Secret Under the Bridge - Objectivity 199

We visit the world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge and explore the secret vaults... More links below ↓↓↓
Featuring Laura Hilton from Clifton Suspension Bridge speaking with Brady.
Check out the bridge's website: www.cliftonbridge.org.uk
And their twitter: / brunelsbridge
Objectivity on Patreon: / objectivity
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Films by James Hennessy and Brady Haran
Royal Society website: bit.ly/Royal_Society
The Royal Society's own KZbin channel: / royalsociety
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Twitter: / objectivity_vid
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Additional bridge photo credit: Gothick

[@rikblythe145]

Ray the fella that discovered the vaults is my Dad. He absolutely loves this bridge and visits regularly, he’s worked on many historic projects in and around the Bristol area and has many a fascinating tale to tell. He has documented, photographed and kept daily diaries for works carried out that I’m sure would be very valuable as far as local history is concerned. The Clifton Suspension Bridge was his favourite project and our family is super proud of him.

[@alfredb2036]

Rik Blythe That is cool!

[@heyandy889]

No shit! Well I'm glad you found this video! :) How does it feel to see Brady referencing a photo of your dad?

[@amorembalming]

#200 best be a Keith special. That man deserves a CBE.

[@DirtyRobot]

For anyone wondering. They built that out of bricks. All of the voids were there to reduce the amount of materials needed to make the structure. The load bearing parts of the structure are similar to how a cathedral operates so the voided areas would never have born any load.

[@simontay4851]

It is a cathederal. A cathederal of amazing victorian engineering.

[@frankharr9466]

Clever, ain't it? :D

[@HectaSpyrit]

Yes I was wondering what on earth these ginormous vaults were here for, they never mentioned the reason in the video unless I missed it.

[@anshul19]

Can't express the happiness of the moment she told the dimensions in metres. Great video as usual Brady.

[@Slithy]

Why would she use anything besides meters?

[@warren1134]

I was expecting blue whales, double decker buses and footbal pitches

[@Schmogel92]

@@warren1134 I was expecting stones.

[@Sam-lr9oi]

I've never heard of this bridge, but it is one of the most beautiful suspension bridges I've ever seen, and that's a very neat quirk of its construction.

[@deezynar]

I am an American, and I have admired this bridge since I first saw photos of it as a kid. It is both an engineering marvel, and a thing of great beauty. My father was a fan of Brunel's, and had a book about him and his work. Respect to the British people!

[@MrFlashpoint1978]

Thank you, but I can't take any credit as I was born some time after all these were completed. Respect back to our American Cousins!

[@CBG232x5]

I wish I could fire a Tom Scott flare into the internet. Gary Brennan must know about the secret vaults of Brunnel. Iron!

[@danielchong5032]

Here's a *ding!* and a *MYSTERY BISCUITS!*

[@Trollyulian]

Try twitter

[@catfish552]

The moment Brady said "famous name", I could hear the little Brannan voice in the back of my head shout "Brunel! Iron!"

[@WallChart]

Throughout the video I was wondering why Tom hasn’t done this. 😂

[@Epinardscaramel]

Glad I'm not the only one. To be fair, I only know about Brunnel from Citation Needed :)

[@kguy152000]

This was really awesome! The 3d models, too. Thank you!

[@am2schmarvelous]

I'm so happy that Brady's favorite bridge is on Objectivity. AND that it has an interesting history. Those vaulted ceilings are amazing.

[@dielfonelletab8711]

Episode #200 coming up... A Keith special!?

[@iamgerg]

Awesome. Okay Epp 200. Cliff Stoll, Martyn Poliakoff, and Keith Moore. Hairderdome. Three doos enter one doo leaves.

[@erictaylor5462]

That is just mind blowing, to discover a hidden room in a structure that is that old, that has been in use so long. I know a guy, an architect who designed and built his own home. He designed a secret play room for his kid with a small door hidden in the kid's closet, but after a year the kid still hadn't discovered the secret door. He took some stuff and put it in the closet and left the door to the secret room slightly ajar. When his kid got home from school he asked him to move the stuff out of his closet and put back to where it belonged. After a short fight as to how unfair it was that he (the kid) had to move his dad's stuff the kid stormed off to complete the chore. Then about an hour later the kid came back all excited about his discovery. Of course the kid knew who designed the house so he know his dad knew about the secret room. I wish I could have found a secret room in my closet.

