To truly appreciate Clifton Suspension Bridge, it’s best first to view it from afar, standing slim and elegant as it spans the Avon Gorge, connecting Clifton in Bristol, to Leigh Woods in North Somerset. From the distance, you’ll enjoy the beauty of its lines and its unforgettable silhouette against the sky.
Then, move closer. Cycle, walk or drive (there’s a toll for drivers) through one of the twin towers and along the bridge, brace yourself and look down. You’ll catch your breath for you’ll be gazing into a vertiginous drop of 245ft (74.6metres).
The towers, or piers, were modelled after Egyptian design elements in the original submission by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1831, but work was halted by the Bristol Riots, against the House of Lords rejection of the Reform Bill that would give parliamentary representation to Bristol and other towns.
Each tower is 85ft (26 metres) high and stands on top of a hollowed-out abutment containing up to 12 vaulted and linked chambers, helping to distribute the weight. The public can now visit the Leigh Woods tower vaults on guided tours.
The bridge was finally opened in 1864, with the plans revised and completed by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw, using Brunel’s designs. Brunel himself never saw the completion of the bridge, for he died in 1859.
The Avon Gorge and the suspension bridge are at the heart of Murder at the Gorge, in the Exham on Sea Murder Mysteries series.
I’ve also used the bridge in a children’s book, Dragon Ring. The book’s short and designed for children with dyslexia, or new readers, using National Dyslexia Association advice.
