suspension bridge spanning gorge linking bristol opening toll bridge income tolls continues provide funds maintenance bridge built design based earlier design contributed grade listed building forms road idea building bridge originated original plans stone bridge later wrought iron structure attempt build design halted bristol riots revised version designs built death completed similar size bridge towers identical design tower having cut outs tower pointed arches atop foot red sandstone clad roller mounted tower allow movement independent wrought iron chains loads pass bridge bridge deck suspended vertical wrought iron rods matching pairs initially managed bridge licence charitable trust trust subsequently purchased company shares completing took running bridge income tolls pay maintenance bridge distinctive landmark symbol bristol promotional materials web sites backdrop films television advertising programmes venue significant cultural events modern jump flight relay history plans unknown bridge constructed bristol stone bridge built 13th century houses built pay maintenance 17th century illustration shows bridge houses stories high including attic rooms river tudor houses street bill replace bridge carried parliament bristol sir early 18th century increase traffic shops roadway bridge fatally dangerous pedestrians new bridge designed finished built resentment tolls cross new bridge bristol bridge riot crossings considered restricted admiralty rules stipulated bridge feet water allow passage tall warships achieve bridge constructed require massive alternative build point height required shipping merchant left equivalent invested instructions interest accumulated purpose building stone bridge gloucestershire outside city bristol 1830s somerset little development area late 18th century bristol prosperous fashionable wealthy merchants moved area published plans stone arch containing factories pay bridge french revolutionary wars broke soon design published affecting trade commerce plans shelved patented designs suspension bridge gorge later gave reached estimated stone bridge cost times competition held find design bridge prize entries received designers including stone bridges estimated costs submitted entries judging committee rejected plans submitted grounds appearance cost called scottish civil engineer final selection remaining entries rejected remaining designs arguing feet maximum possible span asked produce design proposing foot wide suspension bridge supported tall gothic towers costing act parliament passed allow wrought iron suspension bridge built instead stone tolls levied cost company formed funds raised months money raised sufficient construction despite act received produced new proposal costing design gained support local press submitted new cheaper proposals complaining committee set budget second competition held new judges including davies gilbert examining engineering qualities proposals thirteen designs submitted chains achieved weight square inch required judges rejected expensive winner declared design birmingham personal meeting gilbert persuaded change decision committee declared winner awarded contract project engineer winning design suspension bridge egyptian influenced towers newly discovered letters documents revealed producing design taken advice father sir elder recommended including central support bridge believe single span bridge length constructed son chose ignore advice construction ceremony mark start construction works held june days later work halted bristol riots took place house_of_lords rejected second aimed eliminate rotten parliamentary seats britain fast growing industrial towns bristol young men involved riots sworn special constable riots severely commercial confidence bristol bridge company ceased construction bridge passing act great western railway financial confidence work resumed subsequent investment proved inadequate despite main contractors going bankrupt towers built unfinished stone enable transfer materials foot long iron bar inches diameter drawn gorge contract placed supply tons bar iron transported forged bar chains funds exhausted needed work exceeded time limit stated act work stopped suggested building deep water pier bridge essential road link funds scheme forthcoming sold build designed royal albert bridge railway plymouth towers remained 1850s passengers cross gorge basket iron bar died seeing completion bridge colleagues felt completion bridge fitting memorial started raise new funds suspension bridge thames london demolished way new railway bridge railway station chains purchased use revised design sir wider higher deck intended triple chains instead double argued size technology revisions great credit design towers remained rough stone finished egyptian style work bridge restarted initially temporary bridge created pulling ropes gorge making wire ropes wood held iron workers traveller consisting light frame wheels transport link individually eventually chains supporting bridge chains anchored tapering tunnels metres long bridge blue brick prevent chains pulled narrower tunnel mouth completion chains vertical suspension rods hung links chains large hung support deck feet higher end woods gives impression horizontal strength structure tested spreading tons stone bridge caused inches expected time tunnel driven rocks woods beneath bridge carry construction work completed years bridge site planned operation december bridge lit ceremonial opening parade blown wind custom lighting bridge continued recent events later thousands electric light attached bridge instead set oversee final stages completion manage operation bridge paid year trustees gradually purchased shares company revenues tolls minimal initially traffic increased greater car ownership trustees purchased outstanding shares bridge managed charitable trust originally formed following trust authorised manage bridge collect tolls toll levied vehicles toll act allows pedestrians collected human toll collectors replaced automated machines tolls pay bridge including strengthening chain anchor points regular painting maintenance carried cradle beneath deck million vehicles crossed bridge year february bridge trustees applied increase toll subsequently implemented april april modern jumps bridge members weight crowds travelling great strain bridge decided close bridge motor traffic pedestrians events closure bridge major annual events continued year november flight flew bridge landing april bridge weekend celebrating anniversary birth climax celebration display launched bridge celebrations saw activation led based lighting array bridge april bridge shut night allow crack support repaired london relay crossed bridge came kiss exchange flame middle iconic landmark bridge carries million vehicles year road bridge grade listed building november announced new visitor centre costing nearly million built woods end bridge replace temporary building currently new facilities scheduled completed anniversary opening celebrated december december announced bridge received funding improve visitor centre engineering similar size bridge towers identical design tower having cut outs tower pointed arches original plan proposed topped fashionable ornaments constructed foot tall tower stands atop foot red sandstone clad discovered solid structure contained vaulted chambers feet high linked shafts tunnels roller mounted tower allow movement chains loads pass bridge total travel ability absorb forces created chain prevents damage tower chain bridge independent wrought iron chains bridge deck suspended eighty matching vertical wrought iron rods ranging feet ends feet centre composed numerous parallel rows connected bolts chains anchored tunnels rocks feet ground level sides gorge deck originally laid wooden later covered asphalt renewed weight bridge including chains rods deck approximately tons dimensions clearance high water level dip chains height towers deck overall length overall width span incidents men killed construction bridge year old woman named survived suicide attempt bridge skirts acted parachute subsequently lived known suicide bridge fitted plaques advertise telephone number people fell deaths bridge barriers installed bridge prevent people jumping years installation reduced suicide rate deaths year wife rhythm blues singer committed suicide bridge august based jet squadron piloted flying officer flew deck performing victory roll crashing killing pilot accident caused led temporary closure nearby bristol railway line police helicopter flew bridge search february bridge closed traffic wind time living memory
Clifton Suspension Bridge