Great British Bridges Trivia Quiz

Answer: It was severely damaged in a fire and had to be removed

After the opening on the Menai Bridge in 1826 (designed by Thomas Telford) a number of proposals were put forwards to build a rail bridge to carry trains across the Menai Strait. In 1840, the British Government selected George Stephenson's proposal to build a high level rail crossing of the Menai Strait using a tubular, wrought iron tubes through which the trains would run. To oversee the construction, George Stephenson selected his son Robert as chief engineer who along with William Fairbairn, and Eaton Hodgkinson to assist Robert.

Although there were initial concerns over the bridge design surrounding the length of the span and the design of the wrought iron tubes, the bridge was opened in 1850. In addition, Stephenson also used the same type of design for another railway bridge in Conway, ironically next to a suspension bridge constructed by Thomas Telford.

In 1970, a group of boys entered the bridge, accidentally dropping a lighted torch. As a result, the bridge caught fire, causing extensive damage to the iron work. When it was found that the bridge's structural integrity had been compromised, it was decided to remove the wrought iron tubes, and replace them with a new span capable of not only carrying trains, but also vehicles which opened in 1980. However, with increase if road traffic using the bridge, a number of proposals were submitted in 2007 to alleviate congestion including modernizing the bridge to carry more traffic.

Answer: Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Spanning the River Avon Gorge near Bristol, the Clifton Suspension Bridge was opened in 1964 - five years after the death of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Although, Brunel designed the original bridge, it the design was adapted by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw to build the bridge as it is seen today.

Work on the bridge initially began during Brunel's lifetime, however, a number of delays occurred due to funding for the bridge's construction. It was only after Brunel's death that his colleagues at the Institute for Civil Engineers raised the money for the completion of the bridge as a fitting memorial to Brunel.

The Clifton Suspension Bridge though has a darker side to its history, having become a well known spot for those wishing to take their lives. In 1998, work was undertaken to reduce the number of people taking their lives at the bridge, which although not entirely successful, did reduce the number of deaths occurring at the bridge.

One notable incident at the bridge took place in 1885 when Sarah Ann Henley tried to take her life at the bridge. However, as she jumped from the bridge her Crinoline skirt acting as a parachute. Fortunately for Henley, she landed on the muddy banks of the River Avon, where she was rescued by two men. Although suffering internal injuries and shock, Henley survived, passing away in 1948. The event was to be recorded in a poem by William E. Heasell entitled. "An Early Parachute Descent in Bristol".

Answer: The bridge collapsed during a storm in 1879

Construction work began on the original Tay Rail Bridge in 1871, designed by Sir Thomas Bouch, and built by Hopkin Gilkes and Company of Middlebrough.

The design chosen by Bouch involved building cast iron columns on brick piers braced by wrought iron cross pieces. The deck itself was built of lattice work girders. However, there was a fatal flaw in Bouch's design as although passing initial inspection from the Board of Trade, it was noted that the bridge should be inspected again during high wind when trains were running over the bridge.

The bridge was subsequently opened in 1878, resulting in Buch receiving a knighthood from Queen Victoria. However, in 1879 a violent storm during which rail traffic was reduced. Unfortunately, as one train was crossing the bridge, the bridge collapsed, claiming the lives of all those on board the train. The subsequent enquiry into the incident pinpointed the bridge's design as a contributory factor to the disaster and that subsequent bridges built must take into account the effects of a crosswind. Bouch himself passed away a few months after the findings of the enquiry into the Tay Bridge Disaster in 1880, his reputation ruined.

Despite the fact that most of the remains of Bouch's bridge were demolished, the original piers can be seen next to the replacement bridge designed by William Henry Barlow, who also participated in the construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Answer: To allow trains to cross over the bridge

Constructed at the end of the 19th century. Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in London. Technically Tower Bridge is actually two bridges, linked by two walkways running between each tower that allows people to cross when the bridge span is opened, allowing ships to pass into the part of the River Thames known as the Pool of London. Although the warehouses that were once along the south bank of the River Thames are gone, the bridge spans still open frequently to allow ships into the Pool of London.

Originally a number of designs were submitted, some of which were for a high level bridge, however, many of these were dismissed. It was not until a design was submitted by Sir Horace Jones - who was also one of a the judges on the proposed bridge scheme - that the final designs for the bridge were selected.

The design of Tower Bridge itself, was handled by Jones, chief engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry. Barry's design for Tower Bridge included building two towers, which were linked to the river banks to for a suspension bridge. Between the two towers were the bridge became a bascule bridge, with the two central decks being lifted by hydraulics using pressurised water. Despite being clad in stonework, the stonework is actually attached to a steel framework which makes up the main construction of the towers. In addition, there is an exhibition on Tower Bridge that is housed in both of the towers, allowing visitors to cross the bridge via the high level pedestrian walkways.

Answer: False

Opened in 1781, the Iron Bridge is recognised as being one of the world's first single span bridges to be constructed of cast iron. The bridge itself was designed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard (who unfortunately passed away before he could see construction of the bridge finished) to cross the River Severn as it passes through Shropshire.The bridge itself gave its name not only to the gorge through which the River Severn flows but a village to the north of the bridge. Together, the bridge, gorge and Ironbridge are now part of the UNESCO Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site.

Now a Grade I listed building - under the guardianship Telford and Wrekin council - the bridge is now closed to all vehicles, with only people permitted to cross the bridge. The decision to close the bridge to vehicles was taken given the structural integrity of the bridge was such that it had become too weak to support the weight of traffic using the bridge.

