Mary le Port Street, Bristol
 Mary le Port Street after the 24th November 1940 bombing raid, showing the remains of the church from the south east. Other bombed buildings and the tower of All Saints' Church are also visible. | |
  Location within Central Bristol | |
| Maintained by | Bristol City Council |
|---|---|
| Location | Bristol, England |
| Postal code | BS1 |
| Coordinates | 51°27′17″N 2°35′30″W / 51.454836°N 2.591545°W |
| East | Peter Street |
| West | High Street |
Mary le Port Street (also know as Maryleport Street or Maryport Street) was an important thoroughfare from an early stage in the development of the settlement of Bristol, linking the area around St Peters Church and, later, Bristol Castle with the mediaeval expansion of the town to the west at High Street, Wine Street, Corn Street and Broad Street.[1] It was heavily damaged by aerial bombing in 1940, and was relegated to an un-named service road and footway in post-war reconstruction of the area.
Recent versions of the Bristol Local Plan have sought to re-instate this street and some of the surrounding historic street layout, to improve the link between the shopping area of Broadmead and St Nicholas Market area.[2]
History
Mary le Port Street originated as a pre-conquest hollow way. Archaeological excavations in 1962 to 1963 found evidence of late Saxon activity on either side of this way, and of a timber building from this period. In the 13th century or later the hollow way was filled in and paved, possibly using material derived from the digging out of cellars in the area. [1]
St Mary le Port Church was probably built in Saxon times, and was subsequently enlarged and rebuilt to reach its peak of development in the 15th century.[3]
Writing in the 1920s Charles Wells described Maryleport St as a place where:
...in the old time all the houses overhung so far that it used to be said opposite neighbours could shake hands out of the window. Most of these houses have now given way to less picturesque, but more convenient buildings, but there are still a few of the old ones left.
— Charles Wells, Bristol's History
Wells described the church as being much hidden from view by these old shops, and best viewed from its churchyard behind.[4]
Along with the surrounding ancient streets, Mary le Port Street was bombed on the night of 24th November 1940 and almost completely destroyed.
Post-war reconstruction plans for a new Civic Centre consisting of an art gallery, museum, hotel and exhibition centre to be built in the area between St Peter's Church and High Street came to nothing, and the sites on either side of Mary le Port Street were leased to the Bank of England and the Norwich Union Insurance Company, whose now-derelict buildings still occupy the sites.[5]
References
- ^ a b Watts, Lorna; Rahtz, Philip (1985). Mary-le-Port Bristol Excavations 1962/3. City of Bristol Museums and Art Gallery. ISBN 0-900199-26-1.
- ^ "Bristol Local Plan – Bristol Central Area Plan". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ^ M Q Smith (1970). The Medieval Churches of Bristol. University of Bristol (Bristol branch of the Historical Association). p. 4.
- ^ Charles Wells (1969). Bristol's History. Reece Winstone. p. 27. ISBN 0 900814 29 2.
- ^ Priest, Gordon; Cobb, Pamela (1980). "Open Spaces". The Fight for Bristol. Bristol Civic Society and The Redcliffe Press.