Franchise
Supports a wider franchise despite warnings by Palmerston not to commit the Government
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1864 in Great Britain
Explore 40 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1864.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1864
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 40 unique records.
40Unique records
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38Named events on this page
19Named people on this page
11Places on this page
May
Franchise
Supports a wider franchise to include the northern towns
Reform of Electoral System
Supports a wider franchise to include the northern towns. Supports a wider franchise despite warnings by Palmerston not to commit the Government
July
Birth of Philip Snowden
Birth of Philip Snowden
September
Birth of Roger Casement
Birth of Roger Casement
December
Clifton Bridge Completion
Hawkshaw helps complete Brunel's Clifton bridge design.
Clifton Bridge Opened
The Clifton Suspension Bridge opens to the public.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Clifton Suspension Bridge opens to the public as a memorial to Brunel five years after his death.
Other events (month unknown)
Additional Manufacturing Trades Face Regulation
The Factory Acts Extension Act of 1864 introduced controls over working conditions in additional manufacturing trades.
Atomic Weight Element Table
Publishes a table of fifty-seven elements arranged largely by atomic weight and chemical similarity, anticipating several features of later periodic classifications.
Birth of Albert Victor
Birth of Albert Victor, eldest son of Edward & Princess Alexandria
Bridge Illuminated With Magnesium Flares
The Clifton bridge is illuminated for its December 1864 inauguration with contemporary lighting techniques including limelight and magnesium flares, although strong wind disrupts the display.
Bridge Ironwork Receives Protective Painting
As final preparations continue in November 1864, the bridge ironwork is painted a chocolate brown colour to protect and finish the new suspension structure.
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.
British Association Delegates Inspect Crossing
On 22 September 1864 John Hawkshaw helps show the nearly completed Clifton bridge to visiting members of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
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.
Clifton Bridge Opens Across Avon Gorge
The bridge finally opened in December following completion of the revised design by Barlow and Hawkshaw.
Clifton Final Engineering Inspections Conducted
The completed structure underwent preparation and inspection before the suspension bridge opened to public traffic.
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 Suspension Bridge
The completed structure is tested by placing about five hundred tons of stone across the bridge deck.
Construction Traveller Carries Engineers Across
After the final girder is set on 2 July 1864, bridge engineers cross the unfinished span in the movable construction traveller while spectators watch from the gorge.
Dean
Appointed Dean of Westminster
Dramatis Personae
Publication of "Dramatis Personae"
Early Birmingham Art Collection
The early municipal art collection took shape before construction of the permanent museum, reflecting growing civic interest in public cultural education.
Factory Protections Reach More Trades
The Factory Acts Extension Act of 1864 extended regulation to additional manufacturing occupations beyond traditional textile mills.
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.
General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters
Publication of "General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters"
Great Eastern Cable Ship Conversion Begins
The enormous steamship was adapted for transporting and laying a transatlantic telegraph cable.
Hungerford Ironwork Serves Clifton Opening
The completed Clifton Suspension Bridge used salvaged chains from Brunel's former London crossing.
Hungerford Railway Bridge Opens
The replacement Thames bridge carried railway trains toward the new Charing Cross terminus.
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.
Manby Conducts Official Structural Inspection
On 7 November 1864 Sir Charles Manby examines the Clifton bridge for the government and reports favourably on its strength and workmanship.
Marriage
Snowden marries Ethel Annakin, a campaigner for womens suffrage
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.
Paddington Underground Services Integrate
The Metropolitan Railway's growing services improved interchange for Great Western passengers in Paddington.
Quarried Stone Spread For Loading Test
In early November 1864 workers distribute stone across the Clifton bridge roadway, preparing the newly constructed span for a substantial proof load test.
Speed of Light
Publishes "A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field", prposes that light was in fact undulations in the same medium that is the cause of electric and magnetic phenomena
Stellar Spectrum of Andromeda
Finds that the spectrum of Andromeda resembles the continuous spectrum of stars rather than the emission spectrum of a gaseous nebula, indicating a stellar nature.
Suspension Rod Installation Under Way
On 17 May 1864 engineers are fitting the vertical suspension rods and girders, transferring the design from completed chains toward a load bearing road deck.
Trade Societies Organise Opening Procession
Bristol trade and friendly societies arrange a large civic procession to celebrate the completed suspension crossing during the December opening ceremonies.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.