Bristol Local History | The History of Bristol and Bristol Docks

Welcome to Bristol, a city steeped in history along the picturesque River Avon. From the Iron Age stronghold of Stokeleigh Camp to the founding of Sea Mills by the Romans, Bristol's evolution into a bustling medieval town with the Norman-built Bristol Castle set the stage for a storied maritime legacy.
Bristol's strategic location along the Rivers Avon and Frome facilitated both defence and global trade, connecting the town to the Bristol Channel and the vast Atlantic Ocean. Key developments, such as the creation of St Augustine’s Reach and the reconstruction of Bristol Bridge in stone around 1350, marked milestones in the city's maritime prowess.
The 13th to 19th centuries witnessed Bristol's ascent as a global trading powerhouse, engaging in commerce with countries worldwide. This era also saw the city's unfortunate involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Innovations in the early 1800s, including William Jessop's Floating Harbour and Isambard Kingdom Brunel's enhancements, revolutionized Bristol's shipping capabilities. Over time, shipping activities shifted to Avonmouth and Royal Portbury, while the docks transformed into a dynamic, multifunctional space.
Today, Bristol's docks continue to thrive as a bustling hub of activity, embodying the city's adaptability and resilience. From its historic past to its vibrant present, Bristol stands as a testament to innovation, trade, and the enduring spirit of its residents.
As we explore Bristol's rich history, take a moment to reflect on what makes you proud to call this remarkable city home.
With engaging visuals and easy-to-follow narration, this video is the perfect tool to supplement your child's understanding of local history and inspire their curiosity about the world around them.
===============================
Download our pack today - it is completely FREE and with the wide range of activities inside, you are bound to find something suitable for your class.
tpet.co.uk/dow...
Our Bristol history pack, produced in partnership with Historic England, includes everything that you need to complete a local history study in your school based on how Bristol developed as a town!
The pack is broken down into easy to follow folders so you can pick and choose which areas you wish to focus on with your class. We also provide an overarching teaching overview, so if you wanted to use the whole pack with your class, it could easily be included in your teaching and planning.
The pack covers the development of Bristol, including:
• How Bristol began.
• How Bristol was a centre for trade.
• What trade took place in Bristol.
• The history of the Bristol Docks.
• What the Bristol Docks are like today.
===============================
Teacher’s Pet is proud to be working alongside Historic England, to allow teachers in and around Bristol, to enjoy our range of Local History resources.
Who are Historic England?
Historic England protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them.
At Historic England Education we want every child to be inspired by their local heritage and every teacher to have brilliant resources to use inside and outside the classroom.
Our Heritage Schools programme aims to help school children develop an understanding of their local heritage and its significance to make sure that:
Children develop a sense of pride in where they live
Children understand their local heritage and how it relates to the national story
Teachers are more confident in making effective use of local heritage resources in delivering the curriculum
Local historic context is embedded in the school’s curriculum
Heritage providers are more connected to the needs of local schools
Parents are engaged in their children’s learning
Communities are more deeply involved in the life of the school
===============================
🐶 - WEBSITE: www.tpet.co.uk
📍 - Local History Hub: tpet.co.uk/loc...
🕹️ - ARCADE: www.tpet.co.uk...
😃 - WELLBEING: tpet.co.uk/hub...
👥 - FACEBOOK: / teacherspetuk
🐦 - TWITTER: / teacherspetuk
📸 - INSTAGRAM: / tpetuk
===============================

[@TeachersPetUK]

If you enjoyed diving into the rich tapestry of Bristol's past and are looking for more!
We offer FREE resource packs for every area we have covered so far! Whether you're a student, educator, or history enthusiast, there's something for everyone to discover.
Get your FREE Local History Pack: tpet.co.uk/local-history/bristol-history-of-the-docks/
Learn more about our Local History Project: tpet.co.uk/local-history
Feel free to leave your thoughts, questions, or suggestions in the comments below. Together, let's celebrate and preserve our local heritage!