Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust Awarded Prestigious Accredited Museum Status by Arts Council England
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust announced their celebration of being awarded the Accredited Museum status by Arts Council England. This prestigious UK-wide benchmark recognizes the Trust’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of management, education, care, and access to their historic collections.
To celebrate this achievement, the Trust is relaunching their Visitor Centre, located on the Leigh Woods side of the bridge, as the “Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum” and introducing a new brand. The museum, which is open to the public 7 days a week, welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. Inside, visitors can explore objects from the museum’s collections and learn about the construction and maintenance of the bridge. Free and ticketed tours are available throughout the year, as well as activities for families and school groups.
The Museum Accreditation application process took approximately three years, during which time the Trust’s Archivist worked diligently to ensure that important documents, drawings, photographs, and objects were properly catalogued, preserved, and made accessible to the public. Many of these items can already be viewed online, with more exciting projects to come before Christmas.
Trish Johnson, Bridge Master, expressed her excitement about the news, stating, “We are thrilled to announce Museum Accreditation for our heritage site. This award represents our commitment to preserving the rich heritage of our bridge. Ultimately, we aim to continue sharing captivating stories for present and future generations.”
Dr. Hannah Little, Museum Archivist, added, “We are really pleased to achieve Museum Accreditation. While the Clifton Suspension Bridge may be familiar to many, our museum and its collections are less well known. These collections offer a unique perspective on how the bridge was seen, built, and used in the past, allowing people to see Bristol’s famous landmark in new and different ways. It is important to preserve and share these objects and stories for the benefit of the public.”
The Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust is excited to continue their mission of preserving and sharing the history of the iconic bridge with the public through their newly accredited museum. The Trust hopes that their achievement will encourage visitors to explore and learn more about this historic landmark.
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