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Weird Bristol

@weirdbristol.bsky.social

1.5K followers 480 following 690 posts

The weird and lesser-known history of Bristol. You can find my books (including WEIRD BRISTOL: TRUE CRIME) here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B00HBFSRCU

www.amazon.co.uk

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · Jun 20

Delve into the murky world of Bristol’s criminal past with my latest book WEIRD BRISTOL: TRUE CRIME.
Featuring 100 tales of lawlessness in our city - from scheming charlatans to plundering pirates, from hot-headed robberies to cold-blooded murder…
Available right now!
Link is in my profile.

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 18h

Born in Fishponds in 1745, Hannah More was a well renowned poet and playwright. However, it is for her campaigning efforts in social reform, particularly the education of girls and the abolition of slavery for which she is best remembered.

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 18h

And the answer is:

Lawrence Weston Community Farm.

This joyous mural is by Bristol-based artist Claudia Lucia.

Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 1d

WHERE AM I WEDNESDAY

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Reposted by Weird Bristol

Fleur Hitchcock @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social · 1d

❄️🎄❄️Whooooop! I love it when people get my books!!!❄️❄️🎄

Veronica Price @vonprice.bsky.social · 1d

#MG #CosyCrime doesn’t get better than this! #MurderAtChristmas by @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social is certain to get kids reading for pleasure! Published this week by @nosycrow.bsky.social
#UkKidLit
Here’s my review 👇

vsviewfromthebookshelves.home.blog/2025/10/14/m...

#MGMurderMystery: Murder at Christmas by Fleur Hitchcock

Cover art by Elisa Paganelli, published by Nosy Crow, 16 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1805132240 Murder at Christmas ticked all of the boxes that make a book a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience fo…

vsviewfromthebookshelves.home.blog

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Reposted by Weird Bristol

Tristan Cork @tristancorkpost.bsky.social · 1d

The number of ‘entire homes’ in Bristol that are on Airbnb instead of being rented out to long term tenants or otherwise lived in has now passed 2,000 for the first time.
Full story here:

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

Number of homes 'lost to Airbnb' in Bristol now above 2,000

One Airbnb company has 169 different properties they are letting out

www.bristolpost.co.uk

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 1d

In 2017 a long standing Bristol rumour was proven to be true. Vale Street in Totterdown was officially declared the steepest residential street in England. It has an average incline of 22 degrees. Cars have to be parked diagonally to prevent them from rolling down the hill.

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 2d

That should be PREWETT Street. Apologies!

Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 2d

Until 1923, this unusual looking building on Prewitt St (now a restaurant) was a 60ft conical chimney which was used as a glass kiln. Bristol once had dozens of these kilns for turning the sand of the Redcliffe caves into glass. This was the last to be put out of use.

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Reposted by Weird Bristol

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 4d

This is such a clever idea on taking kids to museums/galleries
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Nadia from London has an idea that sounds such fun you'll be booking a day out asap.
"I've always loved museums," she says,
"but they can be overwhelming for children. For decades now, I've done something called 'playing postcards'
We do
the museum backwards, visiting the gift shop first. Each child gets to choose three postcards. Then they take it in turns to find that particular artwork in the museum and give us a little information about the piece from the details on the postcard, or from any gallery plaque. At the end of this treasure-hunt-style activity, we vote for our favourite in the cafe."

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 3d

Strong recommend. It’s a great look and also surprisingly practical - they really do help keep the chill off!

Reposted by Weird Bristol

Thomas Page @999tp.bsky.social · 3d

TIME SHIFT — Coming Soon
Time Shift brings together photographs from different hours and seasons.

📍 Venue #44 — 12 Codrington Road, Bristol BS7 8ET
🗓️ 29–30 November | ⏰ 10 am – 5 pm
🌐 www.thomaspage.co.uk

#TimeShift #999tp #NorthBristolArtsTrail #BristolPhotography #TimeShiftExhibition

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 3d

In pre-Tudor times, the village of Shirehampton was called “Sharny Hampton” - sharny being an Old English word for dung, as the farmland was rich with fertile manure.
During the Elizabethan era, the name was altered to the more palatable and picturesque Shirehampton.

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 4d

During work on the Downs in the 1880s, a very rare “bone-fissure” was discovered. Later excavations revealed evidence of prehistoric life in the area, including the remains of hyenas, bears, rhinoceroses and even mammoths. The fissure is close to where the water tower now stands.

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 5d

Happy International Coming Out Day.
Be bold! And remember, life is so much better and filled with more colour once you throw those closet doors open!

a person standing in a dark room looking out a window

ALT: a person standing in a dark room looking out a window

media.tenor.com

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 5d

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Upon this discovery, Grant had her released.
By all accounts their relationship both before and after her release was a frosty one, but he made sure to visit her frequently and that she was provided the funds and healthcare she needed.

Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 5d

Bristol-born Hollywood megastar Cary Grant (then Archibald Leach) left for America at 16 but returned to the city many times until his 70s.
As a child he was told his mother had died, when in fact she had been sectioned in Glenside Hospital - then a mental institute.
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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 6d

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The audacity of the burglars and the fact that the crime occurred whilst the family were inside led to homes in Clifton, Redland and beyond installing latches and locks on upstairs windows for the first time.

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 6d

In 1872, Redland Court (built in 1732) was the scene of a daylight robbery when burglars used a ladder to enter an upstairs room as homeowner George O. Edwards and his family dined downstairs.
The thieves took only a few items but the crime made headlines across the country.
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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 7d

And the answer is…
Brunel Lock (beneath Plimsoll Bridge, Cumberland Basin.)
Well done if you got this one right.

Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 7d

Arnos Vale Cemetery houses these Victorian crypt vaults, built to permanently inter bodies above ground in lead coffins. At the time, cremation was assumed to be illegal so this was seen as an alternative to burial. Due to its expensive cost, only 30 bodies were ever placed here.

Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 8d

WHERE AM I WEDNESDAY

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 8d

If you want to visit this fabulous, eerie ruin, the best access is via Sheepwood Close.

Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 8d

This huge, beautiful ruin can be found in Sheep Wood, Henbury.
Built around 1830 to serve as an atmospheric summer house and folly for a wealthy merchant, these walls were once part of the Lord Mayors Chapel on College Green and were moved when the building was redesigned in 1820.

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Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 9d

There would be plenty of material!

Weird Bristol @weirdbristol.bsky.social · 9d

Bristol features as many different British and Irish cities throughout the charming 2018 film “Stan & Ollie”. Never is it more noticeable than this scene from “Newcastle” which is actually the side door of the Hippodrome and features a glimpse of Bristol’s famous iron pavement edging.

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