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Bristol's Maritime Heritage

In the 18th century, Bristol was the second largest port in the country. Now used mainly for leisure and recreation, the city docks still retain the character and charm of their maritime past.

The history of Bristol as a port stretches back over many centuries, with Bristol being listed in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 1051 as a port trading with Ireland. Over the years, the course of two rivers were diverted and a Floating Harbour was constructed to meet the needs of the city's flourishing port.

The huge tides of the Avon had always caused problems to ships docking in Bristol. Ships would creak and groan at the ebb and flow and timbers were often damaged. But Bristol-built ships were very sturdy with everything tied down hence the saying, 'shipshape and Bristol fashion'.

Bristol Industrial Museum is housed in the last transit sheds of the old city docks, and containing numerous artifacts from Bristol's industrial past. The Great Western steamship was built in this part of the harbour and launched in 1837, when she became the first of Brunel's passenger ships to travel between England and New York.

Brunel's ss Great Britain was the first iron, propellant-driven ship to cross the Atlantic. Built in Bristol and launched in 1843, this magnificent ship made voyages to New York and Australia and was used during the Crimean war. After being abandoned in the Falkland Islands, she became a store ship before being brought back to Bristol and restored in 1970. The ship is now open to the public and can be visited in her original dry dock.