William Henry Barlow Biography and Timeline

Barlow Backs Bridge Memorial Campaign

William Henry Barlow helps revive interest in finishing the Clifton Suspension Bridge as a memorial to Brunel after the engineer dies in September 1859.

Revised Clifton Suspension Scheme Prepared

Barlow helped adapt the earlier design to enable the unfinished suspension bridge to be completed.

Third Suspension Chain Added To Plans

The revived design incorporated an additional chain on each side to provide greater strength than Brunel originally envisaged.

Hungerford Chains Selected For Reuse

Barlow's revised Clifton design made use of the iron suspension links recovered from the demolished Thames bridge.

Hungerford Chains Delivered To Bristol

Iron chain links salvaged from the London bridge were transported for reuse in the Clifton crossing.

Hungerford Chains Reassembled At Clifton

Engineers reused surviving Hungerford suspension links in the structure rising across the Avon Gorge.

Barlow Develops Wider Bridge Deck

William Henry Barlow helps revise Brunel's bridge plans to provide a wider and higher roadway suited to the completion scheme advanced in the 1860s.

Egyptian Tower Cladding Removed From Plans

The revised Clifton bridge design associated with Barlow omits Brunel's proposed Egyptian inspired iron tower cladding, leaving the monumental masonry visible.

Clifton Bridge Deck Assembly Advances

Construction crews developed the roadway and iron suspension structure spanning the Avon Gorge.

Temporary Plank Platform Suspended Above Avon

Workers suspend a narrow planked platform over the Avon Gorge from temporary cables, allowing them to assemble the chains that will ultimately carry the roadway.

Clifton Bridge Opened

The Clifton Suspension Bridge opens to the public.

Role range: 1862-1864

Clifton Bridge Opens Across Avon Gorge

The bridge finally opened in December following completion of the revised design by Barlow and Hawkshaw.

Hungerford Ironwork Serves Clifton Opening

The completed Clifton Suspension Bridge used salvaged chains from Brunel's former London crossing.

Last Suspension Chain Link Secured

On 8 May 1864 workers secure the final link among approximately four thousand two hundred suspension links, completing the bridge's principal supporting chains.

Final Cross Girder Fixed Into Bridge

On 2 July 1864 the last main cross girder is installed, completing the structural framework on which the Clifton bridge roadway is subsequently laid.

Bridge Opening Date Confirmed By Directors

At a meeting on 3 November 1864 the Clifton bridge directors determine that the formal opening will take place on 8 December after earlier dates prove impractical.

Clifton Span Passes Five Hundred Ton Test

Engineers test the completed Clifton suspension structure under approximately five hundred tons of stone and find its resulting deflection within acceptable limits.

Clifton Approach Road Prepared For Traffic

The completion works include cutting and finishing an approach road on the Clifton side, linking the new suspension bridge with the surrounding road network.

Opening Procession Brings Thousands Into Bristol

On 8 December 1864 the inauguration of the Clifton bridge draws a vast crowd to Bristol as military units and local trades process through the city.