Bristol is a thriving city at the meeting of the Rivers Frome and Avon. It has a well-documented maritime history. It hosts Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain, a replica of 15th Century ship Matthew, working shipyards and traditional boatyard skills at Underfall Yard.
For a more detailed view of Bristol's historic harbour and maritime heritage, read the report from National Historic Ships - Bristol Floating Harbour
Bristol dates from the Anglo-Saxon era. The Italian navigator John Cabot (c1450-1500) departed from Bristol to Newfoundland (1497), completing the earliest-known European exploration of coastal North America since Norse visits in the 11th century. A replica of Cabot’s Matthew was built to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the voyage, and has remained based in Bristol harbour.
While the Bristol Merchant Venturers had been founded in 1595, the city did not significantly expand until the later 17th century, seeing 6,000 tons of shipping by 1670, half of which was used for tobacco imports - by 1747, however, Bristol had become Britain’s busiest slave trading port. The 18th century also saw significant industrial and harbourside development.
With the completion of William Jessop’s Floating Harbour in 1809, and the constitution of the Bristol Docks Company, the city was increasingly at the forefront of industrial development at home, and imperial endeavours overseas. Brunel’s SS Great Western (1837) propelled Britain ahead in its competition with the United States, as the first steamship purpose-built for transatlantic crossings. It was later surpassed by the SS Great Britain (1843).
The city suffered heavy aerial bombing during the Second World War, hosting up to 300,000 American servicemen during the course of the conflict.
