Bristol - Clifton

While we were in Bristol we spent a morning in Clifton, mainly because we wanted to see the suspension bridge, but also because it is an area worth exploring, as it's quite different from the rest of the city. It's a charming neighbourhood, full of stunning Georgian architecture, filled with independent shops, cafes and bars.

We were going to walk there, but we got lost and in frustration, we took a bus that deposited us

near this small street with lots of character, full of restaurants

places selling fruit and veg

and Clifton Arcade, 

which was built in the 1870s but it flopped, and became a warehouse for a furniture company before it was restored in the 1980s and 90s, rebuilt in the Italianate style the architect had originally envisaged.

with some interesting shops

including one that sold prints by

Agnes Martin

and Piet Mondrian.

Next, we went to explore Victoria Square

a square of Georgian architecture built in Bath stone

with a square of gardens in the middle.

We continued exploring the 'village',

then went on to the Royal York Crescent, perhaps the most affluent street in Bristol, the longest terrace in Europe. Construction started in 1791 but was not completed until 1820.

It's different from other Crescents I have seen, the one in Bath for instance, or the one in Leamington in that the whole terrace is built on a raised pavement over vaulted cellars

In front and below the Crescent are the gardens, that are as long as the Crescent

and on the other side of the gardens are York Gardens, 

We walked along, the Royal Crescent on our right,

 

the gardens and York Gardens on the other

when we reached the end, we went up the steps, and on to the main part of the Crescent

 

Great views of the city from here

Some of the basements have been done up really nicely

Angela Carter lived here for a while

We then moved on

Went back to where we had started from, and had lunch here.

We then continued exploring

We arrived at the Downs, a spacious public park

We were on our way to the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Bristol - the Cathedral

Bristol Cathedral was originally an abbey dedicated to St Augustine, founded in 1140 and consecrated in 1148. It became the cathedral of the new diocese of Bristol in 1542, after the dissolution of the monasteries. It is a Grade I listed building.

The vaulting is quite amazing

Very little of the original stained glass remains, with some being replaced in the Victorian era and there were further losses during the Bristol Blitz.

The most recent glass is an Abstract Expressionist interpretation of the Holy Spirit designed by Keith New in 1965 and installed here, in the South Choir

Some of the most recent stained glass is by Arnold Wathen Robinson following damage during the Bristol Blitz of 1940 and 1941. These include depictions of local Civil Defence during WWII including St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross and the fire services along with air raid wardens, police officers, the Home Guard and the Women's Voluntary Service.

A Victorian era window under the Cathedral's clock, marked 'to the glory of God and in memory of Edward Colson' was ordered to be covered in June 2020 in advance of its eventual removal. The Diocese of Bristol also decided to remove from the Cathedral other dedications to Colston after the toppling of the late 19th century statue of Colston in the city centre on 7 June 2020. The legacy of Colston and his involvement in, and profit from, the transatlantic slave trade in enslaved Africans became toxic and came to a head after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.

A late Saxon panel of the Harrowing of Hell, dating from before the Norman Conquest tat may have been carved around 1050. Following a fire in 1831, it was found being used as a coffin lid under the Chapter House floor.

Madonna and Child with Joseph by Zimbabwean artist Chinyama. (1966)

This corridor is a remnant of the cloister, a square of such passages that connected the buildings of the monastery to each other and to the church. It was rebuilt in the 15th century.

Some of the stained glass here dates form the 14th and 15th centuries.

We then moved on to the Cathedral garden

very peaceful

Refugee, Naomi Blake, 1980.

We left the garden and then heard clapping and shouting, so we went to ingestigate (see here )