Brunel's Other BridgeBrunel Swivel Bridge Project 2026
2026
Workdays for 2026 as follows:
- February 21st
- March 28th
- April 18th
- May 16th
- June 20th
- July 18th
- August 15th
- September 19th
- October 17th
Please check the website for late changes.
Tasks for 2026
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.
- Renewing timbers on Brunel Lock 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.
BRUNEL SWIVEL BRIDGE, CUMBERLAND BASIN, Bristol BS1 6XS Come and help out or just join in and enjoy yourself. Watch this website for further details.
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.
February 2026
After a long spell of rain we were fortunate to start this year's workdays on 21st February with dry weather. Ten volunteers attended, including three new friends, Chris and Gill Godden and Richard Tyers. Chris Burson strimmed the winter weeds, John, Andy and Richard vanquished graffiti, Bob continued his survey work, whilst Peter and Howard sorted through a vast pile of timber the City Council had offered to us. These redundant 12 inch square softwood baulks were mostly rotten, but we found some sound ones for use when jacking up the Bridge. These we towed out with Geoff's car and to storage under the deck. We had a useful 'catch-up' meeting reviewing the considerable progress made over the winter by the CIO, and enthused about wider plans for a BOB-sponsored Heritage Hub. So, watch this space !See the photos February 2026
March 2026
On a sunny Saturday we were delighted that ten volunteers and three visitors attended. Retired conservation architect Bruce Induni came up for Tounton to share the day with us, whilst Sheila Hannon and Julien Weston from local theatre 'Show of Strength' joined Bruce for an interesting tour of the heritage features on and around the Knuckle. Our volunteers moved more large timbers donated by Bristol City for future refurbishment projects, whilst Chris from Warminster and his friends vanquished weeds. Howard and Peter fitted several new timber strakes to Brunel Lock winch, whilst new volunteers Tia and Sabine, both Bristol University students, focussed on renewing the protective coverings on the bearings of a wheel designed by Brunel in 1849 but now 'retired' and stored under the deck. Thank you for all your hard work folks!
See the photos March 2026