City Design Group
Archaeology – Bristol in the Middle Ages
Introduction
By 1066, when records and
archaeological evidence become
more plentiful, Bristol was an
important place. It was a major base
in the war for the Crown following
Henry I’s death in 1135. King Stephen
was imprisoned in Bristol castle in
1141. The centre of medieval Bristol
was the High Cross at the junction of
Corn Street and Broad Street. The
city was enclosed by massive stone
walls and spread between:
•
College Green in the west
•
Old Market to the east and
Redcliffe to the south. City Design Group
Shaping Quality Places
Bristol Bridge, lined with houses,
carried traffic across the river Avon
to Redcliffe.
Outside the town walls were
monasteries extending from the
Cathedral (then St. Augustine's
Abbey) to Broadmead.
The river Frome was diverted from its
original course in the 1240s to create
St. Augustine's Reach. This became
the centre of Bristol's dockside until
the nineteenth century.
For further information please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Tel:
0117 9223044
1
City Design Group
Archaeology – Bristol in the Middle Ages
Grand houses as a result of
trade
Richly decorated parish
churches and chapels
The port traded with many countries
including Ireland, (where
archaeologists often find Bristolmade pottery), France and Spain.
Bristol ships carried goods made in
the city and brought in from the
wider region. Redcliffe, for example,
was a centre for cloth finishing and
excavations. Remains of some of the
plants used to dye the cloth have
been found.
Bristol's parish churches and chapels
were also very richly decorated, with
wall paintings, ornate hangings and
plate. Several have been rebuilt,
damaged or destroyed since the
middle ages but others survive.
Trade generated huge wealth and
Bristol's merchants built large and
highly decorated houses. The
merchant William Canynges had a
large house in Redcliff Street
overlooking the river. It was
described in 1480 as having a "fine
tower" and "4 windows called Bay
windows, most ornate, like the
rooms." Part of the north wall of the
house, with a freestone arcade still
exists. Elements of other medieval
houses also survive, notably in High
Street.
City Design Group
Shaping Quality Places
Medieval Bristol was surrounded by
other settlements. Bedminster was a
substantial place in its own right.
Medieval villages at Westbury-onTrym, Clifton, Stapleton and
Brislington are also now part of the
urban area.
For further information please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Tel:
0117 9223044
2