As we will be installing a new state-of-the-art lighting system during the refurbishment works, you will see something very unusual if you’re visiting at night: as the project includes replacing and upgrading the existing wiring, the bridge’s iconic illuminations have now been switched off and will not be back until 2025. All of the lighting fixtures clamped to the chains in 2006 and their wiring must be removed to allow painting to take place. Once fresh paint has been applied, an entitrely new system will be fixed into place, which will look a lot tidier. You can read more about the new architectural lighting here.
If you’re wondering about crossing the bridge after sunset, don’t worry: pedestrian lighting will ensure good visibility along the length of the bridge during the hours of darkness.
Of course, this is not the first time the bridge has been fitted with new lighting! Using the latest technology to light the structure has been taking place since it opened in 1864!
Early experiments with electricity
For its opening night on 8 December 1864, electric lights were placed on top of each tower and two in the centre of the bridge.
Despite advertisements promising a ‘thrilling demonstration of electric light’, the effect was more of a damp squib! The electric light was intermittent and people struggled to see it in the poor weather conditions.
Gas lamps
From its opening until the late 1920s, the bridge was principally lit at night by gas lamps.
City Celebrations
In 1902, 1908 and 1911 the chains were lit up for various celebrations. Tiny coloured glass lanterns were tied to the chains with wire. It was the job of the maintenance men to walk the chains lighting every candle in each lantern by hand!
First electrical illuminations
In 1930 the bridge was lit up for Bristol-French week with small red, white and blue electric lamps. In 1933 the bridge was illuminated for Bristol-Brighton week, again electrically using 1,500 bulbs. In 1935 the number of electric bulbs doubled to 3,000 for the Silver Jubilee Celebrations. The bridge was also lit to celebrate the coronation of George VI in 1937.
In 1951 the bridge was illuminated for the Festival of Britain with 4500 bulbs. The amount of lightbulbs was increased again in 1953 for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This system used 6 miles of cabling, 6000 lamps and included illumination crown decorations on top of each toll house. It was quite a feat to install, as this film clip shows:
More permanent night-time illuminations
In 1966 the bridge was lit for six weeks in tribute to the opening of the Severn Bridge. Then, in 1967, a more permanent lighting system was installed enabling the bridge to be lit every summer, Christmas and Easter.
Vandalism and Queen’s Silver Jubilee
Electric illuminations were costly – especially as people kept on stealing bulbs. During the 1966 illuminations 1400 bulbs had to be replaced – the cost of which was more than the electricity to light them!
From 1974 the bridge was not lit in order to conserve funds and save electricity during the national fuel crisis. However the whole of the bridge was lit between 16 May and the end of September to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Festoon system
In 1980 a completely new festoon system was installed that used 4,200 x 25w tungsten filament lamps. This enabled the bridge to be lit from dusk to 1am every night. However, this system was still vulnerable to vandalism. It was estimated that on average 50 bulbs were either stolen or blew per week.
Guide Lite system
In 1992 the festoon lighting was replaced by the Guide Lite system. This innovative design was developed as a form of emergency guide lighting for use in smoke-filled atmospheres. It consisted of tiny incandescent lamps contained in rectangular plastic (polycarbonate) tubes that traced the outline of the bridge towers, chains, rods, abutments and toll houses. To light the whole bridge, 1.7 miles or 2.7 km of tubing was used.
2006 scheme
New illuminations were installed between 2005 and 2006. Designed by Pinniger & Partners, this scheme utilised cutting-edge LED dimmable lighting technology. It was more energy efficient, reducing energy consumption by 53%.
The switching on ceremony was held on 9 April 2006 and was coordinated to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The scheme won the Lighting Design Awards (Transport) in 2007.
In order to paint the chains, the lighting units need to removed. As they are now nearing 20-years old, they will be replaced with newer, more efficient LED lights. The 2024 scheme has been designed by Hoare Lea, an award-winning engineering consultancy who have been designing lighting schemes since 1882.