Brunel's Other BridgeBrunel Swivel Bridge Project 2025
Volunteer Workdays
Workdays for 2025 as follows:
- February 15th
- March 15th
- April 12th
- May 17th
- June 21sth
- July 19th
- August 16th
- September 20th
- October 18th
Sounds like fun? No experience needed, all equipment provided, and you'll get really involved in helping to save Brunel's Other Bridge. We need your help.
We start at 9.30am so do please join us if you can. We provide free tea and coffee, so why not bring a picnic lunch? There is plenty of parking space and basic toilets are available. Please wear stout footwear, and you might like to bring overalls, gloves and something to kneel on. We have gloves, high-vis vest and a helmet you can borrow, and we provide tea and coffee!Youngsters are welcome provided their guardians are with them full time please.
Contact Geoff Wallis (jandgwallis@gmail.com) if you wish to help.
We need to have an idea of numbers.
Tasks for 2025
Can you help us with these tasks?
- People to engage passing visitors in conversation and explain the area's history
- Painters for the Swivel Bridge and for over-painting graffiti generally.
- Gardeners to control weeds and shrubs growing near and in masonry.
- Maker of 6 inch long forged steel spikes (nails) to secure timber strakes to the capstan.
- A woodworker to shape simple oak strakes and fit them to the Brunel Lock capstan.
- A carpenter to make a glazed notice-board for community and work-day notices.
- Help to heat and jack the twisted gland on one hydraulic-jigger to realign it with its ram.
- ...and your particular skills! Come along and help, however you are able.
February 2025
See the photos February 2025
April 2025
Our workday on Saturday was well-attended, productive, interesting and enjoyable Daisy and Will took on the interesting task of designing a new pointer to replace the one stolen off the historic tide gauge. Not easy as we don't know the date of construction, so we look forward to seeing your final designs!. John cleaned graffiti off BOB and painted, whilst Reece dealt with the spring weeds. Geoff, Charlie, David, Chris, Bob, Peter and Howard lifted numerous steel plates over the machine-pits at the west end of the 'Knuckle' entrance to Bristol City Docks. These pits still contain the 1902 hydraulic 'jiggers' that opened and closed the outer lock gates. Water pressurised to 750 psi. (45 Bar) operated giant pistons which pushed pulleys, drawing in heavy chains attached to the lock-gates. We found two giant pulleys and not one but two jiggers all with chains still attached, see photos. We don't yet know what the smaller jigger was used for, so come and join us on our next workday on 17th May and help us find out.
See the photos April_2025
June 2025
Nine volunteers braved the hottest day of the year, which was also the summer solstice with temperatures up to 27 degrees C. Peter and Howard lifted the pit covers over the Swivel Bridge jiggers and refitted the refurbished bronze pressure-relief valve. New fastings were kindly donated by Kebrell Nuts & Bolts Ltd of South Bristol, who have been long-time supporters.
Chris strimmed, Andy weeded, whilst John and Rupert painted out graffiti under the Plimsoll Bridge. At the west end of the Knuckle Charlie, Geoff, David, Peter, Howard, Geoff, and Chris lifted plates and fathomed out the purpose of the 'junior jigger' we discovered last month. This 3ft stroke ram is attached to the side of the larger jigger which closed the nearby outer lock gate. It acts in the opposite direction and was used to draw the big jigger ram back into its cylinder after use. Another interesting technical featurture long-forgotten, but potentially of great interest to visitors.
See the photos June_2025