Brunel's Swing Bridge



< Back to Project List Other Brunel's Swing Bridge Pages 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, 2021, 2022, and 2023; photos of work parties in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023; information on the 170th Anniversary events; and copies of the display boards. Brunel's Swing Bridge The AIBT is working in partnership with the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society (BIAS), the Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society (CHIS), and the Hotwells and Cliftonwood Society on the restoration of Brunel's swing bridge. The bridge is a very important historic structure, which is located underneath the Plimsoll Bridge at the entrance to Bristol 's floating harbour. It is disused and in a very poor condition, and in danger of complete collapse. The bridge is listed Grade ll* and is on Historic England's Register of Structures at Risk. It was Brunel's first large wrought iron opening bridge. It is far older than the Suspension Bridge, and is Bristol's only abandoned Brunel structure. Volunteers have been working to halt the decay for the past three years. This work has been supported by grants from Historic England, BIAS, CHIS, and the Bristol City Council's Neighbourhood Partnership. The bridge rotates on four fixed wheels running on a solid ring under the bridge. It is turned by twin hydraulic rams located in pits, which are connected to a turning ring under the bridge by a substantial wire cable. The hydraulic rams were fed from a pressure water system located in Underfall Yard. Prior to conversion to hydraulic operation, the bridge was turned by a hand operated crank similar to that used on old railway turntables. Photo right: Brunel's Swing Bridge with the tower on the Leigh Woods side of the Suspension Bridge in the background. Photo: R Whitworth NB: There are three names in use for the structure - 'Brunel's Swing Bridge', 'Brunel's Swivel Bridge' and 'Brunel's Other Bridge'. Key Historical Points The bridge was designed in 1849 by staff in I K Brunel's Westminster office to carry traffic over the new South Entrance Lock (Brunel's Lock) which was under construction at the time. The bridge became operational in October 1849. The bridge was constructed at the same worksite as the SS Great Britain. Brunel was closely involved in both its design and construction. Its design represents an early stage in the development of the flanged plate girders that characterised Brunel's medium span wrought iron bridges. In 1872-1873 the bridge was shortened and relocated to its present position over the North Entrance Lock (Howard's Lock). The hydraulic machinery of the lock was renewed in 1901-1902, using machinery made by Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth and Co Ltd of Newcastle upon Tyne. The bridge is owned by Bristol City Council and was decommissioned in 1968 after the construction of the Plimsoll Bridge. Project Aims To improve the site's neglected appearance To slow deterioration of the structure To raise the profile of the Bridge and hence funding for its conservation To gain information on, and refurbish, some of the working parts Photo right: Brunel's Swing Bridge on Doors Open Day 2015. Photo: R Whitworth Project Finance The AIBT acts as the project's treasurer. It also lets and supervises the contracts as, unlike the other organisations involved, it is a limited company as well as being a registered charity. Donations The AIBT would like to thank the Bristol Visual and Environmental Group for a donation of Ł10 000 in memory of Dorothy Brown. Dorothy was for many years an indefatigable champion of the heritage in Bristol and its environs. Many historic buildings owe their continuing existence to the battles she fought for the heritage up to her death. The organisation she founded, the Bristol Visual and Environmental Group, is now being wound up, and our project is very lucky to benefit from the residual funds being distributed from her trust by the surviving trustees. Wonderful have stopped their on-line donation platform. Viewers who wish to contribute to the project can send a cheque, made payable to the 'Avon Industrial Buildings Trust', to: The Treasurer, 24, The Bluebells, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8BE Please indicate that the donation is for Brunel's Other Bridge. Alternatively the details for a bank transfer are: Account name: Avon Industrial Buildings Trust Account address: CAFCASH LTD, Kings Hill, WEST MALLING, KENT ME19 4TA Sort code: 40-52-40 Account number: 00006720 Please include BOB in the reference field. More Information There are copies of past newsletters on the archive page of this website. More details and photographs of progress on the project can be found on the Brunel's Other Bridge website: www.brunelsotherbridge.org.uk, or on the CHIS website: www.cliftonhotwells.org.uk/. Bristol's Western Harbour Heritage Assets Information on the heritage assets in Bristol's Western Harbour was identified in 2021 by a working group set up by the Bristol Civic Society. The group's web site is https://bwhha.wordpress.com/, where there is a location map, asset images, alternative names, history summary, and links to other information for each asset. The assets are indexed by name, alias, and map location. The site is still in the process of being constructed. For further information contact: jandgwallis@gmail.com Other Brunel's Swing Bridge Pages 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, 2021, 2022, and 2023; photos of work parties in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023; information on the 170th Anniversary events; and copies of the display boards. < Back to Project List Page updated 21 Apr 23
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