The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a world famous Victorian engineering marvel spanning the Avon Gorge in Bristol, England. It was initially designed by the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel.  The bridge serves as his defining professional monument, despite taking 33 years to complete and opening  5 years after his death.

     Origins and financial woes 1785–1843)

The idea of a bridge originated in 1750 when a wealthy wine merchant William Vick left a one thousand pound bequest in his will.  He stipulated that the money should be invested until it reached 10,000 pounds and then used to build a toll free  stone bridge across the Avon Gorge.  By  1829, the fund had grown significantly but a stone arch bridge was deemed unfeasible and far too expensive.

     The bridge committee launched a design competition for a suspension bridge. After a messy initial round  judged by Thomas Telford who rejected all entries to propose his own unpopular plan,a second competition was held in 1831.  A 24 year old Isambard Kingdom Brunel won the contract calling the project my first child, my darling.

    Construction officially began in June, 1931 but the project quickly encountered disasters.

  Bristol Riots (1831)

     Severe political riots shattered  commercial confidence causing investors subscriptions to dry up overnig

     Bankruptcy (1843) construction work resumed fitfully in 1836 but funds were exhausted by 1843. Work grounded to a total  hault with only the massive stone towers partially  completed

 

      Death and Rebirth 1859 –1864)

    Brunel passed away in September, 1859.at the age of 53.having never seen his project completed.

     Viewing the half built towers as a monument to failure, his colleagues at the Institution of Civil Engineers decided to raise new capital and finish the landmark as a monument to his genius.

1.      Engineer John Hawshaw  and William Henry Barlow took over modernizing Brunel’s original plan to feature a wider, heavier and more robust deck.  Fortuitously Brunel’s Hungersford Suspension Bridge in London was being demolished at this time. Hankshaw and Barlow purchased the iron chains of the Hungersford bridge and transferred them to the  Clifton.project to string them between towers
2.  The bridge finally celebrated its grand opening  December 8, 1864. featuring a lighting display.This was a completion of Buck’s dream.
3.  The bridge was a masterpiece of Victorian design. Not incorporated several highly advanced design mechanics 

     Movable saddles.  The iron chains rest on.cast iron ” saddles on top of the towers.  These saddles sit on rollers allowing the structure to slide slightly to accommodate thermal expansion high winds and weight changes without damage to the masonry.  There is no wind bracing.  Despite having no modern aerodynamic wind braces,the bridge flexible design allows it to swing 18 inches.

     Secret vaults. In 2002, an inspection revealed that the massive supposedly solid red sandstone Leigh woods abutment were actually hollow  containing 12 forgotten, multiple story vaulted brick chambers

Bridge today

Now it is a Grade 1 listed historic building.  The bridge is  by the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust. The original 1864 structure remains incredibly.well preserved with an estimated 97%–98% of its iron work still intact.  It jass evolved from carrying light horse drawn carriages to accomodating  more than 4 million commuter vehicles every year.