'Walking History - 13 Fascinating Walks in Central Bristol' - a pack of 13 walks around little known parts of the old city, South Bristol and Clifton. Some end where others begin so can be done in sequence. They range from an easy stroll to longer walks with hills. Roads are avoided where possible. Original research is included with hand drawn maps and travel information. Walks as follows:
1. Round the Castle - The eastern part of Castle Park including St Peter's church, castle ruins and water gate as shown on the city seal.
2. Norman Town - The western part of Castle Park including the bridge and St Mary le Port ruins
3. Merchants' Town - Small St and Broad St
4. Georgian city - Corn st to Queen Square
5. Follow the Tide - Bristol Bridge along the Floaitng Harbour, the Grove, to the Centre
6. God's Many Houses - From Quakers' Friars up Christmas Steps then down to St Mary on the Quay.
7. Long Way to Mary - Bristol Bridge to St Mary Redcliffe
8. Mary's Mother John - St Mary Redcliffe to St John's, Bedminster via Victoria Park
9. Passport to Bemmie - Redcliffe along the Cut to Cumberland Basin
10. Harbour and Hotwells - Nova Scotia along Pill cycle path
11. Georgian Heights & Victorian Landmarks - Central Library via Great George St to Royal Fort
12. Up to the Downs - Suspension Bridge via Promenade to Water Tower
13. Wasteland to Wealth - Apsley Road round back streets to top Blackboy Hill
Sample text from walk no.5, 'Follow the Tide' "The original port of Bristol was upstream from the present bridge. In the middle ages, large merchants houses lined the tidal riverfront so ships could unload direct to their store rooms. The southern parishes of Temple and St Thomas grew rich on the wool trade and by the 13th century the port was running out of space. In 1237 the River Frome was diverted through Canon's Marsh, providing a massive increase in quay space, and a four arch stone bridge was built across the Avon to join the southern parishes to the main city, and new charters extended equal rights to their citizens.
The discovery of the New World meant ships began travlling further to had to be bigger. Instead of lowering their masts to pass under the bridge, they increasingly moored downstream. When the bridge was rebuilt in the 1760s the quays were again becoming crowded and one of the debates was whether to make a single arch to allow ships to go upstream. The choice of 3 arches suggests the argument was already settled. Welsh trows and small coastal vessels continued to unload at what is now Welsh Back. The main oceangoing ships moored at the Grove and the Centre".
Published August 2005, in Bristol & South Gloucestershire libraries, Tourist Information @ Bristol, Bristol Record Office, Stationery World on Park St, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Circle Books on North St Bedminster, Grant Bradley Gallery, Taunton Leisure Bedminster Pde, The Book Cupboard, Horfield; David Simon Gallery, F1 Gifts, St Luke's Rd, Bloom & Curl Colston St; Stanfords, Clare St
or mail order £4 to PO Box 2460, Bristol BS3 9WP.
ISBN NO. 978-0-9551010-0-7
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