Given that the Iron Bridge was part of an area important to the birth of a period of time known as the Industrial Revolution, a number of artists used the bridge as a subject to paint including William Willaims, an English/American painter. In addition an engraving by English artist Michael Angelo Rooker proved so popular, that even one of founding father's of America, Thomas Jefferson is said to have acquired a copy.

Answer: The Forth Bridge

Spanning the Firth of Forth, the Forth Bridge was inaugurated in 1890 by the Prince of Wales - who became Edward VII. Designed by Sir Benjamin Baker and Sir John Fowler, the main spans of the bridge are three cantilever sections, connected at either end by elevated sections built on piers. This makes the Forth Bridge one of the longest cantilever bridge's in the world. In addition, UNESCO added the Forth Bridge to its list of World Heritage Sites.

Manufactured from steel, the bridge was once painted regularly by a team of painters and maintenance workers leading to the phrase "like painting the Forth Bridge", meaning the task was a never ending job. However, the workforce mainly concentrated on the areas of the bridge that required the greatest amount maintenance and re-painting. In 2002, that the bridge was fully repainted, using paint that was formulated for the North Sea oil industry to guard against weathering. This paint should ensure that the Forth Bridge should not need constant repainting to protect it with the paintwork calculated to last around 20 years.

A report by JE Jacobs, Faber Maunsell, and Grant Thornton in 2007 stated that the owners of the bridge - Network Rail - estimated the Forth Bridge had working life span of approximately 100 years, dependant on restoration work and maintenance.

Answer: Devon and Cornwall

Designed by the great Victorian engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Royal Albert Bridge was opened for rail traffic in 1859 by Prince Albert. The bridge today carries the main railway line from Plymouth on the Devon side of the River Tamar to Saltash in Cornwall.

The designed of the bridge includes two spans of lenticular trusses, with the main arch at the top under compression, whilst the bottom arches are suspended chains that are connected to the top arch on each section to the deck carrying the track. Brunel based his design on that of his rival Robert Stephenson - who used a similar design for a bridge crossing the River Tyne in Newcastle - Upon- Tyne. It is somewhat ironic that Brunel designed his bridge to carry his 7ft 1/4 inch gauge track that the bridge was converted to carry his rival Stephenson's 4ft 8 1/2 inch gauge tack in 1892.

Although Brunel did not attend the opening of the Royal Albert Bridge due to ill health, he crossed the bridge two days after it was opened on the 4th of May 1859, the day the bridge opened officially for rail traffic.

Answer: True

Also know as the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge, the Tees Transporter Bridge opened in 1911. Crossing the River Tees, the bridge carries vehicles and passengers in a gondola, suspended from the bridge between Middlesbrough and Port Clarence.

The reason for this unusual bridge design arose about the need for a crossing of the River Tees that would still allow ships passage up the Tees. Built by Sir William Arrol & Co - who also built the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge - the bridge is affectionately known as either "The Transporter", or "Tranny".

The bridge also has been featured in a number of films and TV programmes such as the film "Billy Elliot", "Spender", "Steel River Blues" and "Boys from the Black Stuff". Most notable of these was the third series of the TV programme "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet". In this TV programme (shown on BBC 1) the bridge was seen being sold to be dismantled and sold to be re-built in the Far East. However, when it was realised that bridge was being sold as part of a scam, it was eventually sold to a group of North American Indians.

Given that the Transporter Bridge was a well known landmark or historical significance, a number of people contacted the BBC - given the realism of the special effects that were used to show the bridge being dismantled - to complain. As a result, the BCC was obliged to add a caption in the final programme as a disclaimer to state the Transporter Bridge had not been dismantled and sold off.

Answer: Sydney

Crossing the River Tyne in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, the Tyne Bridge was opened in 1928 by King George V. The Tyne Bridge was designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson - who were also the architects for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The towers that support the bridge was designed by Robert Burns Dick, to be warehouses, although they were not required for these purposes.

Although both the Tyne Bridge and Sydney Harbour Bridge are both inverted bowstring truss bridges, the were both based on a design similar to the Hell Gate Bridge built between Queens and Manhattan in New York. The Hells Gate Bridge however was built to carry trains as opposed to the Tyne Bridge which carries vehicles and pedestrians. However, the Sydney Harbour Bridge carries both trains and vehicles across Sydney Harbour.

In addition to being a crossing from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to Gateshead, the bridge has become a home to a colony of Black-Legged Kittiwakes. This colony of Kittiwakes, though have caused controversy, with some wanting to protect the birds whilst others wish them to be discouraged from using the bridge as a nesting site. Amongst the proposals are building a bird tower to act as a new home for the Kittiwakes, with protective netting and other measures to deter the birds from using the bridge as a nesting site.

Answer: It was moved to the USA and rebuilt in Arizona

Opened in 1974 London Bridge replaced the earlier bridge built during the 19th century that was designed by John Rennie. Construction of this bridge was built under the supervision of Rennie's son, John Rennie the Younger.

When it was agreed to replace Rennie's bridge in the 1960s, rather than the bridge being demolished, a London council member named Ivan Luckin suggested the bridge be sold. Although it was thought the idea was unfeasible, an American entrepreneur named Robert P. McCulloch brought the bridge for approximately $2.5 million dollars. It was stated at the time McCulloch thought he was purchasing Tower Bridge, but this was a myth.

Having purchased the Bridge, McCulloch had the bridge dismantled and transported to America where it was rebuilt over the Bridgewater Channel in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Both the present or Rennie's bridge were not the first London Bridge though, the original London Bridge was built by the Romans, with subsequent bridges being built to replace the Roman one, including one with shops and houses built on the bridge.