HRH Princess Anne officially opens new Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre


June 2015

A new visitor centre to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Brunel’s world-famous river crossing has been officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

Constructed by Rydon’s Bristol office, the new centre is located on the Leigh Woods side of the Bridge and is home to a range of interactive exhibits charting the Bristol landmark’s long history.

During her visit, The Princess Royal met staff and volunteers of the Bridge, as well as the teams involved in the delivery of this project, including Matt Templeman, Contracts Manager, and Paul Barber, South West Regional Director at Rydon.

Chris Booy, Chairman of the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust, said he couldn't think of a better way to mark the historic anniversary than to have Princess Anne officially open the new Visitor Centre and bring the history of the bridge back to life.

He added: “This remarkable bridge is a powerful symbol for Bristol and has such an important place in the hearts of local people. The new centre provides an opportunity for visitors of all ages and backgrounds to explore ‘the ornament of Bristol’ and discover the life and legacy of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.”

Visitor Services Manager Laura Hilton said: “The development of new facilities for schools and groups is a major step forward as we will at last be able to provide workshops and activity sessions on site, extending our formal and informal education programmes and inspiring a new generation of engineers.”

The project has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and forms part of a larger injection of investment to modernise the Bridge’s facilities and support its long-term maintenance and preservation.

The new facility incorporates an existing stone wall and includes a render finish and copper fin detailing. The two-storey building incorporates a pavilion featuring a large interior exhibition space.

Local practice Alec French Architects designed the new building, which is positioned next to new offices for the Bridge Master and his staff, and replaces a temporary structure to provide much improved visitor facilities.

Photography by Alan Russell (zedphoto.com).

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