Bristol Attractions, England

St Mary Redcliffe
When Queen Elizabeth I visited Bristol in 1574 she described St Mary Redcliffe as "the fairest parish church in England". Begun in the 13th century and paid for by wealthy merchants, the church is situated on the south side of the Floating Harbor. It takes its name from the red cliffs on which it stands. The spire, 290ft/88m high, is a 19th century addition. The interior is of enchanting elegance with its tall arches, slender clustered pillars and reticulated vaulting. Particularly fine is the hexagonal north porch, with its richly decorated doorway. The wealth and splendor of the church is due to one of the richest merchants of the day, William Canynge, whose tomb can be seen in the south transept. He is commemorated at a special service on Whit Sunday. Also to be found in the church are the memorial tablet and tomb of Admiral Sir William Penn, father of the William Penn who founded Pennsylvania in the USA.
It was in the muniment room of St Mary Redcliffe that Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770) claimed to have discovered the poems of an unknown monk named Rowley, poems which he had in fact written himself. The boy poet, born in nearby Redcliffe Way, committed suicide at eighteen. There is a monument to him northeast of the church.

Trinity Cathedral
The most splendid feature of the church is the choir (rebuilt in 1298), a structure of inspired lightness displaying an entirely new feeling for space. The choir stalls are modern but have misericords of about 1520. There are two Lady Chapels, one in Early English style (1210-20) adjoining the north transept and a later one (1298-1330) at the east end, still with its original altarpiece and 14th century windows. In the south aisle are unusual stellate tombs containing the remains of various distinguished abbots. The Berkeley Chapel contains a rare 15th century brass chandelier.

Llandoger Trow
The most famous of Bristol harbor area's many bars and taverns is the triple gabled, half timbered Llandoger Trow in King Street, built in 1669. Here Alexander Selkirk is said to have told the story of his shipwreck to Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), who immortalized it in "Robinson Crusoe". The Llandoger Trow was also the model for the "Admirable Benbow", the inn frequented by Long John Silver in "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94). Carefully restored in 1991 the tavern is linked by an underpass to the Theatre Royal on the opposite side of the street.

Clifton Suspension Bridge (photo - left)
No visitor should leave Bristol without seeing the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. It spans the 260ft/80m deep Avon Gorge on the west side of the limestone plateau known as Clifton Down and Durdham Down. Measuring 702ft/214m between the piers the bridge was completed in 1864, 33 years after Brunel (died 1859) had first submitted his prize winning plans.

Floating Harbor
Nowadays the bigger freighters and passenger vessels are built further downstream, at large modern yards in Avonmouth and Portbury on the Severn estuary. The old Port of Bristol on the Avon has been given a new and imaginative lease of life, with many wharves and warehouses converted or restored. Traditionally known as the Floating Harbor it is now an area full of delightful surprises.

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