2007-12-23 06:47:46 · 9 answers · asked by DaveyMcB 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
And is it still evident today?
2007-12-23 06:48:01 · update #1
John Cabot sailed from Bristol to discover America.
The Merchant Venturers were a powerful force in Bristol.
It was a thriving port in spite of the tides
The phrase "Ship shape and Bristol Fashion" came about because ships needed to be specially strengthened to avoid breaking their backs on the Avon access to the Port of Brisul.
The SS Gt. Britain and a reproduction of The Matthew are anchored there.
Many Bristol men were mariners - most of my family in fact (father, grandfather, uncles and great uncles) those who weren't were bargemen unloading and transporting goods.
The Bristol boatmen were given the Freedom of the City of London at the time of the plague because they were the only ones who continued to supply the Capital with necessaries at risk to themselves.
Bristol imported wines, particularly from Spain (see Harveys Wine Merchants), cloth imported from Portugal back in the 1400's. Also in the mid 1400's Robert Sturmey was trading with Pisa and taking his ship to Jerusalem.
A good book to read is "The City and County of Bristol - a study in Atlantic Civilisation" by Bryan Little, published in 1954 and dedicated to Winston Churchill.
Just the history of the Maritime past is all that really remains today - Avonmouth has taken over from Bristol as a port mostly because of the difficulty of getting large container ships up the tidal stretches of the meandering Avon.
2007-12-23 08:15:57 · answer #1 · answered by Veronica Alicia 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bristol maritime heritage goes back to the Vikings there fishing fleets would often fish off the grand banks long before Columbus and merchants would set up shop there today it's still a major port.
2007-12-24 10:36:33 · answer #2 · answered by Spsipath 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, think of the phrase, "Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion. A Great sea port. Yes you can see the SS GT Britain buildings and other things to this day.
2007-12-23 15:24:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bristol is famous for being the first English city to trade in slaves from Africa i.e. late15th century. Bristol's slave trade economy was outstripped by Liverpool in the 1700s. I don't know anything about present day Bristol.
2007-12-23 15:02:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Massively important commercial port, about which many people have written here. However, Bristol has no connection with the Royal Navy i.e. not a home port.
2007-12-23 19:21:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes as the slave trade was very important there, there is also a lot of dock buildings still in evidence today.
2007-12-23 14:52:34 · answer #6 · answered by Chris P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
best known for the slave trade. 2 main roads in bristol are called whiteladies road and blackboy hill
2007-12-23 15:56:46 · answer #7 · answered by Patricia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the Hispaniola set sail for Treasure Island from there! : )
2007-12-23 14:56:37 · answer #8 · answered by aida 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well i know it has a strong aviation heritage, afteral they did build the spitfires there
2007-12-23 15:16:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