Clifton Suspension Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clifton Suspension Bridge |
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Clifton Suspension Bridge
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| Coordinates | 51°27′18″N 2°37′40″W / 51.4549°N 2.6279°W |
| Carries | B3129 road, cars, pedestrians and cyclists |
| Crosses | River Avon |
| Locale | Bristol |
| Maintained by | Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Total length | 1,352 ft (412 m) |
| Width | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Height | 331 ft (101 m) above high water level (86 ft (26 m) above deck) |
| Longest span | 702 ft 3 in (214.05 m) |
| Clearance below | 245 ft (75 m) above high water level |
| History | |
| Opened | 1864 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 8,800 |
| Toll | Vehicles £1.00 |
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a famous suspension bridge in Bristol, England. It stretches across the Avon Gorge and the River Avon. This bridge connects the area of Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset.
The idea for a bridge here started way back in 1753. It was first planned as a stone bridge, then later as a wrought iron one. The bridge was designed by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. However, it was only finished after his death in 1864. Today, the bridge is a toll bridge, meaning you pay a small fee to cross it. This money helps to keep the bridge in good condition. It is also a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building.
The two towers of the bridge look similar but are not exactly the same. The Clifton tower has special cut-outs on its sides. The Leigh Woods tower has more pointed arches at the top. It sits on a tall base made of red sandstone. The bridge deck hangs from 162 vertical rods made of wrought iron. These rods are connected to three strong iron chains on each side. These chains can move slightly at the top of the towers. This movement helps the bridge handle the weight of cars and people crossing it.
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a well-known symbol of Bristol. You can see it on postcards and in many films and TV shows. It has also been the site of exciting events. For example, the first modern bungee jump happened here in 1979. The last flight of the Concorde plane also flew over it in 2003. In 2012, the Olympic Torch was passed over the bridge.
Contents
Building the Clifton Suspension Bridge
Early Ideas for a Bridge
People in Bristol wanted a bridge across the Avon Gorge for a long time. In 1753, a merchant named William Vick left money in his will. He wanted this money to be used to build a stone bridge. He said the money should grow to £10,000 before it was used.
By 1829, the money had grown to £8,000. But building a stone bridge would cost much more than that. So, a competition was held to find a design for the bridge. The prize was 100 guineas. Many designers sent in their ideas. Isambard Kingdom Brunel sent in four different plans.
The judges asked a famous engineer, Thomas Telford, to help choose the best design. Telford thought the bridge could not be as long as planned. He then suggested his own design for a suspension bridge. It would have tall, Gothic-style towers.
Brunel's Design is Chosen
In 1830, a special law was passed to allow a wrought iron suspension bridge to be built. This law also allowed tolls to be charged to pay for the bridge. The first meeting of the bridge's trustees happened in June 1830. They started raising money for the project.
Brunel then created a new design that cost less than Telford's. He convinced the committee that his design was the best. In 1831, Brunel was chosen as the project engineer. His winning design featured towers with an Egyptian look.
Starting Construction and Delays
Work on the bridge began on June 20, 1831. Workers started blasting rocks on the Clifton side of the gorge. However, just four months later, work stopped. This was because of big protests in Bristol. These protests affected people's trust in businesses in the city. Money for the bridge stopped coming in, and construction paused.
Work started again in 1836, but there still wasn't enough money. The main builders even went bankrupt in 1837. The bridge towers were built but left unfinished. By 1843, all the money was gone, and work stopped again. The iron parts that had been made were sold. They were used to build another bridge designed by Brunel, the Royal Albert Bridge.
Finishing the Bridge
Brunel died in 1859, before his bridge was finished. His friends and colleagues wanted to complete the bridge as a tribute to him. They started raising money again. In 1860, another bridge designed by Brunel, the Hungerford Bridge in London, was taken down. Its iron chains were bought and used for the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
William Henry Barlow and Sir John Hawkshaw created a new design. It made the bridge wider, higher, and stronger. It used three chains instead of two on each side. The towers were left in their rough stone finish, not in the Egyptian style Brunel had planned.