[@rorrt]

What a bloody treat! I've been a adopted Bristolian for 26 years now, and have enjoyed the view into Bristol of the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the Plimsoll Swing Bridge for about 8 of them on my daily commute. It's a view I have never tired of.

[@syx3s]

the amount and quality of work is staggering. just the abutments alone, look at all of the craftsmanship and hours laying those stones and building those vaulted ceilings. and all of that work is just the foundation of one side of the actual bridge.

[@Pile_of_carbon]

That's a super villain's lair waiting to happen. So cool! Please, show more strange places.

[@dogfish3373]

I absolutely love when things that have been hidden for years are rediscovered like the vaults under the Clifton bridge. Great video and incredibly interesting.

[@FoxDren]

Now the important questions. 1) are both abutments the same inside? 2) are the chamber's just to save on materials or is it possible there was another purpose planned for the vaults? (If so what?)

[@error.418]

Just to save on material

[@francescamele8077]

Loved this video! Brady, your excitement about what you're going to see is absolutely contagious, and I love how the lady seems to be so surprised by it. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@GrandadIsAnOldMan]

Opening the door at 05:19 and seeing all those ridges from the drill holes made to create that entrance might just happen to remind some people of the Hatton Garden Heist where they drilled through the walls for access but these are much deeper walls. Must have taken ages to create that entrance 😮👍

[@rolandmdill]

What a great place! Somebody needs to organise a proper rave in there.

[@andypitchless5515]

Just as long as they don't produce standing waves...

[@DarkadeTV]

For what is worth, Objectivity is my favorite channel of yours, Brady. I think I deserves more viewers

[@s.sacasqui6977]

Agree

[@gartiserfilms]

I actually had a "WOOOW" moment, when I realised the size of these vaults. Really astonishing! You've definitely built up the 'suspense' ;)

[@bikejoede]

Amazing! Hats off to Brunel! My admiration for him has risen again!

[@RKClements]

Extremely cool! Thanks again, Brady!!

[@kylejohnson3233]

I wish I had more time to watch this. This is one of my favorite KZbin projects and Brady is always amazing

[@SaraBearRawr0312]

The man has already been established as an engineering genius but this just further expresses it given his ability to make a long lasting sturdy structure that still retains its exterior design while savings costs on materials in a similar way that cathedral domes are designed.

[@eddolous]

This is probably my favorite video so far👍👍👍

[@johnopalko5223]

I wonder if the writers of the television series, _The Librarians,_ had heard of these vaults and if they served as the inspiration to hide the branch Library in the supporting structures of the St. Johns Bridge in Portland, Oregon.

[@sniffy6999999]

Fascinating. Brady you have a brilliant job.

[@Philrc]

"what's the view here?" " that's Bristol" :) what did you expect, Brady, the serengeti?

[@jjkusaf]

Well, wasn't expecting that. Fascinating.

[@yandyyay]

wow... great discovery, thanks for sharing

[@cmpe43]

Best one yet! Nice job!

[@devttyUSB0]

Awesome video. I love these hidden places!

[@SirDominic]

Brilliant - what a find!

[@MrDarrylMan]

Wow. I'm amazed at how big those vaults are.

[@macboerTV]

I feel like we need the line "And that's one of my favourite pubs" in every video now.

[@peterbradburn9115]

Wow! Absolutely no idea about this. Fabulous.

[@kevinfoster8928]

I found out last year that isambard kingdom brunel is my ancestor so a big bit of family history for me

[@mihiec]

Amazing! Very smart solution to make that structure lighter!

[@TheyCallMeNewb]

That really was a treat!

[@gummsingi8591]

Astounding!!!

[@AgentWaltonSimons]

Brunel has been mentioned! Paging everyone's favourite Gary Brannan, Gary Brannan.

