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| Floating harbours from Redcliffe |
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| Dynamic quays |
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| Queen Bess |
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| Giant tooth pick souvenir |
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| Gabled mariner's tavern |
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| Old, new and indifferent styles in Bristol docklands |
We made a brisk visit to the world renowned port city of Bristol in the west country. There is much to see and do around the miles of canals, docks and floating harbours ~ all linked to the mighty River Avon. It was interesting to see Broadland built craft berthed in the city. A number of boats lay on long term residential berths, albeit strictly regulated by the city council's harbour office. Art works ancient, modern and quirky can be found dotted around Bristol and original Banksy works are a highlight.
Walking along the leafy wharves, a series of barges are seen docked centrally where folk can dine, wine and dance. Other important historical craft are visitor attractions in their own right ~ the looming iron riveted steam ship GREAT BRITAIN ~ celebrated as a pioneering ocean liner and the MATTHEW, an imaginatively new build ship of the Venetian born explorer John Cabot. Revolving ferry boats ~ some tiller steered, ply the waterways and connect thrusting glass fronted business quarters like Temple to the older city wharves and rejunvated warehouses.
One of several places well worth seeing, the Parish Church of St Mary Redcliffe looms over the historic harbour. Packed with sublime relics ~ few secular museums can boast a Tudor suit of armour belonging to a founder governor of a North American state, a whale bone probably presented to the city by Cabot himself and a superb lifesize moulded half figure of Queen Elizabeth I, who is said to have described St Mary's as the finest parish church in the land.
Round the corner from the 'sailor's church', legend tells of Edward Thatch, later known as Blackbeard (the renowned pirate buccaneer), hiding his loot in the old 'red cliff caves.' New research has revealed Blackbeard's character as a violent, murdering thug was actually contrived by the authorities to justify their hunt for him across the seas. Piracy takes many surprising forms...
One of the original timber buildings of Bristol, the Llangoer Trow (sadly empty at present) was a meeting place of mariners. It is said Daniel Defoe met Alexander Selkirk in this, or a neighbouring tavern and heard 'from the horse's mouth' the real life story of being marooned on a distant Pacific island, following a calamitous ship wreck. Defoe published the thrilling pioneer novel, based on this personal encounter with Selkirk in 1719 ~ Robinson Crusoe has fascinated for three centuries.
The port of Great Yarmouth features in the opening chapter of the book, when Crusoe, a rebellious son of a York merchant embarks on his perilous journey.
Literary Norfolk describes the story thus:
Great Yarmouth also provides the starting point for Robinson Crusoe's journey in Defoe's famous adventure story. The eponymous hero is anchored in Yarmouth Roads awaiting a favourable wind. The Yarmouth Roads is a stretch of (usually) safe water which lies just off the coast - slightly inshore of Scroby Sands. After leaving Yarmouth Roads, Crusoe's ship is then wrecked in a storm off Winterton but he makes it to the shore in a lifeboat and then walks back to Yarmouth. Robinson Crusoe was published in 1719 is often regarded as the first English novel.
'The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the wind having been contrary, and the weather calm, we had made but little way since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to an anchor, and here we lay, the wind continuing contrary, viz., at southwest, for seven or eight days, during which time a great many ships from Newcastle came into the same Roads...'
19th September is the world wide Speak Like a Pirate Day ~ join in the jollification in Hoveton.
Chris
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