Three Men On Tour: 47

Clifton suspension bridge is situated above the beautiful Avon Gorge. Parking is available in Clifton and it is possible to walk across the bridge to the visitor centre on the Leigh Woods side (in Somerset).

The bridge was built between 1831-1864 to a design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Originally, Brunel was not selected to design the bridge. Instead a competition had been held for the honour, to which Brunel had submitted four designs. However, unknown to the contestants, only a strict budget was available to build the bridge, based on a bequest by William Vick, an 18th century merchant who died in 1753, leaving a £1000 investment for the purpose of constructing a stone bridge.

By 1829, the investment had reached a value of £8000. None of the entries could be constructed for less than £30,000. The competitors, including Brunel, protested that they had not been informed of any budget, and the competition was reopened, with a new allowance, that the bridge could be constructed of iron rather than stone. Changing from stone to iron, however, required an act of parliament.

In 1831, the second competition was run. However, Brunel still didn’t win it. It took a personal meeting with one of the judges for him to persuade the judges of the merits of his design, and the decision was changed, naming Brunel the winner.

Difficulties didn’t stop there. Construction was begun, but halted a few days later due to the Bristol Riots. Financial confidence in Bristol fell due to the riots, resulting in a drop of funding and more delays to the bridge.

In the end, the bridge was not completed until 1864 – 33 years after it was started – and Brunel died before seeing it finished.

To honour the difficulties in completing the bridge, and as a pun on the original source of funding – William Vick – a Latin inscription was placed on the bridge – suspensa vix via fit – a road only just suspended.

The chains are designed to shift with the bridge to take up strain due to movement.

The bridge has been physically tested using 500 tons of stone.