I've just moved to Bristol, England- does this city have as rich a history as London?

Question

When I was a small boy I grew up in London and loved researching the city's history, particularly the darker aspects; crime, punishment, riots, controversy etc.

Then I moved with my family to deepest, darkest Dorset. I've just left home and ended up in Bristol, with a flat just off of Gloucester Road (the Horfield end).

First off, I know Bristol has a very, very rich history- but how does it shape up compared to London? Does it have the same dark roots that I could explore? I presume the slave trade is a good place to start, but apparently the woods near Horfield were also a favourite hideout for robbers and highwaymen back in the old days. Which is the best library in Bristol to conduct this sort of research, and whereabouts is there that I can visit in the flesh?

Please note, I'm after the city's darker history. Anything relating to famous crimes here, press-gangers, massacres, notorious riots or prisons, plagues, red-light districts. I just love researching this side of things to see the foundations that our modern world is built on, and I like connecting with the ghosts of a forgotten past.

Any serious help welcome!

Answer 1

From the slave trade to today, Bristol certainly has its fare share of dark history. It might be interesting to trace the links between the shady slave trade to the swanky buildings that were built with the profits. Some would say that Bristol is still quite segregated along race lines, possibly more so than London.

More recently, Bristol has suffered from racial tension with race riots in the St Paul's area and a rising crime rate in general.

I mention these things because you're interested in the darker side of Bristol. However, it's also a lively and creative city with an excellent short film festival!

Answer 2

Well, like a lot of English coastal places, Bristol had a part to play in the slave trade.

I think every place has as rich a history as London. It's just that London gets more than its fair share of attention.

Answer 3

Like you, I've moved from the South-East to the South-West and I love both London and Bristol. Bristol is very much like a miniature version of London and has its share of interesting history.

The slave trade would be a place to start. Another area I'd look into would be press gangs that had the power to recruit people against their will to join the navy.

I'm more interested in technological and social history of a positive type but I understand your interest because it often requires more research because the records are often well hidden.

Bristol Central Library is just off College Green. I'd start there because even if not the best place, the librarians will be able to advise you where to look.

Answer 4

Just like London, the City of Bristol was very much involved with the Slave Trade.  But there's more to Bristol to find and dig up.

You could make a start with this brief history of Bristol, which seems to suggest that the city started life as an Anglo-Saxon settlement - which I find hard to believe, considering it's proximity to Wales.  But, who am I, a mere Welsh London to argue.

http://www.localhistories.org/bristol.ht...

This next link gets you a whole page load of links to Bristol.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=na...

Bristol Blue Glass - history of etc.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=na...

Bristol city links

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=na...