roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
Lived near Bristol for 40 years. Nice place, but pretty much off the radar most of the time. So, three things that might surprise you about my adopted home city; look forward to similar!
1. Bristol invented America. Seriously. John Cabot first discovered America about 400 years ago, sailing from Bristol, and it was named after the then bishop of Bristol, A M Ercia. His family coat of arms is pretty much identical to the Stars & Stripes.
2. Despite being seen as pretty genteel kind of place, Bristols wealth was based on fags, booze and slavery. It was the largest importer of all three, until the ships got too big to navigate the River Avon, and the trade was switched, primarily, to Liverpool. It was also a Bristol MP who instigated the abolition of the slave trade.
3. The outside filming of "Only fools & horses" were filmed in Bristol, not London. Nelson Mandela House is actually a tower block next to Ashton Gate!
And both footie teams are pants!
1. Bristol invented America. Seriously. John Cabot first discovered America about 400 years ago, sailing from Bristol, and it was named after the then bishop of Bristol, A M Ercia. His family coat of arms is pretty much identical to the Stars & Stripes.
2. Despite being seen as pretty genteel kind of place, Bristols wealth was based on fags, booze and slavery. It was the largest importer of all three, until the ships got too big to navigate the River Avon, and the trade was switched, primarily, to Liverpool. It was also a Bristol MP who instigated the abolition of the slave trade.
3. The outside filming of "Only fools & horses" were filmed in Bristol, not London. Nelson Mandela House is actually a tower block next to Ashton Gate!
And both footie teams are pants!
