Clifton Suspension Bridge Archive

Following Thread's work to design and install a passive archive, the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust’s historic collections are now consolidated in a single location, with room for expansion. This project has enabled the Trust to achieve Museum Accreditation with a new, passive retrofit solution.

Thread undertook a feasibility study for CSBT, reviewing the development and enhancement of their existing visitor centre into a museum, with increased learning and visitor spaces and improved staff and volunteer facilities. Working with a modern existing building, the client required minimum alteration and adaptation to better suit their requirements.

This feasibility work identified a location for the new archive that worked with all development options and work progressed to design and install the archive. This enabled the rehoming of CSBT’s collection from various locations across the city of Bristol (and the current office building) into a purpose-made, passive archive facility at the existing Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre and workshop site.

An essential aspect of our investigations was exploring how an archive space could be effectively integrated with the other areas of the visitor centre, while ensuring climatic control and protections met the required standards for conservation of cultural heritage. Passive methods for environmental management were prioritised to reduce running costs, energy use, carbon consumption and to simplify the equipment required to maintain environmental balance. If equipment were to fail, the environment would remain in range for months, giving early warning for replacement of simple, less expensive equipment.