Bristol

Bristol - Legends, Pre-history and the Romans

The original city was built on the flat areas between the Rivers Avon and Frome. It has since grown to encompass the surrounding hills, which incidentally protect us from the worst of the weather. Summer Hill in Totterdown is one of the steepest roads in the UK.

To the South lay the hills of Dundry, then the Mendip Hills. To the East the River Avon flows on to Bath. The ground rises again to the North of the city, but to the West the Avon cuts its way through the limestone of the Avon Gorge on its way to the Bristol Channel some six miles away.

In the distance you can see the industrial complex of Avonmouth ~ about 6 miles away. The hills in the far distance are across the Bristol Channel, in Wales.

There was a quarry at Black Rocks where "Bristol Diamonds", a type of quartz, were once mined. Two thousand of them were presented to King James I (1603 - 1625) as decorations.

Millions of years ago, when this part of the British Isles was under the sea a thick layer of Limestone was laid on top of red Sandstone. Other deposits were laid on top of the Limestone. Then came a period of great upheaval and an 'upfold' was formed. The top of this upfold was gradually eroded away.

Around 8,000 BC the last of the glaciers in what was to become Britain disappeared and around 3,000 years later (5,000 BC) Britain became an island when the melting ice sheets severed the land connection with the rest of mainland Europe.

The Avon, when young wasn't the slow moving tidal stream it is now but a powerful torrent that would not be stopped by the outcrop of limestone. The river gradually wore away at the rock eventually forming the 300 feet deep gorge that is the seaward entrance to the city.

That's the (almost) scientific progression - the REAL reason is far more romantic . . .

Long ago, when the world was young, it was inhabited by a race of giants. Living in the area that would become Bristol were two brothers, Goram and Vincent. Vincent was industrious and hard-working whilst his brother was gluttonous and lazy.

Goram suggested that they build a huge mound of rocks and bones as a lasting monument to themselves. Vincent should provide the rocks whilst Goram would provide the bones from his feasting.

Vincent refused but suggested that they build a wonderful channel for a river. Vincent started on his project and was progressing well, whilst Goram watched. It became evident to Goram that his brothers name would live forever whilst his would be forgotten so he decided to build a rival gorge about three miles from Vincents.

Being a lazy fellow he had no pickaxe of his own so borrowed Vincents. The first thing Goram did was to hew a chair for himself so that he may rest from his labours.

In order that they both share the pickaxe the brothers arranged that they should a shout a warning to eachother then throw the pickaxe the three miles between them. This worked well until one day Goram fell asleep in his chair. Vincent shouted a warning and hurled his pickaxe.

Goram, fast asleep, never heard the warning and the result was that the pickaxe hit him in the head and split his skull, killing him. Vincent was filled with remorse and worked even harder. The channel that we know today as the Avon Gorge was soon finished. But, Vincent could still not rest easy. According to the legend he then formed the stone circle at Stanton Drew, then built another at Stonehenge. Still not having felt he had attoned for his brothers death he swam to Ireland and built the Giant's Causeway.

By now Vincent was worn out through his labours and he returned home to spend the last few hours of his life sat upon the rocks of his gorge.

If you think this is a bit fanciful, then think on the fact that the stone circles at Stanton Drew and Stonehenge still exist, as does the Giant's Causeway. Also, if the legend isn't true, why should the resting place of Vincent still be called Vincent Rocks? The chair that Goram cut for himself is still there in the grounds of Blaise Castle, as is the Giant's Soapdish.

There is another legend concerning the fate of the giants. Goram and Vincent both fell in love with the beautiful Avona. To decide which was to marry her they were given the task of draining a huge lake. Goram fell asleep during the task and Vincent won the hand of the fair lady. Goram, broken hearted, threw hmself into the River Severn and drowned. Today, the River Avon is named after Avona and the remains of Goram's head and shoulder can be seen as the islands Steep Holm and Flat Holm in the Severn.

If you think that the legends of Goram and Vincent are a bit fanciful then you haven't heard the one about the two British kings that built Bristol. A long time ago there lived a king, Malmutius and his queen, Conwenna. These had two sons, Brennus and Belinus. On Malmutius's death the kingdom was split, Brennus got the north of the country, Belinus the south. Brennus was furious as the north was harsh and mountainous, whilst Belinius had the fertile south. They raised armies and were ready to do battle when their mother, Conwenna, suggested that the share the whole of the kingdom between them. This they agreed to do, Brennus came south and built "the place of the bridge", our very own Bristol. According to the legend the Romans knew the settlement between the rivers Avon and Frome as Caer Bren or the "City of Brennus". If you don't believe me then you can go and look at their statues for yourself. They are built into the wall either side of arch of St,John's Gate in Broad Street. There is a bit of a problem with these statues though as they both carry crucifixes, but they are supposed to have lived a long time before Christ.

Before the Romans arrived the original Britons lived in tribes, who built forts made up of a ditch, a bank and then a wall or palisade. Several of these earthworks can still be found in and around Bristol. There are three in the area of Clifton and the Suspension Bridge. There is one near the observatory tower on the Clifton side. One on the other side of the Bridge at Burgh Walls. These aren't particularly well preserved, although the outlines of them can still be seen. The third, in Leigh Woods and known as Stokeleigh, however, is a good example.

Other examples can be seen in the pre-christian burial mounds at Kings Weston and Lockleaze. There is also evidence of early settlement at Portbury, Winterbourne and Oldland Common.

Others can be found at Blaise Castle. There has been evidence of human habitation here for around 5,000 years.