Bristol in History

Bristol civic politics continue under Queen Anne's government.

Whitefield preaches to large outdoor crowds around Bristol.

Wesley opens the New Room as an early Methodist meeting house.

Brindley surveys canal schemes linked to Bristol trade.

Burke is elected Member of Parliament for Bristol.

Burke defends independent parliamentary judgment to Bristol electors.

Serves under Sir Peter Parker at Jamaica during the American war.

Burke withdraws from the Bristol election after losing local support.

Clarkson gathers evidence in Bristol against the slave trade.

Crowds protest Bristol Bridge tolls and proposed street changes.

Jessop's Floating Harbour works improve Bristol's port.

The first macadamised stretch of road is buit at Marsh Road at Ashton Gate, Bristol

The first macadamised stretch of road is buit at Marsh Road at Ashton Gate, Bristol

McAdam's road surface is tested at Ashton Gate.

Enters the competition while still a young independent engineer.

Brunel submits designs to the competition for a suspension bridge across the Avon Gorge at Clifton.

Submits designs to the first Clifton Suspension Bridge competition.

Acts as judge during the Clifton Suspension Bridge design competition.

Submits revised designs in the second competition for a bridge across the Avon Gorge.

Brunel continues promoting his Avon Gorge design after Thomas Telford rejects the first competition entries and proposes his own bridge.

Brunel is appointed engineer to Bristol Docks and begins improving the harbour's engineering works.

Brunel estimates the suspension bridge project at about fifty-seven thousand pounds, including architectural treatment of the towers.

Brunel secures acceptance of his revised suspension bridge design and becomes project engineer.

Brunel is appointed engineer for the Clifton Suspension Bridge after his revised design is selected.

A ceremony marks the start of construction and work begins on the Clifton side of the gorge.

Construction is halted after the Bristol riots damage confidence and stop subscriptions to the bridge company.

When people heard the news of the Lords Reform Act veto, Reform Riots take place in several British towns; the most serious of these being in Bristol

When people heard the news of the Lords Reform Act veto, Reform Riots take place in several British towns; the most serious of these being in Bristol

Grey's Reform Bill crisis triggers severe riots in Bristol.

Wetherell's arrival sparks major Reform Bill disorder in Bristol.

Brunel designs a deep scouring sluice to draw accumulated silt from the harbour into the tidal River Avon.

Brunel designs three shallow sluices to regulate the water level within Bristol's Floating Harbour.

Brunel investigates the severe accumulation of mud and silt affecting shipping in Bristol's Floating Harbour.

Brunel recommends a dredging drag boat to scrape mud from the quay walls toward the harbour's scouring sluice.

Brunel is appointed engineer for the proposed railway between Bristol and London.

The proposed Great Western Railway route between Bristol and London is formally announced.

Parliament authorises the Great Western Railway and allows construction of Brunel's London to Bristol route.

Brunel proposes extending the Great Western transport system from Bristol to New York by steamship.

The Great Western Steamship Company is formed to develop Brunel's transatlantic steamship plan.

Construction resumes after renewed commercial confidence brings further investment to the project.

Large-scale construction begins on Brunel's Great Western Railway between London and Bristol.

Construction restarts with the foundation stone for the Leigh Woods abutment laid on the western side of the gorge.

The main contractors fail financially, but the bridge towers are raised in unfinished stone.

William Patterson's Bristol yard constructs Brunel's large wooden paddle steamship for the Great Western Steamship Company.

The wooden paddle steamship SS Great Western is launched at Bristol under Brunel's direction.

Early plans for Brunel's second major steamship envisage a wooden paddle vessel initially called City of New York.

Many booked passengers cancel after the fire, leaving only a small number aboard when Great Western departs for New York.

SS Great Western completes an early sea trial before beginning her first Atlantic service.

Brunel is injured after falling about twenty feet during the confusion surrounding the Great Western engine-room fire.

An engine-room fire breaks out as Great Western prepares for her maiden Atlantic voyage but is extinguished with limited ship damage.

SS Great Western departs Bristol on her first Atlantic voyage to New York.

Brunel and the building committee recommend changing the new steamship from wood to iron construction.

Construction begins on Brunel's iron-hulled transatlantic steamship SS Great Britain.

Brunel studies Francis Pettit Smith's screw-propelled Archimedes during trials and demonstrations at Bristol.

The steamship directors accept Brunel's recommendation and approve converting the vessel to screw propulsion.

