Features / things you probably didn't know
The story behind Bristol’s two almost identical bridges
During a time of the year where going on a walk is the only sensible option, there is a walk in Bristol that takes in all of our city’s 45 bridges which span the waterways between Avonmouth and St Anne’s.
The twist is that each bridge is crossed only once – with a map of the route here thanks to the fine folks at Bristol Books, publishers of From Brycgstow to Bristol in 45 Bridges by Jeff Lucas.
The challenge of crossing each bridge on foot just once is based on the concept of the Konisberg Bridge Problem, with Bristol24/7’s Pamela Parkes taking on the challenge in 2015 when there were two fewer bridges than today.
is needed now More than ever
(These two new bridges are Castle Bridge connecting Castle Park to Finzels Reach and St Philip’s Footbridge, a £3.1m bridge which was originally meant to connect St Philip’s to Bristol Arena.)
But here’s a quiz question for you: which two bridges located 1.5 miles away from each other are virtually identical?
One clue is the bridge pictured at the top of the story, Gaol Ferry Bridge. The other is Sparke Evans Park Bridge, pictured below:
Sparke Evans Park Bridge connects Sparke Evans Park to the Paintworks – photo: Martin Booth
As you can see, both suspension bridges are subtly different.
As its name suggests, Gaol Ferry Bridge replaced a ferry service built close to Bristol’s former prison on the site of what is now Wapping Wharf. The old ferry slipways can still be seen under the bridge – photo: Martin Booth
Sparke Evans Park Bridge was designed by David Rowell & Co of London and built by the Bristol firm John Lysaght in 1933.
Lucas describes this as “one of the highlights of the Bristol bridge walk. It is a light, elegant, steel suspension footbridge with steel basket balustrades.”
Rowell also designed Gaol Ferry Bridge, which was opened in 1935 by alderman CP Billing.
Gaol Ferry Bridge was originally named ‘Southville Bridge’ – but its early nickname stuck and has become the span’s official name.
Sparke Evans Park is named after businessman and philanthropist, Peter Fabyan Sparke Evans – photo: Martin Booth
Gaol Ferry Bridge is set to be closed for up to 12 weeks in early 2022 for vital repair work – photo: Martin Booth
Sparke Evans Park Bridge has an identical twin in Torres del Paine national park in Patagonia – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: Could Brunel’s ‘other’ bridge be brought back into use?
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