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© Licensed to London News Pictures. 28/10/2014. Bristol, Somerset, UK. ***FILE IMAGE*** Clifton Suspension Bridge taken on 28/10/2014. The 8th December 2014 marks 150 years to the day since the bridge's grand opening on 8th December 1864.
The bridge, now a Grade I listed building, was initially designed by the Portsmouth born engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He was first employed as project engineer after winning a design competition at the young age of 23 years old. Construction of the bridge started when Lady Elton, wife of major bridge investor Sir Abraham Elton of Clevedon Court, laid a small foundation stone at St Vincent’s Rocks to mark the site of the Clifton abutment.
Brunel failed to see the bridge reach completion 33 years later, as he died 5 years before its completion in 1859. Upon Brunel's death, it became the job of two distinguished civil engineers, Sir John Hawkshaw (1811 – 1891) and William Henry Barlow (1812 – 1902), to complete the bridge.
The first person to cross the bridge was 21-year old Mary Griffiths from Hanham in East Bristol. Back then, the toll charge was a penny to cross. Today, cars pay £1 to cross the bridge.
***FILE IMAGE*** Photo credit : Rob Arnold/LNP
The bridge, now a Grade I listed building, was initially designed by the Portsmouth born engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He was first employed as project engineer after winning a design competition at the young age of 23 years old. Construction of the bridge started when Lady Elton, wife of major bridge investor Sir Abraham Elton of Clevedon Court, laid a small foundation stone at St Vincent’s Rocks to mark the site of the Clifton abutment.
Brunel failed to see the bridge reach completion 33 years later, as he died 5 years before its completion in 1859. Upon Brunel's death, it became the job of two distinguished civil engineers, Sir John Hawkshaw (1811 – 1891) and William Henry Barlow (1812 – 1902), to complete the bridge.
The first person to cross the bridge was 21-year old Mary Griffiths from Hanham in East Bristol. Back then, the toll charge was a penny to cross. Today, cars pay £1 to cross the bridge.
***FILE IMAGE*** Photo credit : Rob Arnold/LNP
