Local Places - Part 7

[smallhobbit]

This month is a trip to part of Bristol Harbour.  We were early for the Hippodrome, so we wandered down to take a look at part of the harbour.

 

Bristol was a big shipping port in its day - it's on the River Avon which is tidal, and in 1809 the tide was prevented from going out permanently therefore making it more useful.  It played a major role in the slave trade, since its position gave it direct access to the Atlantic, in preference to London and in the late 1730s was the major British slaving port.  This trade moved to Liverpool over time, and with the arrival of bigger ships Bristol lacked the facilities necessary, and now nearby Avonmouth serves as a container port.

  

From the 1980s onwards the harbour has been regenerated and now caters for leisure crusing as well as numerous restaurants, galleries etc.  Every year there is a harbour festival which is attended by many tall ships.

  

This is the Matthew, a replica of John Cabot's ship in which he sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497.  In 2007 The Daughter had a few days sailing on her, when she was in the Scouts, and the following year she was invited back to spend a week sailing on her when they sailed round the south coast to the Scilly Isles and back to Bristol.  (More on the Matthew)


 

Comments

[corvidology]

I really miss spending time in Bristol so it's lovely to see your pics!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It's a few years since we last went, so it was interesting to have a wander.

[margaret_r]

Lovely photos:) And what an exciting experience for your daughter!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes, it's something very few people have done.

[adafrog]

Cool.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

[howsmyenglish]

This is very interesting! Does it mean that the Daughter also spent the nights on the Matthew?

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes, she did indeed.

[moth2fic]

Thanks for the pictures! I've only ever done a rapid drive through so it's a city I don't really know.

[smallhobbit]

Not one of my favourite cities, but worth a visit.

[debriswoman]

Lovely photos:-)
I sat and sketched the Matthew when we visited a few years ago…nice to see it again:-)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It's a lovely vessel. I imagine it was very satisfying to sketch.

[rusty_armour]

Great photos! I really appreciated the history and that story about your daughter's experiences with the Matthew.

Although I've visited Bristol twice, I didn't get to see much of it because I was there for Robin of Sherwood conventions. I wish I'd had a chance to go to Bristol Harbour as it seems like a really interesting place.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. The Harbourside is well worth a visit if you ever get the chance.