About us

The restoration project is run by the Brunel Swivel Bridge Group, a volunteer-run charity  established in 2013 to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the historic assets in the Western Harbour area. We do this through archival research, investigations on site, and practical conservation work, whilst also raising the profile of the heritage features through our website, social media, talks, newsletters and engaging with the wider media.  On site we run regular work-days, provide interpretation signs, guide visitors, and run occasional tours. 

Aims

OUR AIMS ARE

• To restore and save a valuable heritage asset of local and national significance.
• To recommission and maintain the Bridge as part of a cycle/wheeling  route, and for foot traffic, and to develop its amenity value for Bristol.
• To celebrate, conserve, interpret, and care for heritage assets in the Western Harbour area.
• To develop the site’s educational value through exploration of its significance in the context of the Floating Harbour and Brunel’s other works.
• To inspire interest in history, engineering and technology in people of all ages.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

So far we have

• Raised the profile of the Bridge through our website, social media, and local radio & TV. Researched its history  and published three journal papers.
• Attracted significant financial support from Historic England and charitable foundations, allowing design and initial restoration works to progress.
• Hosted a major conference for the Institution of Structural Engineers; held numerous lectures and in 2019  arranged two days of 170th anniversary celebrations.
• Focussed attention on the area’s heritage as part of the Western Harbour scheme and prepared an online database of heritage assets in the Western Harbour area.  See https://bwhha.wordpress.com/
• Surveyed and prepared detailed CAD drawings of all component parts and their defects. Carried out investigations, conservation work, repair trials, and restored the turntable to working condition,.
• Enlisted five hundred supporters, with volunteers giving over 4,000 hours conserving and restoring the Bridge, removing graffiti and maintaining the environs.
• Following a generous donation pledge, we are raising further funds to complete the restoration of the Swivel Bridge, and an endowment fund to cover ongoing maintenance.

For futher information see our RESTORATION, NEWSLETTERS or ARCHIVE pages 

TRUSTEES

Nick Booker B.Com, FCIM - Fundraising and Marketing Lead

 

Nick was born in Bristol and has worked as a strategic business consultant in tourism for over 20 years as the owner of Attract Marketing and was elected a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2006. He was a trustee of The Postal Museum until 2016, Chairman of Mail Rail Trading Ltd., and a member of the Fundraising Board. Until 2021 he was a member of the project board at Coventry Cathedral guiding the development of a capital project for City of Culture and was Vice Chairman of the Coventry Heritage & Arts Trust.
Nick is a specialist in industrial archaeology and the history of technology, writing for publications including The Guardian. Nick is chairman of the Welsh Highland Railway Heritage Group and a member of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Heritage Advisory Group.

Iain Boyd MBE, BSc, MSc - Chair
 

Iain is a conservation advocate living in the Hotwells area of Bristol who until recently chaired the City’s Conservation Advisory Panel.
As well as a range of business experience, he holds an MSc in Conservation of the Historic Environment.
Iain became a Trustee and then Chair of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) from 2008 until 2022. He also served as a Trustee of the Institute for Conservation (ICON) for six years and was an appointed Council member of the National Trust until 2024.
Iain is the co-author of New Designs for Old Buildings,
published by the RIBA and was awarded an MBE for services to heritage in 2023.

 

 

Chris Godden FCA BFP - Treasurer

 

Chris has served as a virtual finance director for a number of charities. His experience spans community-focused organisations such as Windmill Hill City Farm — one of the UK’s oldest city farms — to national bodies including the Association of Science and Discovery Centres, which represents the country’s leading science engagement institutions.
His work has centred on strengthening governance, financial resilience, and long-term sustainability.

Simon Hickman BSc, MSc

 

Simon was Historic England's Principal Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas & Development Advice Team Leader in the South West for over ten years. He has extensive knowledge of every part of the region. Simon was a building inspector for English Heritage's London region, where he guided the restoration of some of the Nation's best loved buildings, including Kings Cross and St Pancras Stations, and the National Theatre.
Simon started his career in heritage managing a steam railway in Eastern Scotland, and maintains interests in transport heritage, serving as vice chair of Bristol Industrial Archaeology Society.

Geoff Wallis C.Eng. MIMech.E - Secretary

 

Geoff has 50 years’ experience in the practical conservation of historic metalwork and machinery. He was a director of Dorothea Restoration Engineers for 30 years and has unparalleled experience with mechanical and industrial machinery. Geoff has had education and consultancy roles with several universities, English Heritage, Historic England and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

 

He co-founded the National Heritage Ironwork Group, is Council member of the Association for Industrial Archaeology and a former President of the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society. He founded the Brunel Swivel Bridge Group in 2013 and continues to campaign for its restoration.

CHARITY DETAILS