Case studies
23 Oct 2024
by Laura Hilton
Man talking to a group of visitors stood on a pedestrianised bit of a large road bridge, with a suspension cable and scaffolding running up behind.
Jon Turton of Taziker talks to visitors about the ‘painting pods’ used to the access the bridge’s historic ironwork. (Image: Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust)

Why we take part

The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a historic bridge – but it’s also a working bridge. Although we provide tours and experiences throughout the year that engage people with our story, Heritage Open Days (HODs) provides an opportunity to show more of the work that happens behind the scenes, whether that’s the maintenance work we explored this year – or our archive collections or less accessible spaces. We take the HODs as a challenge to do something new and different that we might not be able to offer at any other time.

What we do for HODS

Over the years we’ve been pleased to present research projects by students; work with other local organisations to talk about the local geology, flora and fauna; show people what happens inside our maintenance workshops; and take groups into the abutment structure – something that was so popular it is now available as a permanent tour!

This year’s event was amazing - 93 guests attended our ‘Meet the Engineer’ talks and a further 460 people engaged with our ‘Bridge Explainers’ out on the structure itself. We also included a ‘bridge facts’ trail, installing giant labels along the length of the bridge for visitors to read as they walked across, and we received lots of good feedback about this too. People attending the talks really engaged with the technical challenges faced by the engineers and asked lots of questions about aspects of the refurbishment works taking place, which opened up discussions about everything from painting techniques to how scaffolding works.

What a fabulous couple of hours we had today at the bridge. Your explainers are wonderful and so knowledgeable. We loved the ‘fun facts’ along the walkway and the talk about scaffolding and painting was great, really interesting.

Visitor

2024

Big label printed with a photograph of metal components, attached to a metal strut.

One of the giant labels attached to the bridge for a trail over the festival. (Image: Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust)

Working in partnership

This year, as the bridge is currently being hand painted as part of a refurbishment project, I started planning the event with our engineers and contractors when the works began in March. For the 2024 and 2025 events, the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust is working in partnership with several firms including Taziker, Connolly Scaffolding and MetDem so there are a considerable number of engineers and painters contributing to the event, as well as the Museum’s own volunteer 'Explainers'. Everyone volunteered their time in putting together and delivering the event so we don’t need a budget to put it together; we get donations in kind instead.

Man engaging a group of three young people with a display board of photographs.
Darren O’Rourke of Connolly Scaffolding talks to visitors at the Clifton Hub. (Image: Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust)

Best bit

I think the best thing was seeing the engineers realise that people were interested in their work and wanted to talk to them: at the start of the event they were amazed that each talk was fully booked and people were coming in especially to listen to them! 

The difference it makes

Heritage Open Days bring a different audience to the bridge. Local people who cross regularly will take the time to get involved in activities and learn something new, and there are a lot of people who plan their weekend around visiting as many events in the area as possible. This year was the first year we have worked with our engineering contractors, and despite not being used to public engagement they all did a great job of talking with enthusiasm about the work they have been doing at the bridge. It’s an exciting project, as they are caring for an iconic structure and painting on flexible and constantly moving platforms roughly 100 metres above the river so they are all very passionate about the work they are doing. Across the weekend members of our museum volunteer team dropped in to listen to the talks and I think we all learned a lot about the works which I am sure we will continue to share with visitors on our own tours and at the museum. 

Man in high vis tabard talking to two people on a bridge.
Volunteer ‘Bridge Explainer’ Chris Rodd talks to visitors. (Image: Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust)

Laura's top tips!

The most important thing is to have a brilliant team of helpers and for everyone to understand in advance of the day what their role is, where they need to be and what else is happening.

  • Plan in advance, and always have at least one person who is available just to move around the site covering breaks and solving unforeseen problems.
  • Assemble all of the equipment and items you’ll need on the day well in advance.
  • Send everyone who is participating a schedule for the day and an explanation of their role and duties. Make sure you also have this printed out and available wherever they will be arriving on the day.
  • I also schedule our events to start at 11am, giving me time each morning to get everything set up and prepared before the visitors arrive.

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