[37], In 1860 the Clifton Bridge Company was set up to oversee the final stages of completion and manage the operation of the bridge. They paid 50 each year to the trustees who gradually purchased the shares in the company. 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. In February 2012, the bridge trustees applied to the Department for Transport to increase the toll to 1, subsequently implemented on 24 April 2014. They paid 50 each year to the trustees who gradually purchased the shares in the company. In the world of bridges, new technologies and materials equaled the ability to span crossings deemed too wide or dangerous. The p ps 214m across the Avon Valley Gorge from Clifton to Leigh forests as shown in figure 3. [32] The construction work was completed in 1864111 years after a bridge at the site was first planned. William Vick, a Bristol wine merchant, had given money to fund the Bridge's construction. Copyright Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust | Registered Charity Number: 205658 | Privacy and Cookies Policy. The revenues from tolls were minimal initially as there was not much traffic; however, this increased after 1920 with greater car ownership. The new facilities were scheduled to be completed before the 150th anniversary of the opening, which was celebrated on 8 December 2014. Elmore Pedestrian Bridge. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. ", "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? An architectural competition didnt initially find a winning design, 8. [14] The judging committee rejected 17 of the 22 plans submitted, on the grounds of appearance or cost. Yet the . They were going to be decorated with iron panels showing the story of the bridge being built, and each one would have had two sphinxes sitting on top, Laura Hilton from Clifton Suspension Bridge told BBC News. 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. suspension bridge; bridge; tower bridge; 1. . Brunel persisted however, and continued with his design. Select from premium Clifton Suspension Bridge of the highest quality. As the pylons were built, it quickly became apparent that Brunel's ambition outpaced the technology, and that it would be too difficult to get the massive sphinxes into place. 195 lessons. [8] In 2010, newly discovered letters and documents revealed that, in producing his design, Brunel hadn't taken advice from his father, Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, who had offered to help. 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. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Designed and built in 1836 by a young engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this 702-foot-long, 250-foot-high suspension bridge gracefully spans the Avon Gorge between Clifton and Leigh Woods. Work on the bridge was restarted in 1862. 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. Publication Year. It had houses with shopfronts built on it to pay for its maintenance. 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. The new facilities were scheduled to be completed before the 150th anniversary of the opening, which was celebrated on 8 December 2014. [69]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. In 1753 Bristolian merchant William Vick had left a bequest in his will of 1,000 (equivalent to 160,000 in 2020), invested with instructions that when the interest had accumulated to 10,000 (1,560,000), 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. FREE tours of the bridge take place on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays at 2pm from November to March. [29], It has been argued that the size and technology of these revisions was so great that the credit for its design should go to Barlow and Hawkshaw. Work began on the bridge in 1836 under the supervision of Isambard Kingdom . In 2010, newly discovered letters and documents revealed that, in producing his design, Brunel had taken advice from his father, Sir Marc Isambard Brunel. You can unsubscribe at any time. Brunel's original plan proposed they be topped with then-fashionable sphinxes, but the ornaments were never constructed. In 1793 William Bridges published plans for a stone arch with abutments containing factories, which would pay for the upkeep of the bridge. An architectural competition was held in 1829 to finally find a design for the bridge and a reward of 100 guineas (a gold coin) was offered as a reward. The construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge was plagued with problems, both financially and contractually, the consequence of which was long delays. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is well known as a suicide bridge and is fitted with plaques that advertise the telephone number of The Samaritans. Work started on blasting of St. Vincent's Rock, on the Clifton side of the gorge. Two men were killed during the construction of the bridge. Though their total travel is minuscule, their ability to absorb forces created by chain deflection prevents damage to both tower and chain. [23] Five to six hundred young men were involved in the riots and Brunel was sworn in as a special constable. Free delivery for many products! The Bridge is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. [53][54] The bridge is a Grade I listed building. 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. Many believed it would tip or buckle. As the work had exceeded the time limit stated in the Act, all work stopped. Clifton Suspension Bridge, Clifton The world famous bridge and the iconic symbol of Bristol, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1831 and completed in 1864 after his death. The Visitor Centre is currently daily from 10am - 5pm. At the same time, one of Brunel's bridges over the Thames (the Hungerford Suspension Bridge) was being demolished and replaced with one running to a new train station. The Clifton Bridge Company initially managed the bridge under licence from a charitable trust. This means that the Trust operating the bridge has an annual revenue of over 4 million! The deck was originally laid with wooden planking, later covered with asphalt, which was renewed in 2009. Can Brunel really be credited with the design? Number of Pages. Since opening in 1864, it has been a toll bridge, the income from which provides funds for its maintenance. [20] The winning design was for a suspension bridge with fashionably Egyptian-influenced towers. 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. 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. Original plans were for a stone bridge and later iterations were for a wrought iron structure. 13. 12167/42-44) (online catalogue). The celebrations began with a military display in Queen Square at 9.30am, and an hour later troops began a march along Broad Quay, Park Street, Brandon Hill and the Downs. 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. Between 1974 and 1993, 127 people fell to their deaths from the bridge. We send emails once a month. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. [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]. In December 1864, and nearly 35 years after construction had started, the world's longest chain bridge opened in Bristol. In 2002 it was discovered that this was not a solid structure but contained 12 vaulted chambers up to 35 feet (11m) high, linked by shafts and tunnels. Collections; Project #ShowUs; Creative Insights; . This beautiful suspension bridge is lit with vibrant blue hues after dark. Clifton Suspension Bridge under construction, Bristol, 1864. 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. Roller-mounted "saddles" at the top of each tower allow movement of the chains when loads pass over the bridge. The origins of Clifton Suspension Bridge went back even further, to 1753, when a local merchant left 1,000 in his will with . [44], On 1 April 1979, the first modern bungee jumps were made from the bridge by members of the University of Oxford Dangerous Sports Club. The bridge carries four million vehicles per year, along part of the B3129 road. [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. These factories were then supposed to generate income for the bridge after it was constructed. [42] Human toll collectors were replaced by automated machines in 1975. 3) In 1829, a competition was launched to find someone to design the bridge. ", "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. It spans the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, 2. Is there a better place to perform a historical stunt? This was used by the workers to move a "traveller", consisting of a light frame on wheels, to transport each link individually, which would eventually make up the chains supporting the bridge. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. This was used by the workers to move a "traveller", consisting of a light frame on wheels, to transport each link individually, which would eventually make up the chains supporting the bridge. Resentment at the tolls exacted to cross the new bridge occasioned the Bristol Bridge Riot of 1793. On 4 April 2009, the bridge was shut for one night to allow a crack in one of the support hangers to be repaired. Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol.M/S First electrician lowering the bulbs down to him. [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. 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. 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. Right now, about 4 million vehicles cross the bridge each year, and the toll has been set at 1 since 2012 (the bridge is free to cross for pedestrians and bicycles). The accident caused a landslip that led to the temporary closure of the nearby Bristol to Portishead railway line. Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol, UK The idea for a bridge here first arose in the 1750s, when merchant William Vick left money towards the structure in his will. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was the son of Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, an equally renowned engineer. 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