Clifton

Shipping still made its way up-river to Bristol when this photograph was taken. Today, the increase in size of vessels has led to a new port being created down-river at Avonmouth. Visiting ships now miss this magnificent suspension bridge. Designed by that great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it stands 245 feet above the river. Construction started in 1836, but owing to a shortage of funds, the bridge was not completed until 1864, six years after Brunel died.
An extract from from"Canals and Waterways".

Brunel estimated that the bridge would cost £52,966 to construct. Brilliant engineer he may have been, but Brunel never would be any good at estimating costs; on more than one occasion he would bring the Great Western Railway close to bankruptcy. By the time Brunel had completed his final design, the estimate had risen to £57,000. Work began in 1836, but stopped in 1843 when the money ran out. The bridge was finally completed in 1864, and even then the suspension chains were bought second-hand.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".

A paddle-tug awaits its next assignment. During the 1870s and 1880s large numbers of double-engined disconnecting paddle-tugs were built. Each paddle had its own engine, and could be operated independently, thereby giving the tugs great manoeuvrability. However, they lacked the power of screw tugs, and were heavy on operating costs outside the coal handling ports where fuel was relatively inexpensive. The last paddle-tug on the Avon was withdrawn in 1907.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".

In 1752 William Vick had left some money towards the eventual bridging of the Gorge. It was not until 1829, however, that a competition for a bridge was advertised. By coincidence, a young engineer by the name of Isambard Kingdom Brunel had been staying in Clifton for his health, spending much of his time sketching in the Gorge. Despite his relative inexperience, Brunel’s outline design was accepted.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".

On the left bank is the single track Bristol & Portishead Pier & Railway, which opened as a broad gauge line in April 1867 and was worked by the Bristol & Exeter Railway. On the right bank is the line belonging to the secretive Bristol Port & Pier Railway running between Hotwells and Avonmouth. So secretive were they, that they kept everyone in the dark as to opening day for fear they would be inundated with passengers; they only had one engine. The BP&PR was totally isolated from other railways, for no provision was made for a connection.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".