Christmas Steps Bristol

During my visit to Bristol I went to Christmas Steps. This is a steep narrow street just outside the city walls. It's a very old street and originally the river would have been close to the bottom of the hill. Barrels were rolled down the hill to be loaded onto ships. The steps were put in place in 1669, which will have put a stop to rolling barrels. Where the name 'Christmas Steps' came from nobody knows, it used to be known as 'Queene Street' in Medieval days. Then it became 'Knifesmyth Street' after the trade in the area, I think that means people made swords and knives there. Years ago it was full of pubs. At the bottom is a very old building dating back to 13th C and in it is a very old fish and chip shop, supposedly one of the first to open in England.

Near the bottom of Christmas Steps I met this man and his horse. I told him how to get to the top of the steps without going up the steps themselves. His horse wasn't keen on climbing the steps.

William Tyndale

After chatting with Cary Grant I saw William Tyndale. Tyndale is famous for translating the Bible into English. This was forbidden at the time so he had to go into hiding. He was writing as English was changing from Middle English to Early Modern English. He created new words and coined a lot of phrases still in use. He came up with "under the sun", "signs of the time", "pour out one's heart" and "Go the extra mile". With out him it looks like song writers and management consultants would be stuck for things to say. In this photo he was telling me he is working on a new translation of the Bible. I asked about any dragons, maybe for a Welsh language version. I'm not sure he speaks Welsh. I had to be careful with breathing out fire when I was with him though. Aside from setting fire to his book he seemed a bit scared of flames. Can't think why.

Cary Grant

When not being swamped by Gromits I got a chance to meet Cary Grant. He's originally from Bristol. Though his real name's Archibald Leach. I suppose Archibald isn't really an actors name. I can't think of any actors called Archibald. It is Captain Haddocks first name, not sure if he counts as an actor though. In his hand you can see the script I gave him. It's about a good looking, funny, sophisticated, suave and charming dragon. I would play the lead and he would have a supporting role. He said he would think about it, so I mentioned when I met Humphrey Bogart in Bruges. He got a bit more interested then.

Gromit Unleashed Bristol - Last Two

Outside St Mary Redcliffe for this Gromit. The oldest part of this church dates back to 1185. The rest of it was built over a period of a couple of hundred years. In 1446 the spire was struck by lightning and fell, damaging the interior of the church. The spire was rebuilt in 1872 to a height of 292', making it one of the tallest in the country.

Not far from St Mary Redcliffe, outside a hotel, is another Gromit. This Gromit is called 'Blazing Saddles'. Designed by a local illustrator and designer Carys-ink. Not that's her real name. I suppose I should have sat in the saddle as one is there but I went for the little cowboy hat instead.

Unleashed Gromit Roaming Bristol

On board The Matthew. This is a replica of of the ship John Cabot sailed in when he discovered Newfoundland in 1497. This makes him the first European to reach North America, after the Vikings. He had set sail to find a new trade route to Asia for Henry VII. He was rewarded by Henry with £10 - a lot more money than than now. He set off again with five ships in 1498 and was never heard of again. Though some people think he did make it back to England.

This replica was built in during the 1990's to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Cabots voyage. She sailed under the Clifton Suspension bridge in 1996 having taken two years to build. She is 78' long and 20' 6" in the beam. The keel is 48' and this has to be made from one piece of wood. As there were no English Oaks available at this length African hardwood was used for the replica. At the waterline she is 62' long. She is moored in Bristol harbour and is open to visitors and she makes regular trips.

Now to Thunderbolt Square. This is a new square and was built as of the restoration of Queens Square. The council got the name from Thunderbolt Street. A street on an old map of Bristol and said to be the shortest street in Bristol.

Unleashed Gromits Still in Bristol

A few Gromits are in the shopping centres. This is in the new Cabot Cove, oh sorry Cabot Circus, shopping centre. It's quite large and connects with another shopping centre. I say new but its been open five years now. I did look for Jessica Fletcher but I couldn't find her. Probably busy investigating the death of yet another nephew or cousin, not enough time for shopping.

Back over in the harbour area now. I'm by Arnolfini which is an arts centre in an old tea warehouse. It has all manner of things going on here - art exhibitions, music, dance and poetry readings. On the plus side it has a cafe bar that serves wine! There is water on three sides at this point and a swing bridge to get to the other side of the harbour. On the other side of the harbour are four old cranes, at least one still works, and the Pyronaut, a fireboat. She was built in 1934 and retired in 1972. She was sold with plans to convert it to a diving boat, which never went ahead, and sold again with plans to move her to Ireland. This didn't happen either and she got sold to Bristol City Museum where she was restored. She travelled to London in 2012 to take part in the Queens Jubilee Pageant. Though she went by road.

Gromit Still Unleashed in Bristol

Not far from Cascade Steps is this Gromit. He is dressed as a super hero. He still can't fly though, unlike me, as you need wings, not a cape or a leotard. Otherwise the sky would be full of people going to their latest keep fit craze. Which wouldn't be nice for me and my fellow dragons.

Over to St Nicholas Market now. There has been a market here since 1743. The building Gromit is in is the Corn Exchange. Not that it was ever used exclusively as a corn exchange. It was used by all different types of merchants. Initially it didn't have a roof over the internal courtyard as the traders weren't used to trading indoors. Around 100 years later they changed their minds and a roof was put on. It's the last surviving exchange building from the 18th C as the other two, in Liverpool and London, burnt down. There's a market here and in the surrounding streets every day.