The Great Western section between Bristol and Bath opens, using Brunel's broad gauge and associated masonry structures.

Opens his original Bristol Temple Meads terminus.

Trains begin running from Brunel's Bristol station toward Bath.

Brunel submits a detailed report recommending screw propulsion instead of paddle wheels for the new Great Britain.

Brunel orders SS Great Britain to be redesigned for screw propulsion instead of paddle wheels.

The complete Great Western Railway route between London and Bristol opens for through services.

The bridge towers, abutments and four anchor tunnels are substantially completed before the project again runs short of money.

The ship's machinery uses a large chain drive to transmit engine power to the screw propeller.

Construction stalls because the bridge company lacks the funds needed to complete the chains and roadway.

Funds are exhausted and construction stops before the chains and roadway can be completed.

SS Great Britain is equipped with a six-masted schooner rig designed to reduce the sailing manpower required.

Prince Albert attends the public launch of SS Great Britain in Bristol's Floating Harbour.

SS Great Britain is launched as the largest ship in the world and a pioneering iron screw steamship.

SS Great Britain is completed for service but remains delayed by limitations in Bristol Harbour.

SS Great Britain finally leaves Bristol Floating Harbour after modifications are made to the harbour locks.

Designs a wrought-iron swing bridge for Bristol Harbour.

The bridge forms part of Brunel's improvements to the entrance locks.

The Brunel Swivel Bridge is completed as part of improvements to the locks at Bristol Harbour.

Material intended for the unfinished Clifton bridge is disposed of after the project loses its remaining construction funds.

Brunel is ordered to suspend the unfinished bridge works and sell materials and plant to satisfy creditors.

Construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge is completely abandoned.

The unfinished project remains dormant when its statutory time limit expires.

Chains from Brunel's dismantled Hungerford Suspension Bridge are purchased for use in completing the Clifton bridge.

Hawkshaw helps restart work on the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Construction restarts under a revised design by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw.

The completed structure is tested by placing about five hundred tons of stone across the bridge deck.

Hawkshaw helps complete Brunel's Clifton bridge design.

The Clifton Suspension Bridge opens to the public.

The Clifton Suspension Bridge opens to the public as a memorial to Brunel five years after his death.

Begins systematic observations of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and its changing longitude.

Uses atmospheric markings to refine estimates of Jupiter's rotation.

Bristol commemorates Cabot's voyage with work on Cabot Tower.

Cabot Tower opens as a memorial to John Cabot.

Birth of Edris Albert "Eddie" Hapgood

Theresa Grant, a suffragette, attacks Winston Churchill at Bristol railway station

Theresa Grant, a suffragette, attacks Winston Churchill at Bristol railway station

Theresa Grant attacks Churchill at Bristol railway station.

White founds the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company.

Creates the business that later becomes Bristol Aeroplane Company.

Founds the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company.

Bristol aircraft production expands for wartime service.

Ayles wins Bristol East for Labour after the war.

Birth of Adge Cutler, later associated with Bristol folk music.

Birth of John Atyeo, later Bristol City and England forward.

German bombing causes severe damage across Bristol.

Bristol suffers further heavy bombing during the Blitz.

Powell develops particle physics research at the University of Bristol.

Draws a line from Edinburgh to the Medway & Bristol to London of ditches & "pillboxes"

Powell's Bristol group identifies the pion using photographic emulsions.

Birth of Peter Lord, later co-founder of Aardman Animations.

Uses electron interference around a magnetic whisker to obtain early experimental evidence for the Aharonov-Bohm phase effect.

Bailey is refused a bus crew interview, prompting boycott action.

Stephenson helps launch the boycott against bus company discrimination.

Henry supports the campaign against colour bar employment practices.

Hackett helps organize community resistance during the bus boycott.

The boycott adds pressure for national race relations reform.

Faces urban unrest after the St Pauls riot in Bristol.

Residents clash with police after a raid on the Black and White Cafe.

Handles policing questions after the St Pauls riot.

Whitelaw faces questions after disorder in St Pauls.

Britoil shares are sold during the government's privatization programme.

Britoil is sold for œ549 million

The Clash pick Nick Sheppard, formerly of the Bristol-based Cortinas, and Vince White as the bands new guitarists

The Clash pick Nick Sheppard, formerly of the Bristol-based Cortinas, and Vince White as the bands new guitarists

Elected Member of Parliament for Bristol South

Peter Foster, a convicted fraudster, helps the Blairs buy a flat ib Bristol