Bristol, the largest city in the South West, has played a unique and important role in England's history. Once England's second city, the prestige of Bristol is reflected in splendid architecture, a rich maritime heritage, a wealth of attractions and beautiful estates and parkland.
Origins of Bristol
In Anglo-Saxon times, a settlement grew up between the Rivers Avon and Frome. Known as Brigstowe (place of settlement by the bridge) and trading with Ireland and the ports of South Wales, the settlement grew in importance. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, the first castle was built on what is now Castle Park.
Bristol's trading activity increased and the existing port soon became inadequate so, in 1239 a cut was excavated to divert the course of the River Frome. Trade started to flourish. Wealthy merchants built large houses near the quays and churches were embellished.
John Cabot sets sail from Bristol
The city was trading with Spain, Portugal, the Mediterranean and Iceland and ships also left Bristol to found or support existing colonies in the New World. In 1497, John Cabot, an Italian financed by Bristol merchants, set sail from Bristol in his ship the Matthew hoping to find a passage to the spice islands (Eastern Indonesia). He actually reached Newfoundland, a voyage which was celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic in 1997.
By the 17th century Bristol was becoming an important centre for non-conformism. Quakers erected a meeting house in 1670 and John Wesley, the Methodist leader, had a chapel, or 'New Room' built in 1739. It remains today the oldest Methodist building in the world.
The city continued to expand and much original architecture remains including the area around King Street, Queen Square, Christmas Steps and St Michael's Hill. Beautiful houses were built throughout the city from the proceeds of Spanish shipping plundered off the coast of the Americas, funded by Bristol merchants.
Bristol and the slave trade
To its discredit, the 18th century also saw the rise of Bristol's involvement in the slave trade and, as a result, ships returned to Bristol laden with goods from the New World, including cane sugar, tobacco, rum and cocoa.
In the late 18th century the elegant suburb of Clifton began to expand as merchants built houses away from the docks area. The Theatre Royal opened in King Street in 1766 and the city entered a more elegant and cultured era. Many of the Romantic Poets of this period spent time in the city.
Harbour begins to lose its trade
By the late 18th century, the harbour was starting to become a problem. The huge rise and fall of the tidal River Avon caused ships to become dangerously marooned at low tide. Work began on a Floating Harbour, but the cost was so high that dock charges forced shipping to other ports. In addition, the bends of the Avon made navigation increasinly difficult for the larger merchant ships and so Bristol, as a port, began to decline.
Bristol was gripped by social unrest during the Bristol Riots in 1831, which occurred as a reaction to disappointing parliamentary reform.
Brunel's Bristol
The great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel is responsible for some of Bristol's best-loved features. Brunel's Bristol includes the Clifton Suspension Bridge, his great iron ship, the ss Great Britain and Temple Meads old station, terminus for the Great Western Railway.
Growth of new industries
New docks were built at the mouth of the Avon in the 1870s and Bristol continued as an industrial centre. The construction of aircraft, including Concorde, at Filton became an important post-war industry. Bristol is also the home of Rolls Royce. Today, Bristol is a large commercial centre, one of the most popular cities for business relocation and a major focus for media industries.
Harbourside renaissance
In the late 1970s, Bristol harbourside renaissance began with the opening of the Arnolfini, an internationally renowned contemporary arts centre, in a converted tea warehouse. In the 1980s, the regeneration of the miles of harbourside continued apace with the 1982 opening of the Watershed, Britain's first media centre, again in a converted warehouse. These two developments were critical in Bristol's repositioning as a major cultural centre, recognised by our designation as a centre of excellence during the city's bid for the 2008 European Capital of Culture. In the early years of the 21st century, much of the harbourside has been transformed with landmark leisure, office and residential developments, most notably the 2000 opening of the @Bristol centre.
After nearly 800 years of history, milestones in the city's developments have often been related to its harbour. As we continue into a new millenium, the city once again looks to one of its greatest assets, the harbourside as the true heart of the city.Bristol today is an aspirational city, sure of its place as the regional capital of England's south west and confident of its reputation of one of Europe's most powerful economies.
It is arguably the most beautiful city in England, with a dramatic landscape and a number of distinctive areas that offer a captivating mix of architectural styles - a legacy of our 800 years of history.
At the heart of the city is the harbourside area, transformed in recent years through one of Europe's most successful waterfront regeneration schemes. It is a symbol of Bristol's thriving economy: a blend of new housing and business centres, cultural facilities, bars and restaurants, tourist attractions and landmark developments such as the @-Bristol complex.
Bristol's unique mix of heritage, culture and economic success attracts people from across Britain, Europe and the wider world - and creates a young, diverse and vibrant city. Many come here to study at Bristol's two universities and many choose to stay - strengthening the city's reputation for a well educated, skilled and motivated workforce.
As a testament to Bristol's confidence and ambition, the city united in its bid to become the European City of Culture in 2008 - and was shortlisted for the title and designated as a Centre of Culture.
A thriving economy
Bristol has the 2nd strongest economy in England outside of London when measured by GDP per head, according to a survey by Barclays Bank.
Over 160 companies have established their national headquarters in Bristol.
Bristol International Airport has invested over £50 million since 1997 in new facilities. Daily flights now connect Bristol to 25 major European cities.
Bristol is one of the UK's major centres for financial services, which employ around 40,000 people in the city.
From wind power to waste disposal, the environmental technology sector in Bristol is evolving rapidly, at local, national and international level.
The Port of Bristol is the UK's largest car import dock.
Hi-tech businesses, ranging from dynamic young start-ups to Hewlett Packard's national research laboratories.
Bristol is one of Europe's leading locations for world class micro-electronics and silicon design with over 400 such companies.
A £500 million scheme is underway to improve city centre shopping facilities.
Bristol welcomes over 9 million visitors every year and is the 7th most popular destination in the UK for overseas visitors.
Bristol has over 20 business support agencies helping small and start-up businesses. A skilled workforce
Bristol attracts 36,000 students to two internationally renowned universities.
Recent research by Leeds Metropolitan University shows that Bristol's workforce ranks top in the skills level of English cities outside London.
An astonishing 78% of the University of Bristol's academic departments have been independently assessed as world class or internationally excellent.
The University of the West of England, Bristol (Bristol UWE) is one of Britain's most popular universities with more than 23,000 students and a 1,000-strong academic staff.
Bristol City Council is investing at least £80 million in new secondary school buildings and has made education its top priority. A cultural centre
Bristol was shortlisted for the 2008 European Capital of Culture.
Bristol is planning to spend £152 million in its cultural infrastructure by 2008, including a new arena, a world class concert venue, a new Museum of Bristol and renovation of our existing arts centres, museums and theatres.
25% of all the world's natural history films are produced in Bristol.
Bristol is home to triple Oscar winner Aardman Animations, creator of Wallace and Gromit and other leading animation and film companies.
Bristol hosts three international film festivals - Animated Encounters, Brief Encounters and Wildscreen and the Electric December digital arts festival.
Bristol was the birthplace of the 'Bristol sound' with bands like Massive Attack and Portishead, performers Tricky and Roni Size, and its club scene is rated as one of the most exciting in the country.
More than a third of Bristol has conservation area status with over 4,000 heritage buildings.
The City's Museum and Art Gallery and the Royal West of England Academy house important collections of art, whilst the Arnolfini is a contemporary arts centre of European renown.
Bristol Old Vic is the oldest continuously working theatre in the UK.
Bristol's St Paul's Carnival is one of Europe's premier street festivals. Kuumba is one of the most important multi cultural arts centres in the UK. |
