Stop 16 - Bristol Bridge
Stop 16: Bristol Bridge. The original crossing that gave the city its Saxon name. Views of the Floating Harbour, Castle Park and the 1793 bridge riot memorial.
Bristol gets its name from Bristol Bridge - specifically, from an Anglo-Saxon crossing of the Frome at this point, called Brycgstow, “the place of the bridge.” The current bridge is the fifth on the site; it opened in 1768, widened in the 1870s, and was the scene of a serious civic riot in 1793 when the corporation tried to reintroduce tolls after promising they were finished.
What to see
The bridge itself is plain three-arched sandstone, best seen from the west (the Redcliffe side) looking north across the water to Castle Park. In the middle of the pavement, set into the stone, you will find the 1793 bridge riot plaque marking the events of 29th September that year, when eleven people were shot dead by the militia.
Stand on the bridge and you can see most of the working harbour - the quays east to Castle Park and the Galleries, the Arnolfini and We The Curious to the west, and the tall spire of St Mary Redcliffe just to the south.
How long to stay
Fifteen minutes - this is a passing stop, but one with genuinely good views in every direction.
Nearby stops
- Stop 15 - Castle Park is one minute north across the traffic.
- Stop 17 - Victoria Street is two minutes east.
- Stop 19 - St Mary Redcliffe is three minutes south.
Practical info
Step-free pavements on both sides. Traffic is heavy; cross using the signals rather than attempting the kerb directly. Nearest public toilets at the Galleries (three minutes) and St Mary Redcliffe (three minutes).
