▁a ▁char itable ▁trust . ▁The ▁trust ▁subsequently ▁purchased ▁the ▁company ▁shares , ▁comple ting ▁this ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁and ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁running ▁of ▁the ▁bridge ▁using ▁the ▁income ▁from ▁to ll s ▁to ▁pay ▁for ▁maintenance . ▁The ▁bridge ▁is ▁a ▁distinct ive ▁land mark , ▁used ▁as ▁a ▁symbol ▁of ▁Br istol ▁on ▁post cards , ▁prom ot ional ▁materials , ▁and ▁inform ational ▁web ▁sites . ▁It ▁has ▁been ▁used ▁as ▁a ▁back drop ▁to ▁several ▁films ▁and ▁television ▁advert ising ▁and ▁program mes . ▁It ▁has ▁also ▁been ▁the ▁ven ue ▁for ▁significant ▁cultural ▁events ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁first ▁modern ▁b unge e ▁jump ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁the ▁last ▁ever ▁Con cor de ▁flight ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁and ▁a ▁hand over ▁of ▁the ▁Olympic ▁Tor ch ▁relay ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Pl ans ▁It ▁▁▁ ▁is ▁unknown ▁when ▁the ▁first ▁bridge ▁was ▁constructed ▁across ▁the ▁Av on ▁in ▁Br istol , ▁but ▁the ▁first ▁stone ▁bridge , ▁Br istol ▁Bridge , ▁was ▁built ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 3 th ▁century . ▁It ▁had ▁houses ▁with ▁shop front s ▁built ▁on ▁it ▁to ▁pay ▁for ▁its ▁maintenance . ▁A ▁ 1 7 th - century ▁illustr ation ▁shows ▁that ▁these ▁bridge ▁houses ▁were ▁five ▁store ys ▁high , ▁including ▁the ▁att ic ▁rooms , ▁and ▁that ▁they ▁over hung ▁the ▁river ▁much ▁as ▁T ud or ▁houses ▁would ▁over hang ▁the ▁street .