Bristol, Gloucestershire


Kearsley's Traveller's Entertaining Guide through Great Britain (1803)

In wealth, trade and population this city and seaport has long been reckoned the second in this kingdom. It is seated at the confluence of the Avon with the Frome. The tide rising to a great height in these narrow rivers brings vessels of considerable burden to the quay, which extends along the inner shores of the Frome and Avon; but at low water they lie aground. Bristol has eighteen churches, besides its cathedral, the most remarkable is St Mary Radcliffe, one of the finest in the kingdom. It has a prodigious trade. Here are fifteen glass-houses and the sugar refinery is one of its principal manufactures. The hot wells are much frequented; they are of great purity, have obtained a high reputation in the treatment of consumptive cases, and are about a mile from the city. In St Vincent's rock, above this well, are found those native crystals,so well known by the name of Bristol stones. In the college-green stands a stately high cross of Gothic structure, decorated with the effigies of several of the kings of England. They use sledges instead of carts, because the vaults of common sewers will not admit them. The wells, which were raised in the reign of William II have been long demolished; but there are several gates yet standing. It became a bishop's seat in the reign of Henry the Eight.

Inns: Bush, White Lion, White Hart, Talbot.

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Quotations
 Chapter 22 
What she was, must be uncertain; but who she was, might be found out; and setting aside the £10,000 it did not appear that she was at all Harriet's superior. She brought no name, no blood, no alliance. Miss Hawkins was the youngest of the two daughters of a Bristol -- merchant, of course, he must be called; but, as the whole of the profits of his mercantile life appeared so very moderate, it was not unfair to guess the dignity of his line of trade had been very moderate also. Part of every winter she had been used to spend in Bath; but Bristol was her home, the very heart of Bristol; for though the father and mother had died some years ago, an uncle remained -- in the law line -- nothing more distinctly honourable was hazarded of him, than that he was in the law line; and with him the daughter had lived. Emma guessed him to be the drudge of some attorney, and too stupid to rise. And all the grandeur of the connection seemed dependent on the elder sister, who was very well married, to a gentleman in a great way, near Bristol, who kept two carriages! That was the wind-up of the history; that was the glory of Miss Hawkins.
 Chapter 32 
The rich brother-in-law near Bristol was the pride of the alliance, and his place and his carriages were the pride of him.
 Chapter 32 
Many a time has Selina said, when she has been going to Bristol, 'I really cannot get this girl to move from the house. I absolutely must go in by myself, though I hate being stuck up in the barouche-landau without a companion
 

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