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Books > Down the Severn Photographic Memories
Aust, Severn Bridge 1966 (ref. A100004) | As the bridge nears completion, the writing is on the wall for regular ferry services on the Severn. Limited capacity, high operating costs, and people lacking the patience to wait for a ferry, combined to put an end to what would have been a pleasant alternative to driving on a motorway. |  Add your own Memory
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Avonmouth, Docks 1901 (ref. 46494) | In 1901, Avonmouth was chosen by Elder & Fyffes as the UK port for their fortnightly service to Port Limon, Costa Rica. In 1895 Elder Dempster had introduced an Avonmouth-Quebec-Montreal summer service, with winter sailings calling at Halifax and St John's, New Brunswick. With larger steamers coming into service, Avonmouth was expanded. In 1902 work began on the King Edward Dock; an 875ft graving dock was added, and an oil tank farm comprising 27 storage tanks was completed in 1911. | Add your own Memory
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Avonmouth, Docks 1901 (ref. 46493) | Avonmouth was used by the Imperial Direct West India Mail Service Co, whose ships sported white hulls and yellow funnels. During 1901 four new cargo liners for the IDWIMS Co entered service at Avonmouth: the 'Port Royal', 'Port Antonio', 'Port Maria' and 'Port Morant'. The vessel seen here might be either the 'Port Royal' or 'Port Antonio', both of which were built by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, Middlesbrough. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, Tennis Courts c1935 (ref. B212187) | In August 1920, Bristol Corporation obtained an Act to take over the former BP&PR railway line between Sneyd Park Junction and Hotwells. Unlike Bradford, Bristol was not about to embark on running a railway: they simply wanted the trackbed for a new road to Avonmouth, for the Gorge was not wide enough for both. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, from Clifton Bridge c1960 (ref. B212312) | Clifton became a fashionable spa in the 18th century, and for a time even rivalled Bath. With its new-found status came the trappings: pump room, assembly rooms, even London retailers - who opened for the season, took the money and ran. The well was finally closed after it became contaminated with river water. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, the entrance to the Floating Harbour c1935 (ref. B212186) | The Floating Harbour was created in the early years of the 19th century to give Bristol a tide-free dock. It was a remarkable piece of civil engineering, five years in the making and with a cast of several thousand. The project cost about £600,000, and involved diverting the Avon to the south from Totterdown and round the city to link up with its old course. Much of the shovelling was done by French prisoners of war. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, the view from the Granary 1901 (ref. 47880) | We are looking out across the deal and timber yards to the cathedral and downtown Bristol. Perched high on its hill in the background at left is the tower erected to commemorate John Cabot's voyage. Financed by Richard Amerycke, Cabot and his son Sebastian sailed from Bristol on a local ship, the 'Matthew'. On 24 June 1497 they reached the mainland of North America. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, the Docks c1950 (ref. B212222) | The coaster 'Depa' eases her way into the city dock with a cargo of timber. Other traffic handled here included cargoes from Ireland: steamers from Cork and Waterford discharged cattle into the pens on the foreign animals wharf at Merchants' Dock. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, the Quay 1887 (ref. 20133) | This photograph was taken three years after the city docks, Avonmouth, and Portishead were brought together under Corporation control. This meant that once again Bristol could compete for trade; throughout much of the 19th century it had lost business owing to high dock charges levied by the money-grabbing dock company. At one time, it had been cheaper to land Bristol-bound cargoes at Liverpool and send them on by train than to discharge them on Bristol Quay. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, the Docks c1950 (ref. B212217) | Bristol developed to become a major centre for the importation of timber for use throughout the west of England. In 1870 the port handled 105,000 tons, and by 1900 it was dealing with over 170,000 tons a year. During the same period, annual tobacco imports through the docks rose from 349 tons in 1880 to 2278 in 1910, and by the mid 1920s the average was 24,000 tons a year. The bumper year for the weed was 1947, with 50,098 tons landed. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, the Docks c1950 (ref. B212220) | We are looking towards St Augustine's Reach with its long association with Bristol's maritime past. The Reach dates from 1248; when it was first built it extended further into the city. For the mid 13th century, it represented a major feat of civil engineering that involved diverting the course of the River Frome from its ancient junction with the Avon. The Reach established Bristol as a major port. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, the Harbour c1935 (ref. B212181) | The 285ft high spire of St Mary Redcliffe towers above the city docks. This huge parish church, the size of a cathedral, owes much to the generosity of Bristol's merchants, such as William Canynge (who died in 1396) and his grandson William Canynge the younger (1394?-1274). | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, Cathedral 1900 (ref. 45568) | In 1542 Henry VIII created the diocese of Bristol, and the former church of the Augustinian priory was elevated to the rank of cathedral. The building underwent considerable restoration and remodelling between 1868 and 1888, including the construction of the nave and the west towers. Older parts include the Elder Lady Chapel (1210-1215) and the choir (1298-1363). | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, Park Street 1900 (ref. 45653) | Here we see Park Street in the days of horse-drawn transport. Half-way up the street is what appears to be a water-cart on damping-down duty. With several thousand animals on the streets every day, the stench from horse-droppings was horrendous, especially during the summer months. Bristol Health Authority was the first to conduct experiments using water-carts. They found that it took 7000 gallons of water to damp down one mile of street 18 ft in width. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, Queens Road 1900 (ref. 45653A) | In Victorian and Edwardian times, Queen's Road was home to a number of institutions. Here were the Museum and Reference Library, noted for its collection of natural history and geological exhibits, and a reference library containing over 50,000 volumes. The Art Gallery (1905) also housed a museum of antiquities on its ground floor. The Victoria Rooms (1838-42) was where in 1874 the meeting had been held to thrash out Bristol's campaign for a university, and opposite the Rooms was the Fine Art Academy. Also on Queen's Road was the Bristol branch of the Antivivisection Society. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, St Augustine's Bridge 1901 (ref. 47885) | Car No 118 of the Bristol Tramways & Carriage Co heads for St Augustine's Bridge. The tramway was electrified in 1895, but as the Corporation had a legal right to acquire it in 1915 at book price, or at any seventh year thereafter, the company were none too keen to spend money on improvements. The tramway creaked on virtually unaltered since the day it opened, only to be put out of its misery by the Luftwaffe in 1941. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, King Street and Theatre Royal c1935 (ref. B212211) | King Street escaped total destruction during the Blitz, though some buildings, such as the Merchant Adventurers' Almshouses (1699), were damaged. In the 1950s the street retained a number of 17th- and 18th-century properties such as those seen here. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, the Theatre Royal 1890 (ref. 24640) | One of the oldest theatres in the country still in regular use, the Theatre Royal dates back to 1766. Its design was based upon Sir Christopher Wren's Drury Lane Theatre, London, but even when built the Royal had a semi-circular auditorium. The facade was remodelled during the 19th century. | Add your own Memory
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Bristol, Park Street 1900 (ref. 45654) | This is Park Street in the days before the top end was dominated by the Gothic tower of the university, designed by Sir George Oatley. | Add your own Memory
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Clevedon, the Pier 1892 (ref. 31251) | In late Victorian tour guides, Clevedon was noted for its good beach, its pier, and the surrounding countryside, which was considered to be exceptionally beautiful. At only five miles from Portishead, thirteen miles from Bristol and fifteen miles from Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon was well placed to attract day trippers. | Add your own Memory
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