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Bristol Bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bristol Bridge | |
 Bristol Bridge taken from Castle Park |
|
| Carries | motor vehicles |
|---|---|
| Crosses | Bristol Harbour/River Frome |
| Locale | Bristol |
| Maintained by | Bristol City Council |
| Opening date | 1768 |
Bristol Bridge is an old bridge over the River Avon, Bristol, UK, now part of the floating harbour.
The original bridge was a mediaeval wooden structure that had both its sides lined with houses. A seventeenth century illustration shows that these were five stories high, including the attic rooms, and that they overhung the river much as Tudor houses would overhang the street.[1] At the time of the Civil War the bridge was noted for its community of goldsmiths, who may have been attracted by the unusually secure premises.[1] Its population was also perceived to be strongly parliamentarian.[1]
In the 1760 a bill to replace the bridge was carried through parliament by the Bristol MP Sir Jarrit Smyth.[2] The commission accepted the design of James Bridges and the bridge was built by Thomas Paty between 1763 and 1768. Resentment at the tolls exacted to cross the new bridge occasioned the Bristol Bridge Riot of 1793.
The bridge is now a grade II listed building.[3]
- ^ a b c Lynch, John (1999) For King & Parliament, ISBN 0-7509-2021-1, p. 10
- ^ Bantock, Anton (2004) Ashton Court, ISBN 0-7524-3213-3, p. 29
- ^ Bristol Bridge. Images of England. Retrieved on December 22, 2006.
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