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Port of Bristol

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	Topics Port of Bristol Topic Home The Port of Bristol comprises the commercial, and former commercial, docks situated in and near the city of BristolBristol Bristol is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles west of London and located at ... in EnglandEngland England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom.... . The Port of Bristol Authority was the commercial title of the Bristol City, Avonmouth, Portishead and Royal Portbury Docks when they were operated by Bristol City CouncilPolitics of Bristol Summary The city of Bristol, England, is a unitary authority, represented by four Members of Parliament.... , which ceased trade when the Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks were leased to The Bristol Port Company in 1991. History For more information on the history of the different dock complexes, see Bristol HarbourBristol Harbour Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England.... , Avonmouth DocksAvonmouth Docks The Avonmouth Docks are part of the Port of Bristol, in England.... , PortisheadPortishead, Somerset Summary Portishead is a coastal town in North Somerset, England.... and Royal Portbury DockRoyal Portbury Dock The Royal Portbury Dock is part of the Port of Bristol, in England.... . The Port of Bristol grew up on the banks of the Rivers AvonRiver Avon, Bristol The River Avon is a river in the south west of England.... and FromeRiver Frome, Bristol Summary The River Frome is a river in South Gloucestershire.... , at their confluence upstream of the Avon GorgeAvon Gorge The Avon Gorge is a 2.5km long gorge on the River Avon in Bristol, South West England.... which connects the city with the Bristol ChannelBristol Channel The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from South West England and exte... . This part of the port was known as the Bristol City Docks, and is now more usually known as Bristol HarbourFacts About Bristol Harbour Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England.... . In the 1800s it was enclosed by locks, together with a diversion of the River Avon, resulting in its alternative name of the Floating Harbour. The navigation of the Avon Gorge always presented a challenge, and became more and more difficult as ships got larger. In 1877, Avonmouth Old Dock, the first of the Avonmouth DocksAvonmouth Docks The Avonmouth Docks are part of the Port of Bristol, in England.... , was opened, and in 1884 the Bristol Corporation acquired both the Avonmouth and PortisheadPortishead, Somerset Portishead is a coastal town in North Somerset, England.... Docks. In 1908 the Royal Edward Dock was built at Avonmouth to the north of the mouth of the River Avon and with direct access to the Severn estuaryRiver Severn The River Severn is the longest British river, at 354 kilometres long; it rises at an altitude of 610 metres on Plynlimon ... and Bristol ChannelBristol Channel Summary The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from South West England and exte... . In 1972 the large deep water Royal Portbury DockRoyal Portbury Dock The Royal Portbury Dock is part of the Port of Bristol, in England.... , across the river mouth from the Royal Edward Dock was constructed, again with direct access to the Bristol Channel. These developments rendered the old Bristol City Docks in the Floating Harbour redundant as a commercial dock, and they have since been redeveloped as the centrepiece of many leisure, residential and retail developments in and around Bristol city centreBristol city centre The central area of the city of Bristol, South West England, is the area south of the central ring road and north of the Flo... . A sand company was the last to use the docks commercially in 1981. The closure of the power stations at Portishead also made the Portishead Dock redundant, and it was finally closed in 1992. In 1991 The Bristol Port Company, a private company, purchased a 150 year lease of the Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks from Bristol City Council. Since then over £330m has been invested in the docks and the annual tonnage throughput has increased from 4m tonnes to 12m tonnes. External links Sources retrieved on 29 March 2005 at 15:08 BST.