Sketch of Bristol and the Hotwells / [Francis Moreton].

  • Moreton, Francis.
Date:
[1825]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sketch of Bristol and the Hotwells / [Francis Moreton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    2 degrees 46 minutes west longitude from London, at the southern extremity of Glocestershire, and the northern of Somersetshit'e ; distant twelve miles from Bath; by one road 117, by another 119, miles from the metropolis, ' ' Bristol, the site of which lies partly in tw o counties, was erected by Edward III. into an independant city and county of itself. The Froom and the Avon wind their way through it; the latter is the principal river: and at eight miles from its efflux into the Bristol Channel, or Se¬ vern Sea, this city is built in a most delightful and healthy country, surrounded by verdant hills, which in the north and east rise to a towering height, and shelter it from the chilling blasts, while they at the same time sel’ve to diver¬ sify the objects, and give beauty to the scene. The surrounding districts are vmriegated with high salu¬ brious downs, producing the sweetest herbage; fruitful valleys, watered with spYings, rivulets, brooks, and rivers; steep precipices androcksV waving woods; and the most charming natural prospects embellished by art. In the immediate vicinity are many handsome and pleasantly situ¬ ated^ villages, interspersed with seats of the nobility and gentry; all which unite to render Bristol an object of at¬ traction, even to those who cannot be biassed by native partiality. This city, taken with its accompaniments, may be said to stand in a vale, on,eminences, and level ground. Some parts of it indeed are built on steep and lofty acclivities, which render the use qf carriages inconvenient. Kings- dowm, SL Michael’s Hill, and Brandon Hill, rise nearly 250 feM perpendicular above the bed of the river ; and consequently, when viewed from such elevations, the lower buH’dings appear sunk in a deep valley, while the spectator looks down upon the loftiest spires. The old town, which is of remote antiquity*, and was * Without entering into a detailed account of the ancient history of Bristol,, it may be observed, that Bristol is said by some to have been founded by Brennus about 380 years before the Christian era; and it.is^ certain that it was a place of some note under the Romans, and has con¬ tinued ever since to pe distinguished. ' During the Saxon times, we find several records concerning it; and from the Norman conquest its history is vvell authenticated. It seems to have had a strong castle very. eaily, and fo have.beeh a place of considerable, commerce. That it has Tong been engaged in the slave-trade, will appear from thC following extract