Bristol Bridge
Bristol Bridge | |
---|---|
River Avon | |
Locale | Bristol |
Maintained by | Bristol City Council |
History | |
Opened | 1768 |
Location | |
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![A three-arched bridge viewed from an oblique angle, illuminated by lights](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Bristol_bridge.jpg/220px-Bristol_bridge.jpg)
Bristol Bridge is a bridge over the
Bristol Bridge is the furthest downstream of the fixed bridges across the harbour, and marks the limit of navigation for any vessel that is unable to pass beneath its arches. Downstream from the bridge the harbour is lined by wharves and warehouses, with
History
Bristol's name is derived from the Saxon Brycgstow or 'Brigstowe', meaning the 'place of the bridge'.[3] However, it is unclear when the first bridge over the Avon was built. The Avon has a high tidal range, so the river could have been forded twice a day. The name may therefore refer to the many smaller bridges over the Avon's tributary, the River Frome, constructed in the marshy surrounding area, which is now largely built over.
The first stone bridge was built in 1247, and houses with shopfronts were built on it.[4][5] A 17th-century illustration shows that these bridge houses were five stories high, including the attic rooms, and that they overhung the river much as Tudor houses would overhang the street.[6] The bridge was regarded as a place where the wealthy would live, hosting a community of goldsmiths.[5] Houses on the bridge were attractive and charged high rents as they had so much passing traffic, and had plenty of fresh air while waste could be dropped into the river.[6] Its population was also perceived to be strongly parliamentarian.[6] During the Civil War in 1647, the bridge was struck by fire, with 24 houses being burnt.[5]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Millerd1728dbridge.jpg/220px-Millerd1728dbridge.jpg)
In 1760 a bill to replace the bridge was carried through parliament by the Bristol MP
Before the Second World War, Bristol Bridge was an important transport hub. It was the terminus of tram routes to Knowle, Bedminster and Ashton Gate, and other trams also stopped here.[8] It lost importance when Temple Way was built further upstream in the 1930s,[9] and when the tram system closed in 1941.
Bristol Bridge was closed to private motor cars and goods vehicles under 7.5 tonnes in 2020 as part of Bristol City Council's initiative to improve air quality, accelerated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]
- Prince's Wharf, including Pyronaut and Mayflower adjoining Prince Street Bridge
- Dry docks: SS Great Britain, the Matthew
- St Augustine's Reach, Pero's Bridge
- Bathurst Basin
- Queen Square
- Bristol Temple Meads railway station
- Castle Park
- Redcliffe Quay and Redcliffe Caves
- Baltic Wharf marina
- Cumberland Basin & Brunel Locks
- The New Cut
- Netham Lock, entrance to the Feeder Canal
- Totterdown Basin
- Temple Quay
- The Centre
- We The Curious
- Underfall Yard
- Bristol Bridge and Welsh Back
See also
References
- ^ Historic England. "Bristol Bridge (1204252)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "The Inner Harbour". Bristol Floating Harbour. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-7509-9587-0.
- ISBN 978-0-9551010-1-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7509-9587-0.
- ^ ISBN 0-7509-2021-1, p. 10
- ISBN 0-7524-3213-3, p. 29
- ^ "BT&CC tram map, 1911". Bristol Vintage Bus Group. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
- ^ Sabre roads website: A4044
- ^ "NEW TRAFFIC RULES AND POP-UP CYCLE LANES FOR ROADS ACROSS BRISTOL". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
Bibliography
- Barb Drummond, Mr Bridges' Enlightenment Machine: Forty Years on Tour in Georgian Britain (2018) ISBN 978-1-912829019 – on the work of Bristolian architect James Bridges
External links
Media related to Bristol Bridge at Wikimedia Commons