Meet The Volunteers Restoring Brunel's Swivel Bridge

The entrance locks to Bristol's floating harbour have been in use for over 200 years. The locks and associated equipment have gone through many changes in that time to cope with increased sizes of shipping, technology developments and the end of commercial use of Bristol's Docks.

Some of the original structures and operating equipment is still in place but much is not normally visible. Brunel's swivel bridge was built in 1849 to cross the Brunel's entrance lock. It was the first wrought iron swivel bridge and incorporates design features, such as the balloon flange girder, that are unique to Brunel.

It worked until 1965 then left to decay until 2013 when a group of volunteers started restoration work. After a significant donation last year the Brunel Swivel Bridge Group formed a CIC which is committed to bringing this iconic bridge to full working condition for pedestrians and cyclists.

Come and meet the volunteers and hear about the work to restore Brunel's Swivel Bridge and to record and conserve the remaining industrial heritage in the area,Take a guided tour of the bridge and the industrial heritage around the locks and see some of the underground mechanisms that operated the bridges, capstans and lock gates for over 100 years.