Bridge Street Summary
Bridge Street ran from High Street, rising up a gentle slope and turning left to the junction of Mary-le-Port Street, Dolphin Street and Peter Street.
Back of Bridge Street was between Bridge Street and the Floating Harbour (the Floating Harbour took five years to build and was opened on 1 May 1809).
Where Bridge Street stood was known as Worship Street in the Middle Ages and later it was called The Shambles. In 1776 Bridge Street was constructed, taking its name from the adjacent Bristol Bridge.
The street numbers of the buildings ran consecutively along the southern side from Peter Street to High Street (Nos 1-26) and then back along the opposite side to Mary-le-Port Street (Nos 27-46).
The south side (Nos 4-26) was designed by Thomas Paty and, when new, formed what must have been one of the most impressive shopping streets in Bristol. The buildings were in pairs or threes and had identical frontages — four storeys high (including ground floor) and the upper storeys each had three bays with the height of each bay gradually decreasing on each level. All had an attic and basement, the latter having a rear entrance in Back of Bridge Street, which was at street level.
All of the buildings in Bridge Street, except Nos 19-26, were destroyed by (or demolished following) the blitz of 24 November 1940. Apart from Nos 20 and 21, the remaining buildings perished as a result of the air raid on 3 January 1941. Nos 20 and 21 survived the war and remained occupied until they were demolished in October 1964.
All that remains today is part of the cobbled carriageway of Back of Bridge Street and a small section of Bridge Street leading to the car park of an office, both running from High Street.
Bridge Street
1-3 John Pern's, Fabric Retailer
5A The Manchester Chemical Co.
4 John Hall, Tools
5 Smith & Lister, Milliners
6 Scottish Amicable Building Society
7-8 Fred Morgan, Furniture
9 Bush & Bush, Solicitors
10 Farquharson Bros, Typewriters
11 Woodalls, Furniture
12 C.H. Tucker& Co., Auctioneers and Valuers
13 Coss & Morris, Clothiers
14 Rylands & Sons, Drapers
15-16 Fred Morgan, Furniture
17 Tanner & Vowles, Solicitors
18 D.W. Dembo, Jewellers
19 Bridge Hotel, Public House
20 Polchards, Wireless Suppliers
21 S. Mason Ltd, Outfitters
22 Multipress, Typewriters
23 Burgess & Co., Turf Commission Agents
24 Gyles Bros, Sports Outfitters
25 Laurence Studios, Photographers
26 A. Lewis & Co., Tobacconist
30 J.H. Hart, Tailor
31 Brown & Sons, Seed Merchants
32-33 House of Lewis, Tailors
34 Scholastic Trading, Stationers etc.
39-41 Hamiltons, Wireless Suppliers
42 W.A. Trimby, Florist
43 Miss O. Stanley, Confectioner
44 Campbell's, Furniture
45 Lowman, Tobacconist
46 Saxone Shoes
1-3 John Perris Ltd
Retailers of Fabrics (including silks) and
Accessories (buttons, cottons, etc.) Previously occupied by Levy Longfield and then Closs, who both sold similar goods.
Bank Hotel
Licensed Hotel with thirty-two bedrooms Bed and breakfast cost 8 shillings in 1938. Main entrance had Doric columns and a small garden at the rear. Built into the fabric of St Peter's Hospital, which it dominated by many feet, the hotel owes its name to the fact that in this building the Bristol branch of the Bank of England was set up in July 1827. Premises run by W.R. Margrate, who took over in the early 1920s.
5a The Manchester Chemical Co. Ltd - Yeast Merchants
This single-storey building looked out of place attached to the impressive row of shops on this side of Bridge Street.
4 John Hall (Tools) Ltd
Retailers of Cutlery and Tools Also sold model railways, with an impressive display each Christmas.
5 Smith & Lister Ltd - Wholesale Milliners
6 Scottish Amicable Building Society
Upper Floors: Arthur Palmer, Solicitors
Jn Barran fr Sons Ltd, Clothing Manufacturers
7-8 Fred Morgan - Furniture
Retailers of Furniture - Also had premises at 15—16 Bridge Street. There were showrooms at the rear of these premises in Back of Bridge Street and of Mary-le-Port Street. Well known for sale of three-piece suites — sofas and 'mother and father' chairs. Still trading today on Gloucester Road (Pigsty Hill).
9 Bush & Bush - Solicitors
Basement of these premises occupied as dwelling.
10 Farquharson Bros Ltd
Suppliers of typewriters, carbon paper, etc. Upper floors: G.G. Pain, Accountant
L.J. Coppin, Manufacturers Agent - A.J. Linnhen, Watch Repairer
11 Woodalls - Retailers of Furniture
Owned by Fred Morgan Furniture, who had premises at 7—8 and 15-16 Bridge Street, but retained the original name, otherwise there would have been too many shops in the same street with the same name.
