Bristol in the 1940s
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The Bristol Blitz November 1940
This is a short but fascinating account of the Bristol Blitz, focusing on the evening of Sunday 24th November 1940. Both the devastation, loss of life and censorship are breathtaking.
The Bristol Blitz began on Sunday 24th November 1940. That night, the German Luftwaffe dropped 5,000 incendiary and 10,000 high explosive bombs on the old city.
On this first raid, 200 people died. A further 700 people were seriously injured.
"Bristol Blitz" from YouTube channel JayBee6011
Bristol Blitz
6 major bombing raids between 24 November 1940 and 11 April 1941
548 air raid alerts and 77 air raids
919 tons of high-explosive bombs & thousands of incendiary (fire) bombs
1,299 Killed
1,303 seriously injured
697 rescued from damaged buildings
89, 080 buildings damaged
81, 830 houses completely destroyed
3,000 + houses damaged beyond repair
Settlements Along The River Avon In 1940
This short film starts at the source of the Avon near Tetbury and follows it all the way to the Bristol Docks, where waters flow into the sea. There are many shots of Bristol taken just before the Bristol Blitz occurred, including the historic Dutch House which was soon to be lost.
This short film takes us on a journey in time and place. From the source of the Avon where pretty cottages sit in a rural idyll of horses and carts, through historic towns and villages, including Malmesbury, the river grows in size and power. Finally the mighty waters meet the open sea and the docks, which are the centre of Bristol's significant international trade. This was life along the River Avon in the early years of the Second World War.
Although the British Council Film Department Catalogue classifies this as a 1941 film, the Bristol locations were clearly filmed before the first raid of the Bristol Blitz on 24 November 1940.
In 1941, Bristol was the country’s 7th largest city. In addition to the port, the film lists key industries as food stuffs, motor accessories, rubber, tobacco and chocolate.
Dutch House
The old Dutch house, at numbers 1 and 2 High Street appears too. Erected on top of medieval vaulted stone cellars in 1676 and once the home of the poet Wordsworth, the building was about to be destroyed. In 1908 the lower storey was cut back by 8.5 feet (2.6 m) to accommodate the pavement at a medieval crossroads already struggling with city traffic. Then on Sunday, 24 November 1940, German bombs fell on the area for five hours. The badly damaged Dutch House was demolished three days later on 27 November 1940, to make the important road junction safe.
The commentary for this short film was credited to Alvar Liddel. They actually meant the famous BBC broadcaster and newsreader, Alvar Lidell.
The film was devised by Paul Barralet, and the script was written by Alfred Leyton. An additional credit tells us the sound recordist was W Bland.
"Western Waterway: Bristol Avon – 1941 – CharlieDeanArchives / British Council Archival Footage" from YouTube channel Charlie Dean Archives
Taylors of College Green
In 1942, heavy bombing caused considerable diruption to local businesses. From footage of the area at the time, we know that the store's departmemts were located at these different addresses:
Fashions, millinery, furs - 65, Whiteladies Road
Fabrics, soft furnishings, linens - 67, Whiteladies Road
Outfitting and corsets - 69, Whiteladies Road
Fancy departments, shoes - 47 Queen’s Road
Bristol Blitz Sites As They Are Today
This short film draws together black and white photos, vintage film and modern footage to highlight places destroyed by the Luftwaffe bombs. Includes the water pump next to St John’s Church that suddenly became the only water supply for 120,000 people.
"How the Blitz changed Bristol forever" from YouTube channel Sudden Pine
Film From The Cabot Cine Circle
Think filmmkaing clubs are a new phenomena? Well, back in the 1940s the Cabot Cine Circle wanted new members. So they made a short film. It included a quick trip to the Llandoger Trow.
Llandoger Trow
The Llandoger Trow is probably Bristol’s second oldest pub, having been built in 1664. A sailor who owned the pub named it after Llandogo in Wales, which built flat-bottomed river boats called trows.
Llandoger Trow was reportedly Louis Stevenson's inspiration for the Admiral Benbow pub in Treasure Island. Also, Daniel Defoe supposedly met Alexander Selkirk, his inspiration for Robinson Crusoe, in the pub.
You'll find Llandoger Trow on King Street, between Welsh Back and Queen Charlotte Street, near the old city centre docks.
Vintage Bristol Film from 1940s shows Llandoger Trow Pub: moviescan.co.uk
This footage from British Pathé shows Winston Churchill arriving at and participating in an official ceremony in Bristol. He’s in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a contingent of mounted policemen. Also in the carriage is the city’s Mayor, an officer in uniform and a man wearing a peculiar hat.
In the background, you can see the bomb damaged buildings. It takes your breath away. But the crowds of well wishers have turned out in force. You can see a lot of very clear shots of local people. They are overjoyed to see Winston Churchill in their city.
This footage of Churchill’s visit from 1945 is almost certainly inside The Bristol Harbour Hotel. The patterned glass windows with metal framework still exist today.
One noticeable difference is the style of columns. In 1945 they appeared to be one solid column. Today they are elegant double columns.
Churchill In Bristol Ceremony (1945): British Pathé
Bristol After The Bombs Volume 1
The Luftwaffe’s bombing raids during the Second World War devastated much of central Bristol's historic streets. During the rebuilding programme of the 1950s, a new shopping centre emerged in Broadmead.
Until it was virtually wiped out in 1940, Castle Street was Bristol’s principal shopping area. The planners decided that Broadmead was to be the post-war retail centre. Stores such as Woolworths and Marks & Spencer were among the first of the new arrivals in the early 1950s. Towards the end of the decade, the huge structures of Lewis’s and Jones’ dominated the scene.
“Bristol After The Bombs DVD” from YouTube Channel 1st Take Ltd
Bristol After The Bombs Volume 2
Exploring how Bristol arose in the 1950s from the ashes of the Blitz, this video explains much of the thinking which was to define Bristol’s planning system for many years.
In addition to almost an hour of archive footage, the extensive use of maps and modern film provides the perfect ‘past and present’ comparison.
“Bristol After The Bombs Volume 2” from 1st Take Ltd.
Bristol Vintage Film, Late 1940s
This 1940s footage showcases various aspects of life in Bristol, focusing on its landmarks, industries, culture, and people. It starts with scenes around the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Hotwells, the city center, and a church. It depicts the streets, docks, and the living conditions, contrasting the Colonnade in Clifton with slum housing and bomb damage in the center. The footage then shifts to industrial scenes, including workers leaving factories and various manufacturing processes like wine, tobacco, chocolate, and printing. Aerial views capture the city's landscape, docks, and Avon Gorge. The video also features leisure activities, such as children playing, visits to the zoo, and theater performances. It ends with glimpses of historical statues, council meetings, emergency services in action, and the construction of new housing estates. Throughout the video, there is a focus on the people of Bristol, highlighting various age groups and their everyday activities in the city.
“Bristol, 1940s – Film 13107” from YouTube channel HuntleyFilmArchives.
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