CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE Two important views in the Avon Gorge, below Bristol, showing Isambard Kingdom Brunel's towers at the point when contruction of his Clifton Suspension Bridge was abandoned,[1840s] (pair)
Lot 48
BRUNEL (ISAMBARD KINGDOM). CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE Two important views in the Avon Gorge, below Bristol, showing Isambard Kingdom Brunel's towers at the point when construction of his Clifton Suspension Bridge was abandoned,[1840s] (pair)
Sold for £1,500 (US$ 1,946) inc. premium

Lot Details
BRUNEL (ISAMBARD KINGDOM)
Two important views in the Avon Gorge, below Bristol, showing Isambard Kingdom Brunel's towers at the point when construction of his Clifton Suspension Bridge was abandoned, mounted salted paper prints from calotype negatives, one with initials 'JBH' added lower left, images 168 x 222mm., [1840s] (pair)

Footnotes

  • Brunel was in his mid-twenties when, following his cooperation with his father to complete the Thames Tunnel, he went to Clifton for his health, and learned of the competition for a bridge design to join Clifton to the Somerset side at Leigh Woods. Brunel submitted four designs for bridging the Avon Gorge, in search of his first engineering commission.

    After initial rejection, one of the designs was approved and work started at Clifton in June 1831, but it was not until 1836 that any start was made on the other side. Dogged by financial problems, work continued to 1843, and then stopped until the project was officially abandoned in 1853 when the enabling Act ran out.

    The two calotypes represent the towers at the point reached by 1843, that on the Leigh side surmounted by one of the pair of cranes erected in 1842 by George Hennett, civil engineer and contractor, to lift the saddles and to assemble the bar chains. The illustrated image is quite possibly the only one to show Brunel's Swiss Cottage Site Office, to the right of the Clifton Pier. This was the first structure to be erected on site in 1831. This 2-storeyed timber building housed the working drawings, equipment etc. Also visible is a shed built alongside after 1843. A site supervisor/caretaker - Mr Morgan seems to have lived here after work stopped on the site. He and a boy operated the basket ferry.

    The bridge was revived and completed in 1864, in part as a fitting memorial to the genius and daring of Brunel. Catalogued with thanks to The Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust.
Activities
Auction information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.

Buyers' Obligations

ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.

If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.

Buyers' Premium and Charges

For all Sales categories excluding Wine, Coins & Medals and Motor Cars and Motorcycles:
A successful bidder at this sale will be required to pay Bonhams 1793 Limited ("Bonhams") a premium calculated as follows:

25% on the first £50,000 of the Hammer Price
20% from £50,001 to £1,000,000 the Hammer Price
12% from £1,000,001 of the Hammer Price

VAT at 20% will be payable on the amount of the premium.

The premium is payable for the services to be provided by Bonhams in the Buyer's Agreement which is contained in the catalog for this Sale and for the opportunity to bid for the Lot at the Sale.

Collection Notices

Collection and Storage
All purchased lots will remain at the Oxford sale room unless arrangements are made for transfer to Park Royal using the method below. Lots can be transferred to our warehouse in Park Royal, West London the week after the sale, and may be collected from the warehouse from 9 October 2012. If you wish to utilise this service, please contact the Book Department directly after the sale before midday Thursday 4 October 2012 by email (books@bonhams.com) using the subject line PARK ROYAL TRANSFER. A standard transfer charge of £15+ vat applies, which must increase for each additional box.

NB. Due to limited storage space, we are unable to arrange transfer and collection of lots from the Knightsbridge office, however we will try to assist you where possible. If you have any collection, storage or shipping concerns, buyers can contact Lydia Wilkinson (lydia.wilkinson@bonhams.com) or Leor Cohen (leor.cohen@bonhams.com).

Payment Notices

Payment in advance: by cash, check with banker's card, credit card, bank draft or traveler's cheque.

Payment at collection: by credit or debit card.

Credit card charges: a surcharge of 2% is applicable when using Mastercard, Visa and overseas debit cards.

Shipping Notices

For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.

Contacts
  1. Customer Services (UK)
    Customer services
    Bonhams
    Work
    Work +44 20 7447 7447
    FaxFax: +44 20 7447 7401
  2. Books (UK)
    General enquiries
    Bonhams
    Work
    Work +44 20 7393 3828
    FaxFax: +44 20 7393 3879
Similar Items