Work on the bridge began again in 1862. A temporary bridge was built first, using ropes and wooden planks. This helped workers move materials. The strong chains that hold the bridge are anchored deep inside tunnels in the rocks. After the chains were in place, vertical rods were hung from them. These rods support the main deck of the bridge. The bridge was tested by placing 500 tons of stone on it. It sagged a little, but this was expected. The bridge was finally finished in 1864, 111 years after it was first thought of!
How the Bridge Works Today
Opening and Management
The Clifton Suspension Bridge officially opened on December 8, 1864. It was lit up with bright magnesium flares for the celebration. Today, the bridge is still lit up for special events, but now with thousands of electric lights.
A company called the Clifton Bridge Company was set up to manage the bridge. They collected tolls from people crossing it. Over time, the original charitable trust that owned the bridge bought all the shares in this company. By 1949, the trust fully owned and managed the bridge.
The bridge is still run by this charitable trust. They use the money from tolls to keep the bridge in good shape. Since 2007, cars pay a £0.50 toll. Pedestrians and cyclists can cross for free. In 1975, machines replaced human toll collectors. More than 4 million vehicles cross the bridge every year!
Special Events and Closures
On April 1, 1979, the first modern bungee jumps were made from the bridge. This was done by students from the University of Oxford. Sometimes, the bridge has to close to traffic and pedestrians. This happens during very busy events like the Ashton Court Festival and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. This is to protect the bridge from too much weight from large crowds.
On November 26, 2003, the very last Concorde flight flew over the bridge before landing. In April 2006, the bridge was the main focus of a celebration for Brunel's 200th birthday. A firework display was launched from the bridge. New LED lights were also turned on to light up the bridge.
On May 23, 2012, the London 2012 Olympic Torch relay crossed the bridge. Two torchbearers met in the middle to exchange the flame. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a Grade I listed building, showing its historical importance.
In 2011, plans were announced for a new visitor centre near the bridge. This centre helps people learn more about the bridge's history and engineering. It was completed before the bridge's 150th anniversary in 2014.
How the Bridge is Built
Towers and Foundations
The two towers of the bridge are not exactly the same. The Clifton tower has special cut-outs on its sides. The Leigh Woods tower has more pointed arches and angled edges. Brunel had originally wanted sphinx statues on top of the towers, but they were never built.
The Leigh Woods tower is 85 feet (26 metres) tall. It stands on a 110-foot (34 metres) tall base made of red sandstone. In 2002, it was discovered that this base was not solid. It contained 12 hidden rooms, or vaulted chambers, linked by tunnels!
At the very top of each tower are special "saddles" that can move. These allow the large chains to shift slightly when heavy loads cross the bridge. This movement prevents damage to both the towers and the chains.
Chains and Deck
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The bridge has three separate wrought iron chains on each side. From these chains, 81 pairs of vertical wrought-iron rods hang down. These rods support the bridge deck. The chains are anchored deep inside tunnels in the rocks on both sides of the gorge. They go about 60 feet (18 metres) underground.
The bridge deck was first made of wooden planks. Later, it was covered with asphalt. The total weight of the bridge, including its chains, rods, girders, and deck, is about 1,500 tons.
Bridge Facts
- Clearance: 245 feet (75 metres) above high water level
- Dip of chains: 70 feet (21 metres)
- Height of towers: 86 feet (26 metres) above the deck
- Overall length: 1,352 feet (412 metres)
- Overall width: 31 feet (9.4 metres)
- Span: 702 feet (214 metres) between the towers
Gallery
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SUSPENSA VIX VIA FIT, "The road becomes barely suspended"; Latin inscription atop Leigh Woods pier expressing the amazement of Victorian travellers on first seeing the bridge
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Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge, with Giants Cave
Images for kids
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Clifton Suspension Bridge photographed from above and north east with Clifton Observatory in the foreground
See also
In Spanish: Puente colgante de Clifton para niños