[@aboxofspinfusors7173]

Which episode of CN is this a reference to?

[@duckrutt]

@@aboxofspinfusors7173 Most of them despite none of them being about Brunel.

[@simontay4851]

CN? What is CN? This is objectivity.

[@jelmhoud]

@@simontay4851 Citation Needed, a (former) gameshow on Tom Scott's chanell.

[@aboxofspinfusors7173]

@@duckrutt I see, thanks

[@johnjames1309]

I was so tickled to see this video on a subject Brady likes so much. I had a gg grandfather who lived (and died) on Windsor Terrace, Clifton maybe a 1/4 mile away ca 1905-1921. Always remember Mom talking about the nearby famous bridge designed by Isimbard Kingdom Brunel. How cool! Kudos, Brady!!

[@OneSipReviewOfficial]

This is incredible!

[@GetToKnowNature]

Secret vaults under a gorgeous old bridge? Yes please! How thoroughly awesome.

[@michaelteret4763]

Beautiful!

[@babylonfive]

Grady @PracticalEngineering would love to see this i bet

[@markzambelli]

Yay... The "Bernie Clifton Suspension Bridge"... I often run across there on my ostrich.

[@alfredb2036]

Wow the Clifton Suspension Bridge is much more impressive than I imagined it

[@lemeeadam6058]

These are so well edited

[@JMThought]

Wow this is cool. I visited the bridge for the first time quite recently.

[@cliffp.8396]

Fascinating architecture

[@manxhu6610]

amazing video.

[@ThePeaceableKingdom]

This is tremendously interesting. But you've left one question unanswered: What were the vaults for? Did I miss it? Or is it just saving the mass of rock and brick that would have been necessary to fill them? or is it unknown?

[@stumccabe]

Isambard Kingdom Brunel - probably the most awesome name anyone has ever had !

[@domramsey]

Just... wow!

[@sleeptyper]

I could listen to her giggling all my life...

[@JustinZymbaluk]

That does look like a very nice place for a pub!

[@jlhillmann79]

While all of you were learning about an amazing feat of engineering, I was busy learning the name/location of the pub where I'm most likely to "accidentally" meet Brady on a lovely summer evening... #NotAStalker

[@nab-rk4ob]

That is a beautiful suspension bridge.

[@Tjousk]

Nice!

[@eyescovered]

fascinating

[@francoislacombe9071]

I wonder what was the purpose of these vaults? Just a way to lighten the structure, or was there supposed to be something stored in them?

[@litigioussociety4249]

It's really neat to see those soda straws form on a manmade structure.

[@rfldss89]

2 questions: 1) where do the minerals that make up the stalactites come from? Is it rain water seeping through any cracks and carrying building materials with it? 2) what's stopping them from making use of those huge cavities, for example mushroom growing or spirits/wine aging?

[@Slithy]

1) it shouldn't be waterproof by definition, so probably yeah. 2) historical value and probably some legal mumbo-jumbo on top of that.

[@LeoMRogers]

For the first question, if the gorge is made of limestone (7:05) then that will be the source of the minerals for the stalactites.

[@Tevildo]

@@LeoMRogers These stalactites will come from the calcium hydroxide in the cement holding the bricks together, not the native calcium carbonate of the gorge. This is why they're much longer than natural stalactites, as the hydroxide is much more soluble than the carbonate.

[@paulabraham2550]

They're not uncommon in concrete multi storey car parks, though these appear to be significantly longer. Presumably 100 or so years longer.

[@andersonsmith8625]

3:39, had to double take that one

[@maxcap60]

so cool

[@unpronouncable2442]

This could be turned into a shopping mall and a cinema.

[@sachingiyer]

7:20 The way Brady says "yeah" reminds me of the avocado kid. Might be a niche reference

[@Armuotas]

Imagine if Ray thought to himself "let me just quickly jump in to check"...

[@55seddel]

The chambers would make for great wedding venues.

[@larryscott3982]

Unknown? Completely? Until 2002? That part of the bridge would need inspection. Imagine if they found a major problem due to decay. Bricks aren’t stone. I like that they put in lighting and stairs.