12 C.H. Tucker & Co. - Auctioneers and Valuers
This building was called 'Wellington Chambers'.
13 Coss & Morris Ltd - Wholesale Clothiers
This company moved to 20 Bridge Street immediately after the 24 November 1940 blitz. Upper floors: W.R. Mitchell, Ticket Writer - W.F. Mitchell, Motor Insurance Agent
14 Rylands & Sons Ltd - Drapers
Upper floors:Railways Enquiry Office Sheppard Norcott & Co., Solicitors
15-16 Fred Morgan - Furniture
Retailers of Furniture - Also had premises at 7—8 Bridge Street. This building had the offices for both premises. Upper floors: London & Provinces Discount Co., Moneylenders
Vickers Armstrong Ltd - Engineers
loco Rubber & Waterproofing Co. - Lords Day Observance Society - Dixon & Dixon, Solicitors - Glutton Moore & Lavington, Solicitors
17 Tanner & Vowles - Solicitors
Top floor occupied by resident caretaker, Mr Fugill. The partnership itself was formed around 1912 as Tanner & Clarke at these premises and became Tanner & Vowles in 1939. Still trading today in Clifton as Tanner Vowles & Cheshire.
18 D.W. Dembo - Retail Jewellers
Previously at 22 Bridge Street until around 1938. Also had premises at 69 Park Street and the Arcade Broadmead.
image top left: tobacconists at No.26 Bridge Street was occupied by Mrs J.M. Withecomb until 1938, when A. Lewis & Co. took over. (c.1936)
image bottom left: The Bank Hotel in Bridge Street, (c.1916)
19 Bridge Hotel - Public House
Landlord: H.J. Chapman Brewery: Georges Brewery
20 Polchards Wireless Ltd
Retailers of Radios Upper floors: The Check Clothing & Supply Co. Ltd,
Clothiers - B. Morris, Solicitors - This building survived until 1964. Immediately after the blitz of 24 November 1940 it was occupied by Brown's Seeds (who were previously at 39 Bridge Street) until 1961.
21 S. Mason Ltd
Men's Outfitters - This company was established in 1934 at these premises. Upper floors: A. St John Burroughs, Solicitors - N. Jatsum, Accountants
J. Stancombc & Co., Sugar Agents These premises survived the war and Masons traded here until 1963 when they moved a few hundred yards to Bridge House in Baldwin Street.
22 The Multipress Co.
Typewriting Office Upper floor: Anderson & Co., Stockbrokers
23 Burgess & Co.
Turf Commission Agents Upper floors: Witty Featherstone, Stockbrokers
Yugoslavian Consul (F.D. Martin) foreign Money Exchange - A.R. Cough, Architect - E. Gray, Engraver
24 Gyles Bros
Gyles Bros still trade today at Blackboy Hill. Sports Outfitters - This business was established in 1908 and moved to these premises around 1910.
Upper floors of 23-24: Lowick & Simpson, Accountants Rennie Lowick & Co., Chartered Accountants - Henleaze Bowling Club (Secretary: W.M. Lowick) - UK Commercial Travellers Association - RSPCA
image left: Fred Morgan's furniture shop at 15-16 Bridge Street. (c.1938)
25 Laurence Studios - Photographers
Used by the Bristol Co-op Society in Castle Street to take photographs of employees who were due for retirement. Upper floors:S.J. Ricketts & Cooper, Accountants f. Darch, Accountants
26 A. Lewis & Co. (Westminster) Ltd
Tobacconists - Mrs J.M. Withecomb ran a tobacconists from these premises until 1938, when the above company took over. The ground floor of this building was split into two shops - Or Scholls, Shoe Retailers occupying the portion facing Back of Bridge Street, their address being
Bristol Bridge, not Bridge Street. An upper floor was occupied by F. Williams, Dentist, who was in Dolphin Street until the premises were bombed on 24 November 1940 - these Bridge Street premises were then destroyed on 3 January 1941.
image top left: Documentation produced by Fred Morgan - Furniture Retailer, who had two premises in Bridge Street (1939)
image bottom left: The Bridge Street frontage of The Scholastic Trading Co., the Morris Minor van advertising Bristol Zoo which was featuring Alfred the gorilla. (1937) Upper floors: Weaver & Grant, Typewriter Agents - Rowland Smith & Son, Insurance Broker - C.H. Andrea's, Tailor
27-29 Scholastic Trading Co. Ltd
(See entry under 27-28 High Street)
30 J.H. Hart - Tailor
Upper floors: Maison Clark, Ladies' Hairdresser H. Sherman, Tailor Case & Edwards Ltd, Tailor F.C. Scott, Optician
31 Brown & Sons (Seeds) Ltd
Seed Merchants - This company was established in 1845 and at the time of the November 1940 blitz the business was run by James Brown. There was also a warehouse in Queen Charlotte Street. It moved to 20 Bridge Street after the blitz.
