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Clifton Suspension Bridge and Isambard Kingdom Brunel

The History of the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Clifton Suspension Bridge was finished in 1864, started in 1831, because the work was too slow.

In 1829, there was a competition to build a bridge across the Avon gorge at Clifton. Finally the public chose the engineer’s design – Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He was just 23 years old at the time.

In 1843 only the two towers had been built and the total cost of the bridge was £100,000.

The worst thing was the bridge was finished 5 years after Brunel died.

Brunel designed the bridge to carry horses and carriages. Today more than 4 million vehicles cross the bridge every year.

By Toby Lau

We went on a trip on 16th of May.

We went to the Bristol museum and we saw a painting of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. And we compared it with a picture of today’s bridge. We went downstairs and looked at extinct animal bones, fossils and pictures.

Afterwards I bought a red panda puppet and ice cream for my treat.

Next day, we went to the Clifton Suspension Bridge and we met a guide to guide us. After it, we went to the Downs and interviewed some people there.

It was fun because we talked to people who we didn’t know. From the trip, I liked the guide the most because he told us lots of stories about Clifton Suspension Bridge.

By Doh Hun Kim

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Brunel was born in 1806 and he died in 1859.

He was a great engineer and he was very clever.

He designed ships, tunnels, railways and bridges (like the SS Great Britain and London to Bristol Great Western railway).

Brunel liked cigars and he wore a tall hat.

In 1829 there was a competition to make a bridge.

Brunel’s design was chosen.

He died before the bridge was built. He was an unlucky man.

Brunel loved his family so he tried to show a coin trick but the coin got stuck in his throat. So he made a machine to get the coin out but it didn’t work so he needed to be shake upside down.

Kang Min Kim 6JH

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