Bristol Place Study: Geography, History, and Identity

How far is Bristol from London?

Bristol is located about 120 miles west of London.

What rivers converge at Bristol?

Bristol is at the confluence of the Rivers Avon and Frome.

What is the area of Bristol?

110 square km

What is the population of Bristol?

467,099

What is the significance of Bristol in Europe?

Bristol was the first British city to be named European Green Capital.

What is Bristol's modern economy built on?

Creative media, technology, electronics and aerospace industries.

When was the original town of Bristol listed in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle?

1051

What was Bristol's role in trade according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle?

A port trading regularly with Ireland.

When did Bristol's involvement with Transatlantic slavery peak?

Between 1730 and 1745

What was Bristol's status during the peak of Transatlantic slavery?

It became the leading slaving port.

Describe Bristol's port size

Second largest in England after London.

What did Bristol export in the past?

Exports included coal, lead, and animal hides.

What did Bristol import in the past?

Imports included wine, grain, slate, timber, and olive oil.

How many known ships left Bristol for Africa between 1697 and 1807?

2,108 - for transporting slaves

What were the average slaving voyages per year?

An average of twenty slaving voyages set sail a year.

How many enslaved people were brought into slavery by these ships?

Approximately 500,000

What fraction of British Transatlantic slavery does the number of enslaved people brought by these ships represent?

One-fifth

What % of Bristol's population is white British?

77%

How many religions are observed in Bristol?

45 different religions

How many languages are spoken in Bristol?

91 main languages are spoken.

What % of Children are under 15 in Bristol?

19%.

What % of People are retirement age in Bristol?

13%.

How many recorded crimes were there in Bristol? (2019/2020)

52,601 crimes

What is the crime rate in Bristol?

112.5 per 1000

What was the recorded hate crime in Bristol? (2019)

1902

How much has hate crime increased by in Bristol since 2012?

177%

What percentage of households in Bristol are owner occupied?

53%

What percentage of households in Bristol are privately rented?

29%

What percentage of households in Bristol are socially rented?

18%

What are the average house prices in Bristol compared to rest of England and Wales? (Jan 2020)

Bristol: £285,300. England & Wales: £242,500

How much have average house prices in Bristol increased over the last ten years?

£117,200

What percentage increase has there been in average house prices in Bristol over the last ten years?

70%

What was the percentage growth of employment in Bristol from 2016 to 2018?

4%

What was the employment rate in Bristol in December 2019?

76.7%

What is Bristol's employment rate compared to the national average?

The employment rate in Bristol is 1% above the national average.

How does Bristol's employment rate rank among British Core Cities?

Bristol has the highest employment rate of British Core Cities.

What was the number of unemployed working age residents in the 12 months ending December 2019?

10,100

What was the unemployment rate for working age residents in the 12 months ending December 2019?

3.9%

How many Business Start-ups does Bristol have relative to the British core cities?

Amongst the British Core Cities, Bristol has the third highest number of business start-ups.

How many Creative and Digital Jobs are there in Bristol?

Estimated 17,000 jobs in creative and digital industries.

How many 'day visitors' were there to Bristol in 2019?

11.6 million

How many domestic staying trips were made to Bristol in 2019?

1.5 million

What was the spending from domestic staying trips to Bristol in 2019?

£348 million

How many overseas staying trips were there to Bristol in 2019?

Over 570,000

How has Bristol been ranked for its tech industry in Europe in 2018?

Named one of the top 10 cities for technology industries

Give an example of streets in Bristol being named after people - effect on character - endogenous factor

Hope Square, BS8 4LX: Named after Lady Henrietta Hope, who founded a chapel before it was destroyed by German bombs.

What types of areas are included in land use in Bristol?

Residential and commercial areas

What type of housing is largely found in Bristol due to its city centre location?

Flats

What types of businesses are prevalent in Bristol's land use?

Bars and restaurants

Describe the physical Geography of Bristol

- Contains low elevation areas like Hotwells/Harbourside.

- Surrounded by greenspace - has lead to urban sprawl

What does the built environment include?

Regenerated historical buildings, new build residential, and historical features of former dockland.

What is an example of a regenerated historical building?

M-Shed

Describe the Windrush generation

'Windrush' describes the mass migration of people invited from the Caribbean colonies into Great Britain just after the Second World War.

What did new arrivals from the windrush generation face?

