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Other Brunel's Swing Bridge Pages

As well as an introductory page, the other Brunel's Swing Bridge pages cover: events at the bridge, including the dates of work parties; reports of work parties in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; photos of work parties in 2020, 2021 and 2022; information on the 170th Anniversary events; and copies of the display boards.

Brunel's Swing Bridge Project News - 2022

February 2022

There was a training session by Nick Burwell from Bristol City's Neighbourhood Services Team on graffiti removal. The services team kindly provided three types of chemical graffiti remover which were tried out on metal, painted and stone surfaces with surprising success. The area around the two bridges is now clearer of graffiti than it has been for years.  It was explained that the chemicals are environmentally safe and not toxic to humans. They are predominantly citric-acid and smell of lemons. A petrol strimmer was used to great effect on the weeds around the site, and the shed was given a 3 hour long spring clean. There are more photos on the 2022 photo page.

March 2022

The heavy encrustation of rust was removed from the long angle iron riveted on to strengthen the Bridge after a ship damaged it. The angle iron was then painted with a special yellow metal primer, and this work will be continued at the April work party. The east end of the Tongue (Island) was strimmed of vegetation, and work continued on the misalignment of the southern hydraulic ram. There are two photos of the work party on the 2022 photo page.

April 2022

Volunteers wearing safety harness removed vegetation and small trees threatening the south wall of Brunel's lock, which is listed (photo right). Vegetation and a small tree were also removed from the timber decking area.

A two-part primer was applied to the steel angle plate used to strengthen the bridge after it was hit by a ship in the 20th Century. Other volunteers assembled more of the south ram, and took the measurements needed to make the new bolts needed to complete the reassembly. There are two photos of the work party on the 2022 photo page.

June 2022

There are eight photos of the work party on the 2022 photo page.

July 2022

The weather was hot on Saturday 16 July, so work stopped early at 2 pm. But by then graffiti had been painted out, and some more vegetation cleared. A couple of 1" bolt stubs in the south hydraulic ram pit were burnt out using gas cutting gear.

There are four photos of the work party on the 2022 photo page.

August 2022

There was good progress on 20 August, with a large turn-out of volunteers despite it being the height of the holiday season. Work in the ram pit saw a bronze pressure relief valve being test-fitted and both side rails and bolts reassembled. A new plate-lifter and new brass slider plates were also test-fitted. More weeding made the area around the tongue look quite tidy. Graffiti on both BOB and the buildings to the north of the entrance lock was painted over.

There was a distraction when the Matthew was marooned in the entrance lock by an electrical fault on the Plimsol Swing Bridge. Instead of waiting for the bridge to open, the Matthew's passengers disembarked while the ship was still in the entrance lock and completed their journey on foot.

There are three more photos of the work party on the 2022 photo page.

September 2022

The site was open on Saturday 17 September as part of the Heritage Open Days, but there were very few visitors.

The new wheeled plate-lifter (photo right) was used to expose the pit that contains the control-valve for BOB's hydraulic systems.  The new brass wear-plates were fitted to the south pit ram-crosshead, and debris was cleared from under the bridge.

Work started on the capstan beside Brunel's Lock, assumed to be the one used to close the caisson gate. Three trolley jacks were used to raise the rotating drum so that the inside could be inspected. It is a simple design and in good condition, but the top brass bearing is worn, so that the capstan can't turn properly at present.  The possibility of restoring it will be looked at during the next work party on 15 October.

There are two photos of the work party on the 2022 photo page.

Other Brunel's Swing Bridge Pages

As well as an introductory page, the other Brunel's Swing Bridge pages cover: events at the bridge, including the dates of work parties; reports of work parties in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; photos of work parties in 2020, 2021 and 2022; information on the 170th Anniversary events; and copies of the display boards.

< Back to Project List