[@davidrenton]

1:40 is that Brunel on the right, the Hat might be a giveaway

[@mojosbigsticks]

The models really give it scale. Wow.

[@ethanmartin2781]

Now that's a bridge i would live under!

[@supahfly_uk]

That would make you a proper internet troll. I'll show myself out...

[@dudewaldo4]

0 dislikes at the moment! Never seen that before!

[@MrDaanjanssen]

Amazing. The inside looks like it was taken from a fantasy game. Like Skyrim or something.

[@crashmancer]

Interesting from an engineering perspective, but part of me wishes there were something stored inside the vault. Like, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s secret hoard of molybdenum bullion.

[@Dwumper]

Interesting that even with such large empty places inside the base, the bridge is stable. A fine way to save some money on the construction.

[@jonathanrichards593]

I expect that it's actually stronger than solid brickwork would be, in the same sort of way that a tube is stronger (weight for weight) than a rod. If it was solid brick, then yes, it would have cost a huge amount more, but it would have weighed so much it would have crushed the foundations.

[@Dwumper]

@@jonathanrichards593 I'm not sure how the physics would apply here but I can imagine it being stronger. It probably works a bit like an egg. The material is brittle but it takes a very large force to crack it if you only apply pressure to the top of the dome. I love these kinds of interesting engineering solutions.

[@Glenn77322]

You would need a dam big spanner to do those bolts

[@MegaBoilermaker]

Had to make them for Hammersmith bridge.

[@DariysChannel]

#200 hype

[@LMacNeill]

The name of the designer is Isambard Kingdom Brunel, in case you couldn't understand what she said at 1:48. I had to go look it up on Google, myself. I'd never heard of him before.

[@Bob_Burton]

"I'd never heard of him before." Please tell me that you are joking

[@LMacNeill]

@@Bob_Burton I'm not from the UK. I have zero knowledge of Victorian-era architecture. Heck, I'd never even heard of this bridge before this video. Why should I have heard of a Victorian-era designer if I'd never had any interest in the subject?

[@Bob_Burton]

@@LMacNeill "Why should I have heard of a Victorian-era designer" It's called general knowledge

[@AndromedaCripps]

Do we know why they included these vaults and what they were supposed to be used for?

[@skribeworks]

I guess we now know where Brady will be hiding during the zombie apocalypse.

[@Goodvvine]

Are those stalactites dangerous (even with hard hat on)?

[@tncorgi92]

Apparently all the trolls moved out from under the bridge years back and took up residence in the KZbin comments section.

[@shaunl446]

Her voice is beautiful

[@PegasusEpsilon]

More places on Objectivity in the future?

[@treborely]

Is this open to the public? my mum would love to see under the bridge. Its her favourite bridge in the world

[@ObjectivityVideos]

Yep. Book on a tour!!!

[@treborely]

@@ObjectivityVideos Thanks, it will be the perfect mothers day present :)

[@simontay4851]

I want to see this too. It looks amazing. Ive never even walked across this bridge.

[@Quazlyy]

Just finished reading Humble Pi by Matt Parker and was expecting the bridge to collapse at any moment

[@kliop00023]

side/chain supports counted?

[@Tuning3434]

Good job, Ray!

[@djguydan]

Shouldn't this be for your next new channel, Structurivity?

[@philrabe910]

One of my favorite spans! Cool show, glad I stumbled upon you from the Tom Scott colab at NASA [the space shuttle one].

[@jackbulkley6005]

I am glad Laura Hilton was there to open the door. It is not clear Brady could have managed.

[@Thranduil999]

long and slim, slip right in!

[@dasaggropop1244]

dumping waste material into a hole when noone is looking is exactly what construction workers would do.

[@MisterTalkingMachine]

Has anyone looked through the rubble in the first chamber to see if there's any interesting pieces of nineteenth century rubbish that were thrown in?

[@mgworkchat]

Why are they there?

[@mvsawyer]

Buzz Killington: Who here likes a good story about a bridge?