Vauxhall Bridge (Bristol)

High tide

Low tide. The former Harbour Railway is in the foreground

Built as a pedestrian swing bridge to cross the Avon New Cut from Cumberland Road (Bristol) to Coronation Road (Bedminster).

Constructed by John Lysaght, with hydraulic equipment by Armstrong, Whitworth and Co.

1900 'BRTSTOL'S NEW BRIDGE. Opened by the Lady Mayoress. Vauxhall Bridge-as the new swing footbridge across the Cut is to be called - was opened yesterday by the Lady Mayoress, and the communication between the Hotwells and Bedminster, so long agitated for, is now provided. The bridge is a substantial looking structure, with some pretentions to beauty. The total length, including south abutment, swing portion and fixed span, is about 270 feet, end the width is 10 feet 8 inches inside the flanges of the main girders. The abutment on the Coronation road is built mainly of Pennant atose masonry with Wilderness stone quoins, caps, and string courses, and has curved wing walls to the approach from the footpath. The swinging portion of the bridge is built of steel, weighs 150 tons, and Is 158 feet in length. It is carried on a pier founded on concrete below the bed of the river, asd is protected when open by timber dolphins up and down stream. The superstructure of the pier is built of Chepstow and pennant stone masonry surmounted by granite stones, which carry a circular steel girder forming en inverted roller path for the swinging portion of the bridge. Between the swinging portion of the bridge and Cumberland road is a fixed girder span over the towing path and the new railway, from which a staircase communicates with the towing path, and another staircase and an easy incline lead to Cumberland road. To allow of the bridge being opened at tide time for vessels to pass, it is provided with a large hydraulic press which both lifts it and forms the pivot on which it turns. When swinging, the bridge is first lifted clear of the end abutments by means of the hydraulic centre press, and this causes the rollers which keep the bridge in position when turning to bear against the inverted roller path. The turning is then effected by means of chains passing round a drum attached to the girders and worked by hydraulic machinery. On closing the bridge again it is locked in position by suitable mechanism. For the guidance of vessels up and down the river red lights have been fixed, so that the bridgemaster can signal to vessels whether the bridgeway is clear for them or not, and green lights mark the opening through which vessels must pass. The foundations, masonry work, and timber dolphins were built by Messrs J. Durnford and Son, who had to contend with considerable difficulty during floods in the river and in constructing the subaqueous foundations for the centre pier. In excavating for the foundations within a dam the workmen had to remove a quantity of loose marl and sandstone rock which had been put there probably at the time the New Cut was made, and the benching in the rock left by the workmen at that time was exposed to view, The steel work throughout was constructed by Messrs J. Lysaght, Limited, and the opening and closing machinery has been made and fixed by Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. The hydraulic pressure water is obtained in the r ordinary course from the pumping engines in the Underfall yard through pipes laid below the bed of the river, but in case of breakdown or other emergency a hydraulic pump and accumulator worked by hand have been provided near the Coronation road abutment. These are located in an engine house, which also contains crab winches and tackle for turning the bridge by hand.
The time fixed for the opening ceremony was the dinner hour, and this enabled a large number of people to watch the proceedings. Amongst those present ....'

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