MyCity Bristol

BRISTOL FLOATING HARBOUR WAS COMPLETED IN 1809, AIMING TO INCREASE TRADE BY PROVIDING A CONSTANT WATER LEVEL TO AVOID THE TIDAL VARIATIONS OF THE RIVER AVON. TRADE HELPED INDUSTRY AROUND THE CITY DEVELOP, AS WELL AS ACROSS THE WIDER AVON VALLEY AREA, WHICH SUPPORTED SIGNIFICANT POPULATION GROWTH IN THE 19TH CENTURY. OF PARTICULAR NOTE WAS THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, WHICH WAS

Unite Students opened the first new student accommodation in converted city centre offices in central Bristol – the first of its kind in the UK – in 1991, aiding the expansion of the university and introducing student living into the city centre. There is a significant cultural component to Bristol, played out in the music scene, multiple creative festivals, Balloon Fiesta, restaurants, independent stores and art (including being the home of famed graffiti artist, Banksy). The considerable cultural capital in the city has been recognised repeatedly, being named European of the Year, Britain’s most musical city and being named as Britain’s best place to live multiple times. Bristolian innovation is also frequently highlighted, earning the crown of the UK’s smartest city in 2017, while SETSquared/ Engine Shed was the No.1 University Business Incubator globally for the third time in 2019.

Advanced manufacturing and computing companies, including IBM and Hewlett-Packard, took root in Bristol in the 1980s, alongside rapid growth in the financial services sector. Although the Bristol Blitz of WWII demolished significant parts of the city (including Broadmead, which has since been replaced with the Broadmead Shopping Centre and Cabot Circus), many older buildings and streets remain across the city, contributing to some modern-day traffic congestion through the winding alleys. Post-war development in Bristol was focused on tower blocks, some of which have since been torn down and redeveloped, and roads, with the M4 and M5 being built in 1961 and 1962, respectively. Bristol’s boundaries were moved out to incorporate some of these new schemes, expanding the city. The Royal Portbury Dock container port was opened in 1977 in Avonmouth, enabling modern shipping trade to be carried through and from the area.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel had a considerable influence on the development of the city, designing the Bristol to London Great Western Railway, Bristol Temple Meads Station and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. In addition, Brunel is also credited with the SS Great Western and SS Great Britain steamships, both of which were designed and built in Bristol. This legacy continues today, with the strength of research and innovation derived from the University of Bristol (opened in 1876), a world-leading institution in engineering and aeronautics. Bristol Aeroplane Company, which would later become BAE Systems, was founded at Filton Airfield in 1910, with their military aircraft being deployed in WWI and WWII. Engineering in Bristol continued to develop, producing Concorde and components of Airbus planes as well as cars, engines, weaponry and even satellites.

FED THROUGH IMPORTS AND AN EMERGING ENGINEERING PEDIGREE.

BRISTOL POPULATION 1801 - 2021

CONCORDE’S MAIDEN FIGHT (1969)

Population booms as tobacco, paper and engineering industries grow and the link with London strengthens

500K

THE GALLERIES OPENS (1991)

BRISTOL (LULSGATE) AIRPORT OPENS (1957)

EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL 2015

450K

400K

Import & export economy continues to flourish around the floating harbour

BRISTOL TRAM NETWORK (1875)

CABOT CIRCUS OPENS (2008)

BROADMEAD OPENS (1955)

350K

CRIBBS CAUSEWAY OPENS (1998)

300K

CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE OPENS (1864)

M4 & M5 OPENS

FILTON AIRFIELD IS LARGEST AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING FACILITY GLOBALLY (1930-1940’ S )

BRISTOL AEROPLANE

250K

BRISTOL FLOATING HARBOUR OPENS (1809)

ROYAL PORTBURY

COMPANY FOUNDED (1910)

Expansion of tech and creative industries across the city. Bristol witnesses the redevelopment of the old CBD and areas around the Floating Harbour, Broadmead, and Temple Quarter.

200K

DOCKS OPENS (1977)

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL OPENS (1876)

150K

Manufacturing boom continues through the aircraft industry

Significant post-war development of infrastructure and real estate changes Bristol's landscape

100K

BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS STATION & LINE TO LONDON COMPLETED (1840)

50K

1801

1851

1911

1971

2011

2021

SOURCE: GB HISTORICAL GIS / UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH, A VISION OF BRITAIN THROUGH TIME

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MYCITY / BRISTOL |