[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. Thirteen designs were submitted; Telford's was the only one in which the chains achieved the weight per square inch required by the judges but it was rejected as being too expensive. [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. These were sparked by the House of Lords rejecting legislation to give new industrial towns, including Bristol, a seat in Parliament. Finally, in 1864, the Clifton Suspension Bridge opened to the public. Instead, he worked on a plan of his own consisting of a bridge with tall Gothic towers costing about 52,000. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. Between Easter and October our famous Hard Hat tours offer a rare opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and explore Brunel's hidden chambers, whilst our free weekend tours run year round are a great way to explore the history of this amazing structure. A ceremony to mark the start of the construction works was held Monday 20 June 1831. He redesigned the pylons to be simpler in decoration, although the basic Egyptian-inspired shape was maintained. 8 December 2014. This caused it to sag by 7 inches (180mm), but within the expected tolerances. Unfortunately, financial issues arose within the bridge's committee and the project was placed on hold. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. This means that the Trust operating the bridge has an annual revenue of over 4 million! The idea of building a bridge across the Avon Gorge originated in 1753. The bridge deck is suspended by 162 vertical wrought-iron rods in 81 matching pairs. FREE tours of the bridge take place on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays at 2pm from November to March. 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. 86 people had committed 17,350, an average of just over 200 each. [23] Five to six hundred young men were involved in the riots and Brunel was sworn in as a special constable. It has also been the venue for significant cultural events such as the first modern bungee jump in 1979, the last Concorde flight in 2003 and a handover of the Olympic Torch relay in 2012. When they started building they realised it was never going to be possible to put the decoration on, and Brunel redesigned the bridge in a plain format.. The riots severely dented commercial confidence in Bristol; subscriptions to the bridge company ceased, and along with it, further construction of the bridge. The riots severely dented commercial confidence in Bristol; subscriptions to the bridge company ceased, and along with it, further construction of the bridge. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. New factories werent profitable and the plan ended up being shelved. Suggested duration < 1 hour Suggest edits to improve what we show. Work was completely abandoned in July 1853, by which time the time limit for construction of the bridge as stipulated in the 1830 Act had elapsed . [61] The deck was originally laid with wooden planking, later covered with asphalt, which was renewed in 2009. Here, we bring you 10 facts about the famous structure. Clifton Suspension Bridge Bridge Road, Leigh Woods, Bristol, BS8 3PA +44 (0)117 974 4664 Email About The world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge was designed by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, although he never lived to see his creation finished in 1864. 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. Create your account. After all, this plan was made to solve the problem of a high toll to cross it, right? The accident caused a landslip that led to the temporary closure of the nearby Bristol to Portishead railway line. The wire used in suspension bridge construction is a galvanized steel wire that has been coated with corrosion inhibitors. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it marks a turning point in the history of engineering and has come to symbolise a city of original thinkers and independent spirit. 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 Gorge. Friends at the Institution of Civil Engineers decided that they must complete the bridge as a monument to his legacy, and raised the money to resume construction. An architectural competition didnt initially find a winning design, 8. The steel-link chains of the old bridge were brought to Bristol, and used for the construction of the Clifton bridge. His design won - a suspension bridge with Egyptian-influenced towers. No need to register, buy now! [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. The Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust is a not-for-profit charity established in 1953 to act as custodians of the bridge, ensuring its maintenance and preservation. The bridge was inaugurated and opened to traffic on 8 December 1864 and has been in use without interruption since that date. John Hawkshaw and William Barlow modified the design and . tel: 0117 974 4664. email: visitinfo@clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk. [46], On 26 November 2003, the last Concorde flight (Concorde 216) flew over the bridge before landing at Filton Aerodrome. Darijus Strasunskas/Flickr. [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. It had houses with shopfronts built on it to pay for its maintenance. [17], The first full meeting of the Trustees was held on 22 June 1830 in the Merchants Hall in Bristol. / Source 3. The Act allowed a wrought iron suspension bridge to be built instead of stone, and tolls levied to recoup the cost. 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. Construction began in 1831. It is unknown when the first bridge was constructed across the Avon in Bristol, but the first stone bridge, Bristol Bridge, was built in the 13th century. You can unsubscribe at any time. When the son first showed the design to his father, his instant reaction was that he didnt think such construction with a single span could be built. [38] The BritishHeritage.org seeks to recognize individuals who have attained In February 2012, the bridge trustees applied to the Department for Transport to increase the toll to 1,[41] subsequently implemented on 24 April 2014. It spans the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, 2. [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. . In this post, youll discover the ultimate list of facts about Clifton Suspension Bridge, one of the most picturesque bridges in the world! The bridge at dawn. 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. 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). If you would like to, you can learn more about the cookies we use. excellence and international renown in their chosen professional fields, copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. 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 Act appointed three Trustees to carry through the purposes of the Act, with powers to appoint more up to a total not exceeding thirty five or less than twenty. The Clifton Suspension Bridgeis a suspension bridgespanning the Avon Gorgeand the River Avon, linking Cliftonin Bristolto Leigh Woodsin North Somerset. [15] Telford rejected all the remaining designs, arguing that 577 feet (176m) was the maximum possible span. 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 trust was authorised to manage the bridge and collect tolls by Acts of Parliament in 1952, 1980 and 1986. [35], On 8 December 1864, the bridge was lit by magnesium flares for its ceremonial opening parade, but they were blown out by the wind. 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. The three Trustees named in the Act met on 17 June 1830 and appointed further Trustees, bringing the total up to 23. [27], Brunel died in 1859, without seeing the completion of the bridge. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is well known as a suicide bridge and is fitted with plaques that advertise the telephone number of The Samaritans. Construction. [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. Brunel's original plan proposed they be topped with then-fashionable sphinxes, but the ornaments were never constructed. wirestock. [43] By 2008 over 4 million vehicles crossed the bridge each year. To achieve this, any bridge constructed between Bristol Bridge and Avon Gorge, from Hotwells to Ashton Gate, would require massive embankments and viaducts. In the 1760s a bill to replace the bridge was carried through parliament by the Bristol MP Sir Jarrit Smyth. They paid 50 each year to the trustees who gradually purchased the shares in the company. Clifton Suspension Bridge master Trish Johnson said: "We are taking advantage of the current lower levels of traffic to carry out our annual inspection. The Bridge Committee which had been set up to look at the designs sponsored the Clifton Bridge Bill which became an Act when the Bill received the Royal Assent on 29 May 1830. 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. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. 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