The Little History of Bristol

by Maurice Fells

No one knows for certain when Bristol was founded. What we do know is that for the last 1,000 years and more it has been at the centre of national and international history, and was the first provincial borough to be upgraded to county status in 1373. From its earliest days Bristol’s prosperity was linked to its port, especially with the importation of wine and tobacco and its involvement with the slave trade. Explorers sailed from Bristol on epic voyages and discovered new lands. For many years Bristol was the second or third largest English city. In recent times its economy has been built on the aerospace industry and the construction of Concorde, the world’s first supersonic aircraft.

Genres: Nonfiction

184 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 2015

Reviews

[Zachary Barker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have finished reading “The Little History of Bristol by Maurice Fells

A dinosaur fossil was discovered on the same site as my work. It is so unique, that traces of the same dinosaur (named Thecodontosaurus) have not been found anywhere in the world. This is one of the many ways that makes Bristol my city unique, the place I made my adopted home.
The settlement of Bristol city stems from Bristol Bridge, although there is evidence of Iron Age and older settlement in the wider suburbs (especially in Shirehampton and others). The name Bristol is anglicised name for Brigstow, a Saxon name which loosely translates as “River Crossing”. Bristol Bridge over the years developed much like London Bridge, with wooden housing built on top of it overlooking the street. It eventually developed a notorious reputation as being a hideout for ambushing highwaymen. Eventually the bridge was made more stripped down in the 18th century, without the buildings on top, leaving the bridge similar to as we see it now.

However, it is Bristol’s port that sealed it’s fate as a city that would thrive. For some time maritime trade made Bristol effectively the second city of England. Maritime trade was for a time the primary source of Bristol’s wealth. Over time it also became a cause of notoriety. Bristol’s first foray into the slave trade took place under the Vikings, where slaves were sold for their transport to the Viking’s British Isles capital Dublin. Much later on Bristol was heavily involved in the Triangle Trade. Ships from Bristol traded goods for slaves from African kingdoms, sold them to colonies in the Caribbean and North America and then returned to Bristol with colonial products such as Tobacco. The Wills family who earned much money in the Tobacco trade made their mark on the city by providing the funds necessary for the University of Bristol to get it’s Royal Charter. While very few slaves were actually taken to Bristol, the city did become synonymous with the trade. Thomas Clarkson, one of anti-slavery MP William Willberforce’s allies, came to Bristol to gather information to make the parliamentary case against the slave trade. The sympathetic landlord of the Seven Stars Inn in Redcliffe gave him boarding for this purpose. So a city made rich by the trade had a part in the story of it’s abolition.

World War 2 was a watershed for our city. The Bristol Blitz completely changed the face of the city centre, thanks to the strategic targets of the docks and local industry. The commercial hub of our city centre was gutted by firebombing. Our Lord Mayor of the time said “the city of Churches became the city of ruins”. Complaining about the look of post-war reconstruction in Bristol is a local obsession (and to a certain extent as local I get it). Indeed there is still an acute anxiety among many Bristol residents about the changing face of their city which I encountered on the campaign trail. And it wasn’t just the buildings of our city that changed. In the wake of Windrush many migrants from the former British Caribbean colonies came to Bristol to make it their home. This led to a civil rights struggle of which our city is proud of.

So where is Bristol now and where is it going? The working docks are gone, finished off by the generation of container ships (although Avonmouth up the river is involved with this). The demise of the docks could have been the death knell of the city. However, during the 1990s a collective effort remarketed Bristol to the UK, and to an extent to the world, as a trendy city with an intriguing past. Wallace & Gromit and Massive Attack (and to a certain extent nearby locals Portishead) helped lead the modern cultural revival of the city. The former working docks are now being redeveloped into plush residential and commercial sites. Bristol is now becoming a desirable location for former London residents, fuelling housing prices still further. Bristol used to be a backwater. But more and more it is becoming the place to be.

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was a concise and accessible introductory history to my city.

[Kathi Held · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Little book of Bristol - it won't give you an indepth account but it provides a very good high level overview of all the important events that happened in Bristol in a very accessible way. It's a great starting point to then dig deeper into some of the topics elsewhere. I enjoyed the writing style and the short chapters enable dipping in and out of it. I've also started throwing facts from this book at my partner when we're walking through Bristol and have taken him to the Downs specifically to find the remnants of Via Julia.

Will definitely read the Little Book of Somerset next.

[Gwyn Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting particularly if you live or have lived in Bristol.

[Stevo B · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, full of interesting facts. There’s a slight problem it has no narrative flow. Stories are higgledy-piggledy.

[Shun Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concise introduction to the history of Bristol. It is well-organised and filled with interesting anecdotes, though it could benefit from including more illustrations, photographs and maps.

[Fran Durbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative read full of quirky facts about Bristol’s history. It’s light and easy to dip into. Some parts felt like hidden gems I wouldn’t have come across otherwise, and it left me appreciating the city even more.