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It is one of Britain's greatest architectural masterpieces and these stunning photos give a rare glimpse inside the 150-year-old Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The iconic bridge, stretched 245 feet above the River Avon to link Bristol with Somerset, reached its landmark birthday this month.

And to celebrate, photographer Jon Rowley was granted rare access to the magnificent structure that Isambard Kingdom Brunel referred to as 'my first child, my darling'.  

Photographer Jon Rowley was given rare access to the Leigh Woods Tower of the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Detail of the giant rollers that the chains rest on allowing them miniscule movement when loads pass over the bridge

David Anderson, Bridge Master of Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge stands inside the Leigh Woods Tower - the abutment on which is stands was discovered to consist of 12 vaulted champers back in 2002

Detail of the giant cradle that the chains rest on. The slight movement of the chains absorbs forces created by chain deflection prevents and damage to both tower and chain as heavy loads pass over the bridge

Jon captured images from inside the 110ft-high Leigh Woods tower and the stunning views across Bristol and the surrounding countryside.

In 2002 it was discovered that the abutment on which the tower stands was not a solid structure but contained 12 vaulted chambers up to 35 feet high, linked by shafts and tunnels. 

Roller-mounted 'saddles' at the top of each tower allow movement of the chains when loads pass over the bridge. 

Though their total travel is minuscule, their ability to absorb forces created by chain deflection prevents damage to both tower and chain.

The view from the very top of the Leigh Woods Tower shows the spectacular scenery around the bridge which Brunel described as 'my first child, my darling'

Jon Rowley was given the rare access to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the bridge, which was marked with a fireworks display on December 8

David Anderson, Bridge Master of Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge, looks out across the bridge from the top of the Leigh Woods Tower

The view from the South side of Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge from the Leigh Woods Tower gives a new perspective of the iconic bridge

The bridge, which spans the Avon Gorge, opened to the public on December 8, 1864 and is regarded as Brunel's finest achievement.

Plans for a bridge go back as far as 1754 when Bristol wine merchant William Vick left £1,000 in his will to the Society of Merchant Venturers, requesting £10,000 was raised to build a bridge to the city.

However, war with France stalled the idea of a grand bridge, built tall enough so that ships could pass underneath, and it was not until the 1820s that it was resuscitated. 

By 1829, £8,000 had been secured and a competition was announced for engineers to submit their designs for a bridge across the gorge.

The competition was to be judged by Menai Bridge designer Thomas Telford, but he rejected all entries - including Brunel's - and submitted his own plans.

However, locals were not impressed by Telfords plans and the whole project stalled.

A year later a new competition was held and Brunel, who was just 24 at the time, was declared the winner and appointed project engineer for a fee of 2,000 guineas.

Work was painfully slow and expensive and became surplus to requirement when another bridge was opened so the project was abandoned in 1853. 

The spectacular photos, taken from the top of the tower, gove a new perspective on the iconic Grade 1-listed bridge

The 85-foot-tall Leigh Woods tower stands atop a 110-foot red sandstone-clad abutment and gives a view over the whole bridge

But Brunel's death in 1859, aged just 53, prompted the Institution of Civil Engineers to restart the project to commemorate their hero.

They purchased chain links form the Hungerford Bridge in London, another Brunel project which was being dismantled, and used them to complete the Cliftonproject.

The link, purchased for £5,000, were even transported to Bristol on Brunel's Great Western Railway.

By November 1864, the bridge was ready and workmen tested t by dumping 500 tons of rock on the central section to see if it would hold.

The rare images celebrate what is one of Britain's most iconic architectural masterpieces, and 34 years in the making 

Isambard Thomas, Brunel's great great grandson visits the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol as the structure marks its 150th anniversary

Brunel first won the competition to build the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol in 1830, but it was not completed until 34 years later

After being abandoned in 1853, the bridge project was restarted following Brunel's death and completed in 1864

Archive photo of the building of the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol in the 1860s shows the iconic bridge near completion

The bridge dipped seven inches under the weight, but returned to its former state once they were removed, declaring the engineering feat a success.

A century and a half later, the bridge still draws half a million visitors a year to marvel at the engineering wonder.

And the Grade I listed structure is used daily with more than 8,000 motorists crossing the bridge every day.

Thousands of people once again flocked to the bridge earlier this month to watch a dazzling fireworks display to celebrate its 150th anniversary on December 8.