Saturday 22^nd June 2019

We were treated to a real spectacle this morning when no fewer than seven boats, travelling in convoy, all descended on the moorings, jostling to moor up. They had travelled across from Penarth the previous day and from Portishead this morning. Amongst them were three yachts and four cruisers, two of them huge things. One moored next to us was called “Our Eva”. She has twin 230hp engines and burns 120ltrs of fuel per day. We have used about 400 in a year.

    

 

After breakfast, we explored the Old City around the Cathedral and Park Street. While the exterior of the Cathedral is quite plain, the interior is a complete contrast and is surprisingly dramatic after viewing outside. It is a “hall” church and said to be one of the finest examples in the world; the nave, choir and aisles are all of the same height. Since buying and reading a book on “green men” sculptures found in churches, we had been looking, and found, our first one in the Lady’s Chapel.

 

                                                         Bristol Cathedral and the Green Man in the Lady’s Chapel

                                                 Cathedral, College Green and City Hall                                                           

                                                                            Park Street

College Green, outside the cathedral, is a very pleasant green area dominated on one side by the cathedral, and on the other by Bristol City Hall. We walked up Park Street with its arcades of Georgian shops and into Great George Street where we visited the Georgian House, an 18^th century West Indian merchants house, furnished in the style of the period. A fascinating place. The house was originally owned by one John Piny, a sugar trader who owned lands and slaves in the Caribbean.

Georgian House

Bristol of course, owes its 18^th and 19^th century prosperity and importance to the slave trade, along with Liverpool. Bristol at this time, was the third largest port in Britain. Bristol was a part of the “triangular trade”, whereby cheap goods were traded to African ports in exchange for slaves. These slaves were transported to American and Caribbean plantations and rich cargoes of tobacco, timber, rum, cotton and sugar were brought home. This trade has left Bristol with its rich legacy of Renaissance buildings, from wealthy merchants houses to country houses and suburban villas.

Carrying on up Great George Street we came to Brandon Hill, a park with its landscaped gardens, water features and topped by the Cabot Tower. The views from here, over the city, are stunning. We stopped in glorious sunshine enjoying the view with an artisan ice cream.

                                

                                                                          Cabot Tower on Brandon Hill                                           

                                                               Renaissance style terrace in Great Charlotte Street

By now, Harvey was flagging in the heat, so we returned, slowly, to the boat.

In the evening, we again enjoying watching all the crowds of people enjoying themselves.  

Weather: hot and a glorious evening.