,620,000), it should be used for the purpose of building a stone bridge between Clifton Down (which was in Gloucestershire, outside the City of Bristol, until the 1830s) and Leigh Woods in Somerset. In terms of aesthetics, Brunel also wanted his bridge to match the impressive natural setting, and decided to model the pylons after ancient Egyptian architecture (Egyptian stuff was all the rage at the time). Find Clifton Suspension Bridge stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Its clear that the competition wasnt a success. It was his colleagues in the Institution of Civil Engineers that set things in motion for the bridge to be completed as they felt it would be a fitting tribute to his work and life. His colleagues in the Institution of Civil Engineers felt that completion of the Bridge would be a fitting memorial, and started to raise new funds. The University of Bristol Special Collections holds substantial records related to the bridge. In order to do so, it spans the River Avon which runs through the Avon Gorge, a 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometer) gorge that runs all along the western part of the city. Entries were received from 22 designers, including Samuel Brown, James Meadows Rendel, William Tierney Clark and William Hazledine. Technology helps build better structures, but human genius is still needed to make them truly great. Although similar in size, the bridge towers are not identical in design, the Clifton tower having side cut-outs, the Leigh tower more pointed arches atop a 110-foot (34m) red sandstone-clad abutment. The bridge has three independent wrought iron chains per side, from which the bridge deck is suspended by eighty-one matching vertical wrought-iron rods ranging from 65 feet (20m) at the ends to 3 feet (0.91m) in the centre. The bridge is a grade I listed building. tel: 0117 974 4664. email: visitinfo@clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk. [53][54] The bridge is a Grade I listed building. [4] By the early 18th century, increase in traffic and the encroachment of shops on the roadway made the bridge fatally dangerous for many pedestrians. Of course, there were still many challenges, those that only minds of a specific caliber could tackle. Darijus Strasunskas/Flickr. Composed of numerous parallel rows of eyebars connected by bolts, the chains are anchored in tunnels in the rocks 60 feet (18m) below ground level at the sides of the gorge. It has been used as a backdrop to several films and television advertising and programmes. The Clifton Suspension Bridge was opened in 1864, but the idea for the bridge dates back to the mid-1700s Financing the bridge. We keep the rich history of the bridge alive through a year-round programme of tours, events and exhibitions. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is still a wonder to behold, and is regarded as one of Brunel's finest achievements. The Clifton Bridge Company initially managed the bridge under licence from a charitable trust. [24], After the passing of the Act for the Great Western Railway reestablished financial confidence, work resumed in 1836, but subsequent investment proved woefully inadequate. View of Avon Gorge from the Leigh Woods Tower of the Clifton Suspension Bridge The stats. [27] Brunel suggested building a deep water pier at Portbury, which would make the bridge an essential road link, but funds for this scheme were not forthcoming. One of the most fascinating facts about the Clifton Suspension Bridge is that the first-ever modern bungee-jumps happened on April 1, 1979, right from the Clifton Suspension Bridge. In February 2012, the bridge trustees applied to the Department for Transport to increase the toll to 1, subsequently implemented on 24 April 2014. A 17th-century illustration shows that these bridge houses were five storeys high, including the attic rooms, and that they overhung the river much as Tudor houses would overhang the street. Number of Pages. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is located in the city of Bristol in the southwest of England and connects Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset. Brunel died in 1859, without seeing the completion of the bridge. The first competition didnt work out to find a winning design, but that didnt mean that the project was abandoned. [28] The towers remained and during the 1850s intrepid passengers could cross the gorge in a basket slung from the iron bar. So, a second competition was held in 1830. M/S Man walking and partly sliding dow. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset. The three Trustees named in the Act met on 17 June 1830 and appointed further Trustees, bringing the total up to 23. These funds raised during the first few months of 1830 were not sufficient for the construction. [67], The Clifton Suspension Bridge is well known as a suicide bridge and is fitted with plaques that advertise the telephone number of The Samaritans. Initially a temporary bridge was created by pulling ropes across the gorge and making a footway of wire ropes with wood planks held together with iron hoops. ", "Suicide from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in England", "Effect of barriers on the Clifton suspension bridge", "Pop star's wife died in fall from bridge", "Coastguard helicopter and police at Suspension Bridge incident", "Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge swings in high wind", "A critical analysis of the Clifton Suspension Bridge", "Brunel 200 Weekend" provided by BBC Bristol, Clifton Suspension Bridge at www.ikbrunel.org.uk, Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust papers, 18291939, 1953 newsreel of Clifton Suspension Bridge, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clifton_Suspension_Bridge&oldid=1137669305, B3129 road, cars, pedestrians and cyclists, 331ft (101m) above high water level (86ft (26m) above deck), This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 21:37. No need to register, buy now! . The three Trustees named in the Act were the Master of the Society of Merchant Venturers, the Senior Sheriff of the City and County of Bristol and Thomas Daniel. However, the bridge was too wide and deep to support a bridge of this kind, so the money sat in a trust and grew ten times in size. The Clifton Suspension Bridge Today [17], The first full meeting of the Trustees was held on 22 June 1830 in the Merchants Hall in Bristol. The closure of the bridge for major annual events has continued each year since then. [55], In November 2011 it was announced that a new visitor centre, costing nearly 2 million, was to be built at the Leigh Woods end of the bridge to replace the temporary building currently being used. The weight of the bridge, including chains, rods, girders and deck is approximately 1,500tons. The bridges wrought iron chains are those of the Hungerford chain suspension bridge that was demolished in 1860. Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust. The bridge deck is suspended by 162 vertical wrought-iron rods in 81 matching pairs. Two men were killed during the construction of the bridge. The tolls are used to pay for the upkeep of the bridge, including the strengthening of the chain anchor points, which was done in 1925 and 1939, and regular painting and maintenance, which is carried out from a motorised cradle slung beneath the deck. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The Clifton Suspension Bridge - built 150 years ago - looms over Bristol - a symbol of the city and its creator Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Others included Thomas Durbin Brice, Master of the Society of Merchant Venturers, George Daubeny, John Cave, John Scandrett Harford, George Hilhouse, Henry Bush, and Richard Guppy. [70], In 1957 a Filton-based RAF Vampire jet from 501 Squadron piloted by Flying officer John Greenwood Crossley flew under the deck while performing a victory roll[71] before crashing in Leigh Woods, killing the pilot. His estimate was that 10,000 would be needed to build a stone bridge. We send emails once a month. The steel-link chains of the old bridge were brought to Bristol, and used for the construction of the Clifton bridge. These factories were then supposed to generate income for the bridge after it was constructed. In 1885, a 22-year-old woman named Sarah Ann Henley survived a suicide attempt off the bridge when her billowing skirts acted as a parachute and she landed in the thick mud banks of the tidal River Avon at low tide; she subsequently lived into her eighties. The first full meeting of the Trustees was held on 22 June 1830 in the Merchants Hall in Bristol. [68] Side shot of the clifton suspension bridge and a river in bristol, uk. A contract was placed with Dowlais Ironworks to supply 600tons of bar iron, which was to be transported to the Copperhouse foundry to be forged into bar chains. The accident caused a landslip that led to the temporary closure of the nearby Bristol to Portishead railway line. Alderman Thomas Daniel was in the chair. Finally, when industrial technology caught up, a competition was announced for the design of the bridge in 1829. 9) Until the 1930s, daredevil pilots occasionally flew beneath the bridge in bi-planes. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. On 12 February 2014 the bridge was closed to traffic due to wind for the first time in living memory. The winner was declared to be a design by Smith and Hawkes of the Eagle Foundry in Birmingham. The tolls are used to pay for the upkeep of the bridge, including the strengthening of the chain anchor points, which was done in 1925 and 1939, and regular painting and maintenance, which is carried out from a motorised cradle slung beneath the deck. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. However, Brunel died before the bridge was finished: it was officially opened in 1864, following years of uncertainty, financial difficulties and construction issues (including how to transport building materials to the top of the gorge). [47] In April 2006, the bridge was the centrepiece of the Brunel 200 weekend, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. In 1851, the ironwork was sold and used to build the Brunel-designed Royal Albert Bridge on the railway between Plymouth and Saltash. Reserve a place or simply turn up on the day. Instead, he worked on a plan of his own consisting of a bridge with tall Gothic towers costing about 52,000. [63], Two men were killed during the construction of the bridge. The bridge deck is suspended by 162 vertical wrought-iron rods in 81 matching pairs. The 85-foot-tall (26m) Leigh Woods tower stands atop a 110-foot (34m) red sandstone-clad abutment. In the four years after installation this reduced the suicide rate from eight deaths per year to four.Nicolette Powell, the wife of UK rhythm and blues singer Georgie Fame, formerly the Marchioness of Londonderry, jumped to her death from the bridge on 13 August 1993. Item Height. In 1860, Brunel's Hungerford suspension bridge over the Thames in London was demolished to make way for a new railway bridge to Charing Cross railway station. Construction of the bridge was halted by the Bristol Riots, 10. Since opening in 1864, it has been a toll bridge, the income from which provides funds for its maintenance. James Meadows Rendel, William Armstrong and William Hill also submitted new, cheaper proposals, complaining that the committee had not set a budget. Since opening in 1864, it has been a toll bridge, the income from which provides funds for its maintenance. [13] A competition was held to find a design for the bridge with a prize of 100 guineas. Clifton Suspension Bridge Facts. He redesigned the pylons to be simpler in decoration, although the basic Egyptian-inspired shape was maintained. [36] The custom of lighting the bridge has continued with more recent events, although later thousands of electric light bulbs were attached to the bridge instead of flares. Film, TV, Theatre - Actors and Originators. The Bridge is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. A historical bungee jumping event happened in 1979, 16. The riots severely dented commercial confidence in Bristol; subscriptions to the bridge company ceased, and along with it, further construction of the bridge. Save up to 49% AND your choice of gift card worth 10* when you subscribe BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed PLUS! Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust. Clifton Suspension Bridge is one of Bristol's most recognisable structures. Copyright Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust | Registered Charity Number: 205658 | Privacy and Cookies Policy. 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