Clifton Suspension Bridge

The Clifton Suspension Bridge carries the B3129 road 75 metres above the Avon Gorge, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset. It spans the River Avon and the gorge below, standing as a Grade I listed structure since 2009. Designed by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw, it follows an earlier plan by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Construction began in the 19th century but was completed only in 1864, decades after Brunel’s death. The bridge’s two towers differ in design, with the Leigh tower rising from a red sandstone abutment. The bridge’s history goes back to 1753, when a local merchant left £1,000 to fund a stone crossing. By 1829, the bequest had grown to £8,000, yet a stone bridge would have cost far more. A competition drew 22 entries, including four by Brunel, before his suspension design was chosen. Work started in 1831 but stopped during the Bristol riots. After Brunel’s death, the revised design was finished in 1864. The bridge now carries toll income that pays for its upkeep. Visitors walk across the iron deck supported by 162 vertical rods in 81 pairs. The towers allow movement through roller-mounted saddles that let the three wrought-iron chains shift under load. The bridge has appeared in films and hosted events like the first modern bungee jump in 1979. From the deck, views stretch down the gorge and across Bristol. The structure remains a landmark, often used in images of the city.