1969 Bristol

1969 view of Bristol Centre & city docks

Neptune was until recent years a familiar sight at the head of St. Augustine's Reach, but was originally set up in the Temple area, near Bristol Bridge. When the bridge was being widened a clause was added into the Act for the statue to be moved to Temple Street. Later because of rebuilding a new place had to be found on some glebe land, where it stayed until 1872.

The statue was then moved to the junction of Temple Street and Victoria Street, being converted to a drinking fountain with the water flowing from the mouth of the small dolphin into cast iron bowls. There were cups attached by chains for human use and the overspill water went into bowls at the bottom of the pedestal to provide drinking water for dogs. The statue was re-erected at the Quay Head in 1949.

Following alterations to the City Centre in 1999, the much-travelled statue is now part of the new water feature in the pedestrianised area of the Centre.

1951 Festival of Britain

1951 Festival of Britain celebrations, Bristol

1951 Festival of Britain celebrations. We'd won the war five years before and in Bristol, like the rest of the country, people had had enough of the sight of damaged or unpainted buildings, a tatty city centre and an overall dowdiness. The Fifties had arrived and it was time to get Bristol and Britain moving again.

Garrick's Head, Bristol

1975 Garrick's Head, Bristol

Memories of The Garrick's Head Bristol Centre later demolished to make way for new offices, with the plain ugly Bristol & West building standing next to it. (sadly this huge towering building which is totally out of keeping with its surroundings still survives - to be turned into posh city centre flats ) 

GARRICK’S HEAD Broad Quay: No.62 Broad Quay (No.22 from around 1904). Previously the St.Patricks Tavern the Garrick’s Head was rebuilt in 1890 and was demolished in 1978 to make way for an extension to the Bristol & West building. The architect of the Garrick’s Head was Edward Gabriel who also designed the Cambridge Arms in Redland. Mathews’ Directory records the name change in 1856; however, Slaters’ Directory lists the pub as the Garrick’s Head in 1853. 

In 1978, the Bathurst Tavern was renamed the Garrick's, when the landlord of the demolished Garrick‘s Head took over the inn and hoped to keep most of his old clientele. Then, in 1982, the name was again changed to the Smugglers. - St.Patrick’s Tavern: 1828 - 30. John Fisher / 1837. Thomas Rowlin / 1839. John Jeffries / 1840. Robert Tasker 1841 to 1855. Henry Matthews in 1828, John Fisher is listed as: waterproof hat maker and wholesale & retail spirit dealer, (home brewed beer)

Garrick’s Head: 1856 - 69. Henry Matthews / 1871 - 74. Frederick Saddler / 1874. Mrs Hibbeard / 1875 - 88. George Rogers 1889. Robert Peters / 1891. Robert Smith / 1894 - 96. William Baker / 1897. George Toms 1899 -1909. William Langdon / 1914 - 17. John Colenso / 1921 - 44. John Webb / 1950 - 53. Frederick Webb 1975 A. R. Venn.

1974 Bristol city centre

1974 The Ever Changing Face of Bristol's Centre

1974 The Victorian Public Conveniences on the Centre are taken down.

Bristol Hippodrome

The Bristol Hippodrome

View of Bristol Hippodrome in the 1930s. The theatre was designed by Frank Matcham, and opened on 16 December 1912. An important feature of the theatre when it opened was a huge water tank at the front of the stage; which could be filled with 100,000 gallons (454,609.188 litres) of water. Along with the tank was a large protective glass screen which could be raised in order to protect the orchestra and those in the stalls. 

It also has a dome, which can be opened when necessary; however since air conditioning had been installed it is rarely opened. The theatre survived World War 2, however less than three years after it ended, a fire destroyed the stage — luckily the auditorium was saved. The theatre reopened about 10 months later, and there have been no other disasters as severe. 

1937 Tramway Centre, Bristol

1937 Bristol's Tramway Centre

1937 view of Bristol's Tramway Centre at a time when motor buses were beginning to replace trams. 

Bristol 1925

1925 royal visit of King George V and Queen Mary Bristol

King George V and Queen Mary drew massive crowds for their official visit to Bristol in 1925.