Colour bars, housing discrimination, and hostility.

Describe the context of St Pauls Carnival

product of the Windrush generation and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The celebration began in 1968 as the St. Paul's Festival, to improve relationships between the European, African, Caribbean and Asian inhabitants of the area.

What are Bristol's links to Other Regions?

Bristol has links to London, Wales, and the North.

Give examples of investment in Bristol

Niantic invested £100 million into VR gaming

How does Bristol's % of retired people compare to the rest of the UK?

Bristol has a lower percentage of retired people than the rest of the UK.

What is the rate of Traffic increase in Greater Bristol relative to the national average?

The rate of traffic increase in the Greater Bristol area has been up to three times the national average.

Describe a negative experience of Bristol

Bristol's bus service, run by First Bristol, which has been a regular target of criticism.

What % of Bristol's population is BAME?

22%

What was the harbourside area known as before regeneration?

'No go' area.

What is the current perception of the harbourside area after regeneration?

'Hip and trendy' location.

What significant event heavily impacted Bristol's architecture during WW2?

Bristol was bombed heavily.

What architectural styles were prominent in Bristol's rebuilding during the 1960s and 1970s?

Skyscrapers and mid-century architecture.

What has contributed to urban sprawl in Bristol?

Increasing population and greater wealth from tech and scientific industry.

What is a consequence of urban sprawl in Bristol?

A greater polarization of rich and poor.

What has led to gentrification in Bristol?

Heavy private investment following regeneration projects.

What are the consequences of gentrification in Bristol?

Social and economic inequalities and a lack of affordable housing.

What are some Bristolian expressions?

'Alright my luvver?' means hello; 'gert' means something large or of large amount.

Which organization conducted the study that named Bristol the greenest city in the UK?

Good Move

Acker Bilk - Stranger on the Shore

A clarinet piece written by the Bristolian musician Acker Bilk for his daughter, which became the first British song to top the US Billboard chart in 1962.

Describe the location of St Pauls

St Pauls is part of inner Bristol, about 1.5KM south of the city centre.

What is the Population Density in St Pauls?

9,869 persons per KM2.

What is the Average Household Size in St Pauls?

2.3 people.

What % are Owner-occupiers in St Pauls?

38.7%.

What % Rent from Social Landlord in St Pauls?

25.7%.

What % Rent from Private Landlord in St Pauls?

35.6%.

Describe Car Availability in St Pauls

40.7% with no access to a car or van.

What % of People with Bad Health in St Pauls?

5.5%.

What % are Aged 16+ with No Formal Qualification in St Pauls?

20.2%.

What is the IMD Rank of St Pauls?

2,559, which is in the 10% most deprived.

Describe the culture shock of the windrush generation

newcomers from the Windrush Generation were surprised by the cold weather and their first sight of chimneys.

What were "Teddy boys"?

A youth subculture in Britain known for their hostility towards the Windrush Generation.

Describe 'No blacks, no dogs, no Irish' signs

Infamous signs that indicated racial discrimination in rented accommodation and pubs faced by the Windrush Generation.

What was Bristol Council's dock policy?

The key policy priority during the 1950s and 1960s aimed at delivering a new dock, reflecting cognitive 'lock-in'.

Describe Royal Portbury dock

A new dock opened in 1977, funded by Bristol Council, which did not prove financially rewarding.

When did the decline of the inner-city docks in Bristol begin?

1950s

What year did the closure of the inner-city docks in Bristol culminate?

1975

where are the derelict areas in Bristol?

Significant abandoned spaces around the waterfront in Bristol due to the decline of the docks.

What is the purpose of the green belt established around Bristol?

To prevent urban sprawl.

When was the green belt around Bristol established?

1955

What issue did the green belt around Bristol conflict with?

Industrial expansion needs.

What are permissive planning decisions?

Planning choices made in the 1960s and 1970s.

What was the purpose of permissive planning decisions?

To temporarily alleviate tensions between industrial expansion and green belt restrictions.

What are the 3 most deprived LSOAs in Bristol?

Filwood, Laurence, Hartcliffe

What are the 3 least deprived LSOAs in Bristol?

Stoke Bishop, Clifton, Redland

What % of students earnt 7+ GCSE grade in Bristol in 2023?

33%

What % of students earnt 4+ GCSE grade in Bristol in 2023?

82%

What is the average GCSE grade in Bristol in 2024?

5.54