Bristol's Suspension Bridge

[spindrift]

Bristol is the largest city in the south-west of England with a population well in excess of 500,000. It is famous for its Georgian architecture, its zoo and its Suspension Bridge which spans the River Avon gorge.

The first picture was not taken by me!



The bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and its construction started in 1831.

I walked over the bridge yesterday and took some pictures.





The following pictures were taken from the bridge - views of Bristol, the gorge and a bird of prey sitting on its nest.













Since Victoria times there have been numerous suicides from the bridge, some of them well-known people. Netting has now been erected to try and stop the deaths. Of course death is not always certain for the 'jumpers'....at least one has survived because of her billowing Victorian skirts, others have tumbled into the mud flats if the tide was out...I saw a large notice fixed to the bridge giving the Samaritans' telephone number.

[bixaorellana]

Oh my gosh ~~ the gorge is so deep! I almost got vertigo just looking at your wonderful, crisp pictures.

Spindrift, that bridge doesn't carry vehicles, does it?

Is that a huge park right in the middle of Bristol? It's a beautiful city!

[Deleted]

Nice photographs, vaguely reminiscent of Luxembourg City and the big gorge that runs right through the middle of it.

[bixaorellana]

Spindrift ~~ are the flowers in the last photo cashmere bouquet?

[spindrift]

Yes, cars drive over the bridge in two lanes (it is a toll bridge) and there are walkways on either side for pedestrians.

There seem to be huge parks around Bristol. We walked across the bridge to one of them where we lay in the sun and had a picnic.

I don't know what the flowers were. They were growing wild.

I rather like Bristol. This is where my ancestors lived. Of course there's so much else to see. The dock areas have been transformed and merit a visit. I was brought up in a seaside resort 20 miles south of Bristol.

I had no idea that Luxembourg city had a gorge running through it.

[Deleted]

Here is the dead center of Luxembourg City -- the Pont Adolphe

[spindrift]

That's very lovely.

[Deleted]

Unlike Bristol, the water at the bottom is just a very small stream. But it must have been a lot bigger and stronger 100,000 years ago.

[hwinpp]

Very fast, SD!

[Deleted]

Gorgeous pics and commentary SD,thanks! Is that where they do "the Bristol Stomp"?

[spindrift]

Casimira - I've never heard of "the Bristol Stomp" but it sounds intriguing.

[bixaorellana]

Really?! It was a monster hit in the US in the early 60s. As a matter of fact, it became an earworm the moment I read the title of this thread.

(and truly, SD ~~ I do think of you as "sharp as a pistol"!)

[Deleted]

There she is right up front! LOL! I have an earworm from it too!

[spindrift]

Hmmmm.....I've listened to it but don't know it! And why not? Because by then I was living in dull old Dublin.

[Deleted]

I've never heard that in my life. It must be from very early in the previous century.

[spindrift]

;D

[bixaorellana]

Poor baby!

You must have been an exceptionally late developing nine-year-old to have been unaware of that hit, which was played everywhere.

[auntieannie]

I do love Bristol, too! And yes, here in the UK, one can find large parks in many cities.

Feeling lucky!

One of my ambitions is to take a holiday and follow Good Isembard's work around the country. (when I win the lottery)