The Changing Face of Bristol & its People

Two photographs depicting the same view, one taken a period of time after the other, give us an instantaneous impression of ' then ' and 'now '. Some comparisons show old views that are instantly recognisable, where the natural passage of time and technology has made only slight changes. Other views illustrate major change and it can be difficult to comprehend that an area has altered so much. Unless you have lived through a change and can remember what was there before, there is often no reason to question what building was replaced or how the area functioned in the past.

BRISTOL THEN AND NOW - LAWRENCE HILL - 1910 - 2001

THEN - Looking towards Church Road on the right the Packhorse public-house then Edward Colston & Son undertakers next James Nelson & Son butchers and Isaac Schwartz a furniture dealer.

NOW - The Packhorse pub is still trading but it nows shares the road with Sizzler's 24-hour massage parlour 'how times have changed'- The painted advertisement for Snowball Patent Flour still remains but hidden from view by trees.

BRISTOL THEN AND NOW - REDCLIFFE BACK - 1971 - 2001

THEN - Looking towards Bristol's most famous church St Mary Redcliffe in 1971 - The area on the left was known as The Grove as was formerly covered with dockside buildings and cranes - Many of which had already gone when this photograph was taken.

NOW - Thirty years on there are still a few dockside sheds - What will it look like in another thirty years.?

BRISTOL THEN & NOW - REDCLIFFE - 1880 - 2004

The picture above, taken in Victorian times from the heights of Redcliffe, shows just how packed Bristol’s Floating Harbour was in the romantic days of sail. Despite the advent of steam and early innovations like Brunel's iron ship the ss Great Britain (which, its often foregotten, had sails too), I wonder if the two stove pipe-hatted men standing here looking over the water towards The Grove thought that the days of wooden sailing Ships would ever really end.

In 1739. when Bristol’s sea-borne trade was making her as prosperous. ‘or possibly more so. than any port in the Kingdom bar London, visiting poet Alexander Pope gave us a flavour of just what the docks were like. He wrote:

'In the middle of the street, as far as you can see, hundreds of ships, their masts as thick as they can stand by one another, which is the oddest and most surprising sight imaginable'.

But as Bristol’s golden days slipped away so did the days of sail. In 1895, Bristol shipbuilders Charles Hill launched their last sailing vessel and by the 1920s they were a rare sight in the harbour,their appearance even worthy of note in the newpapers of the time. The sharp-eyed amongst you will notice the Bush building peeping out from amongst the ship’s masts.

This substantial docks landmark was once a busy tea warehouse but, since the early 1970s, it’s been home to the Arnolfini arts complex. You might look in vain for other landmarks. To the right of the picture you'll spot the Cathedral tower but find no Wills building dominating the top of Park Street (it wasn’t built until 1925) and no Cabot tower on the top of Brandon Hill (it didn't go up until 1897). If only some of the few tall ships still in existence could be found a permanent home in Bristol’s Historic Harbour.

QUEEN SQUARE THEN & NOW - JUNE 1973 - JUNE 2004

What a transformation. The city council has had its fair share of knocks over the last decade for various planning disasters - the Centre redevelopment immediately springs to mind - but it can't be faulted over its reinstatement of wonderful Queen Square.

Its one of the largest complete Georgian squares in Europe. Originally constructed for wealthy Bristol Merchants around the sides of the old Town Marsh,the square was,throughout the 18th century, a haven of peace and tranquility on the edge of the busy city.

It shaded tree-lined gravelled walks set within grass and centred on Rysbrack's Statue of King Billy were,in its time,the envy of many other cities. A large proportion of the original houses and offices were demolished after being burnt down during the infamous three-day riots of 1831 but the Square suffered its biggest destruction in 1936 when the Corporation,in its wisdom,decided to construct Redcliffe Way through the middle of it,demolishing yet more buildings.

Since the early 1990s,when traffic was first excluded from the square,things have improved dramatically. In 1998 over £3 million of lottery money was put aside towards the £5m needed for its complete restoration. Now with its new boundary walls,railings and gates and with forecourt parking abolished,the square has much of its serenity back and has,in the last few years, become something of a tourist attraction as well as a popular place for Bristolians to relax at lunchtimes and in the evenings. The Square hosts everything from outdoor theatre productions to live music concerts.

BRISTOL THEN AND NOW - PETER STREET - 1914 - 2001

THEN - Peter street looking towards Castle Street - This active scene gives a good impression of the bustling pre-war shopping area around St Pete's Church - On the left is Jennings the grocer - Bond & Son the hosiers and glovers and Melhuish's confectioners who also ran a cafe & restaurant plus Temperance Hotel - There were twenty other alcohol-free hotels in Bristol at the time - Intriguingly one of the signs reads ' Vegetarian Restaurant'.

NOW - St Peter's stands gutted but stable a memorial to Bristol's civilian war casualties - The landscaped park contains special areas such as a Peace Garden and Herb Garden.

BRISTOL THEN AND NOW - PRINCE STREET BRIDGE - 1948 - 2001

THEN - This swing bridge was opened in January 1879 replacing an earlier wooden bridge which itself had replaced a ferry - The tall buildings on the right are tobacco bonds which were demolished in 1988.

NOW - The bridge still swings to let craft through but they tend to be small pleasure-boats - Modern water-side flats have been built on the left of picture.

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