32-33 House of Lewis Ltd - Tailor
(Proprietor: Frederick Knight Lewis & Son) This bespoke tailor also had a workshop at 5—6 Castle Street at the time of the blitz. After the blitz, the company moved to College Green. Tapners, House Furnishers occupied No.33 immediately before House of Lewis extended from No.32. Upper floors: Bobbett Bros, Solicitors (occupied second, third, fourth floors and attic of No.32).
34 Scholastic Trading Co. Ltd
Stationers and Booksellers These premises were occupied by Scholastic since at least 1875 and, at the time of the blitz, were primarily involved in the sale of books, the main premises on the corner of High Street and Bridge Street selling stationery. The goods entrance was in St Mary-le-Port Churchyard. Between this building and Baker, Baker next door was a pathway with steps to the church.
35-38 Baker, Baker & Co. Ltd
(See entry under 32-37 Mary-le-Port Street)
39-41 Hamiltons of Bristol Ltd
Wireless Suppliers - As well as wirelesses, this company also sold bicycles, records, furniture and electrical goods. The company continued trading in Redfield after the blitz. Upper floors: Bridge Press, Printers - Bridge Agencies Ltd, - Wholesale Electrical Factors - E. Smith & Co., Income Tax Consultants
42 W.H.A. Trimby - Florist
Upper floors: Pioneer Check Providers Ltd, Check Clothiers Railway Lost Property Office
43 Miss O. Stanley - Confectioner
44 Campbells
(See entry under 27 Mary-le-Port Street)
45 E.R. Lowman & Co. - Tobacconists
46 Saxone Shoe Co. Ltd
Boot and Shoe Retailers - This building was erected in 1936 on the site of the Swan Hotel (the hotel building was originally built in 1434 and rebuilt in the seventeenth century). Upper Floor A.V. Osmond, Auctioneer
Back of Bridge Street
Many of the businesses in Bridge Street had rear entrances in Back of Bridge Street, this level being the basement of Bridge Street frontages. However, there were two businesses which traded from an address in Back of Bridge Street.
14 F. Ingleton, - Commission Agent
22 R.R. Bartlett - Chloros Disinfectant Depot
Robert Bartlett worked for the Bristol Cooperative Society in the early 1930s and in 1933 his interest in chemicals led him to buy a waste product from the Netham premises of ICI and set up a business in Back of Bridge Street. This waste produce was 'doctored' to become a household disinfectant/bleach and sold under the name of 'Chloros' - in the first year, approximately 1,100 one-pint bottles were washed, filled, labelled and packed, all by hand!
Sales were originally made direct to households by tricycles, but by 1940 'Mr Chloros' (as Robert Bartlett was affectionately called) used a distinctive white van for his deliveries. After the war, the business moved to a factory in Netham Road, then to Pucklechurch and later to Yate (by now the business had changed from supplying household products to a swimming pool treatment business, products being sold nationally and exported) until its closure.
Back of Bridge Street was cobbled and the wall along the Floating Harbour was topped by iron railings.
At the junction with Bristol Bridge there were wooden steps down to the Floating Harbour and from here boat trips commenced to Hotwells and Hanham Weir. At the top of these steps was a public telephone box and taxi office.
Next to these steps was the wooden building of the Redcliff Rowing Club (founded in 1874) which was on a floating wooden stage.
image bottom left: The back of the row of shops in Bridge Street tower over the premises of the Redcliff Rowing Club, which were built on a floating wooden stage, (c. 1930)
image top left: An unusual view from next to the wooden stage of Redcliff Rowing Club looking towards Bristol Bridge. (This is a sketch by Samuel Loxton, c.1908.)
The Kingstoman pleasure steamer had off-duty moorings in this area.
At the end of Back of Bridge Street, near the Bank Hotel, was a covered gent's urinal which, allegedly, emptied straight into the Floating Harbour! The urinal survived the blitz and still existed in the early 1950s. Near the urinal was a fig tree which grew out of the wall overhanging the water — this tree still survives today and is believed to have been there for at least 200 years.
Please feel free to add your own comments to the Guestbook or Forum
Memories of Bristol over the past 100 years including 3000 photographs on-line
This non commercial 'hobby' site, has been evolving and expanding on line since 2001 and is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only.
