Broad Street, Bristol
Encyclopedia
Broad Street, along with High Street, Wine Street and Corn Street, is one of the four original streets that have made up the city of Bristol
since Saxon
times, when it was the burgh of Brycgstow.
Prior to the building of The Exchange
merchants would set up their stalls on Broad Street. An old city gate
stands at the bottom of the street, where it joins Quay Street.
, designed and built by William Paty
in the late 18th century, a former branch
of the Bank of England
designed by Charles R Cockerell
in Greek Doric style, the Thistle Hotel, Bristol by Foster and Wood in Italian Renaissance
, the Guildhall in Gothic
style by Richard Shackleton Pope
and the Art Nouveau
Edward Everard printing works
.
The printing works features a mural designed by W J Neatby depicting Gutenberg and William Morris
, the founders of modern printing
; a woman holding objects to represent Light
and Truth
and the spirit
of Literature
. It is made from Carrara-
Ware marble
tiles.
Tailor's Court is a small side lane leading off Broad Street. Here can be seen the Merchant Tailor's Guild Hall, built in 1740. This area used to be full of lawyers' offices, but is now mostly student accommodation. The churchyard of St John the Baptist has an entrance here.
St John's Gate, which stands at the bottom of the street, is the last remaining part of the city wall, with Church of St John the Baptist
built above it. The two side passages were created in the 1820s. Niches
in the wall contain the figures Brennus
and Belinus
, according to legend they founded the city. Nearby St John's Conduit was originally built for the friary of the Carmelites
but also supplied the people of Brandon Hill
. The parishioners were allowed to use only the overflow from the system, and they took advantage of this again during the blitz
of World War II
when water mains had been damaged.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
since Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
times, when it was the burgh of Brycgstow.
Prior to the building of The Exchange
The Exchange, Bristol
The Exchange is a Grade I listed building built in 1741–43 by John Wood the Elder, on Corn Street, near the junction with Broad Street in Bristol, England...
merchants would set up their stalls on Broad Street. An old city gate
City gate
A city gate is a gate which is, or was, set within a city wall. Other terms include port.-Uses:City gates were traditionally built to provide a point of controlled access to and departure from a walled city for people, vehicles, goods and animals...
stands at the bottom of the street, where it joins Quay Street.
Notable Architecture
Going downhill from the junction with Corn Street, other notable buildings include Christ Church with St EwenChrist Church with St Ewen
Christ Church with St Ewen is a Church of England parish church in Broad Street, Bristol, England.It was built between 1786 and 1791, designed by William Paty and built by his relatives Thomas Paty and Sons, replacing a medieval one. The entrance and refurbished interior are by Henry Williams in...
, designed and built by William Paty
William Paty
William Paty was a British surveyor, architect and mason working mainly in Bristol. He was appointed City Surveyor in 1788...
in the late 18th century, a former branch
Former Bank of England, Bristol
The Former Bank of England is a historic building at 13/14 Broad Street in Bristol, England.It was built in 1844-47 by Charles Robert Cockerell...
of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
designed by Charles R Cockerell
Charles Robert Cockerell
Charles Robert Cockerell was an English architect, archaeologist, and writer.-Life:Charles Robert Cockerell was educated at Westminster School from 1802. From the age of sixteen, he trained in the architectural practice of his father, Samuel Pepys Cockerell...
in Greek Doric style, the Thistle Hotel, Bristol by Foster and Wood in Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
, the Guildhall in Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style by Richard Shackleton Pope
Richard Shackleton Pope
Richard Shackleton Pope was a British architect working mainly in Bristol. His father was a clerk of works for Sir Robert Smirke, and Pope succeeded him, also working for C.R. Cockerell...
and the Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
Edward Everard printing works
Former Everard's Printing Works
The Former Everard's Printing Works is at 37-38 Broad Street in Bristol, England.It was built in 1900 by Henry Williams, with the Pre-Raphaelite style facade by William Neatby, who was the chief designer for Doulton and Co., as the main works for the printer Edward Everard.Most the building was...
.
The printing works features a mural designed by W J Neatby depicting Gutenberg and William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, the founders of modern printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
; a woman holding objects to represent Light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
and Truth
Truth
Truth has a variety of meanings, such as the state of being in accord with fact or reality. It can also mean having fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. In a common usage, it also means constancy or sincerity in action or character...
and the spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
of Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. It is made from Carrara-
Ware marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
tiles.
Tailor's Court is a small side lane leading off Broad Street. Here can be seen the Merchant Tailor's Guild Hall, built in 1740. This area used to be full of lawyers' offices, but is now mostly student accommodation. The churchyard of St John the Baptist has an entrance here.
St John's Gate
Church of St John the Baptist, Bristol
The Church of St John the Baptist, Bristol is a former Church of England parish church at the lower end of Broad Street Bristol, England.-Design and construction:...
built above it. The two side passages were created in the 1820s. Niches
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
in the wall contain the figures Brennus
Brennius
Brennius was a legendary king of Northumberland and Allobroges, as recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was the son of Dunvallo Molmutius and brother of Belinus, probably based upon one or both of the historical Brenni.-Claimant to the throne of Britain:...
and Belinus
Belinus
Belinus the Great was a legendary king of the Britons, as recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was the son of Dunvallo Molmutius and brother of Brennius. He was probably named after the ancient god Belenus.- Earning the crown :...
, according to legend they founded the city. Nearby St John's Conduit was originally built for the friary of the Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
but also supplied the people of Brandon Hill
Brandon Hill, Bristol
Brandon Hill, also known as St Brandon's Hill, is a hill close to Bristol city centre, between the districts of Clifton and Hotwells, in south west England....
. The parishioners were allowed to use only the overflow from the system, and they took advantage of this again during the blitz
Bristol Blitz
Bristol was the fifth most heavily bombed British city of World War II. The presence of Bristol Harbour and the Bristol Aeroplane Company made it a target for bombing by the Nazi German Luftwaffe who were able to trace a course up the River Avon from Avonmouth using reflected moonlight on the...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when water mains had been damaged.