Brunel's Other Bridge Bristol Swivel Bridge 2016

Brunel Swivel Bridge Project Photos February 2016

set up and drill to find depth to bedrock (a 6m high rig will not be OK when the Plimsoll bridge swings, even though it would be OK the remainder of the time)
Detailed investigation of the foundations by digging three trial pits
We have set up our archaeologist for watching brief

Particular hazards which have already been identified:

the presence of the public in the vicinity;
the unprotected edge of the Entrance Lock to the north of the bridge;
the 3T vehicle-weight limit from Brunel Lock Road to the bridge site;
the risk of flooding at extreme high tides;
risk of bridge movement and distress if the ground adjacent to timber blocks, on which the bridge is presently supported, is disturbed;
the low headroom under the Plimsoll Swingbridge when it swings over the whole site potentially one hour before to three hours after high tide twice per day.

Seeing what delights are under the ground!

Assembling the rig	Bob Watkins and Mike Chapman (archaeologist) watching the preparation
Aerial shot. Most wrapped up warm!	Such simple but effective equipment
core sample of clay gathered, using the spike to help remove the core sample	the spike, the latch mechanism to drop the drill, and core sample
soft grey clay	samples
samples bagged up to take away. Bed rock encountered 11m down	we watched trial dredging in the Gorge at same time

Next day trial pits were dug	Mike was kept busy. The first pit showed a rod
no timber foundations out here	Going in nearer the bridge, Mike deploys a shovel rather than trowel
different levels	more victorian china, oyster shells and clay pipes found
we started our second pit by the track	we found several flag stones- which we will reuse elsewhere
Mike is lowered into the pit with his trowel	bit of a tight squeeze
digging deeper we found timber much to our surprise	Mike hitched a rope round
hauled out successfully	to our relief it was a tree stump, and not foundation
another pit	nothing of interest
all filled in	Maggie talking to UWE students studying the architecture of the area
pottery haul	cleaned up, attractive designs