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weirdbristol.bsky.social
Weird Bristol
@weirdbristol.bsky.social
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
Pinned
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.
In 2010 - two years before his death, Neil Armstrong visited the SS Great Britain.
The first man on the moon was a lifelong fan of Brunel and was given a private (and secret) tour of the historic ship.
December 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
In 2010 - two years before his death, Neil Armstrong visited the SS Great Britain.
The first man on the moon was a lifelong fan of Brunel and was given a private (and secret) tour of the historic ship.
December 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Running for two series from 2005 to 2006 the Bristol-set ITV supernatural drama “Afterlife” followed self-declared psychic Alison Mundy (Lesley Sharp) and university lecturer Robert Bridge (Andrew Lincoln) as they investigated supernatural mysteries throughout the city.
December 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Weird Bristol
In 1812, the architect who designed the magnificent Clifton Club building pleaded guilty to fraud - a crime he almost certainly didn’t commit.
Read the fascinating story of Francis Greenway in WEIRD BRISTOL: TRUE CRIME. Available now.
Link in profile.
December 12, 2025 at 11:57 AM
This area near between St John on the Wall and Broad St was once part of an ambitious 1961 planning project. Nicknamed “the city in the sky”, elevated concrete walkways and plazas were intended to carry pedestrians across the city, up to 6m above the traffic.
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December 13, 2025 at 8:13 PM
These houses on Picton Street are a few steps from each other.
The one on the left was home to Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905) - the most famous actor of the 19th century.
The house on the right was (for a short while) home to Cary Grant (1904-1986) - one of the most famous actors of the 20th century.
December 12, 2025 at 7:47 PM
In 1812, the architect who designed the magnificent Clifton Club building pleaded guilty to fraud - a crime he almost certainly didn’t commit.
Read the fascinating story of Francis Greenway in WEIRD BRISTOL: TRUE CRIME. Available now.
Link in profile.
December 12, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Reposted by Weird Bristol
I went to see Treasure Island at the Bristol Old Vic and it was brilliant.
Read the review here:

www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/tre...
Treasure Island a triumph as classic Bristol story comes home
"A play set in, performed by, for and with Bristol, and perfect for young and old alike"
www.bristolpost.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This house (24 Berkeley Square) was used as the exterior setting for “The House of Eliott”, a 1991-1994 BBC tv show about a pair of sisters who ran an haute couture textile business. Viewership of the 1920s-set drama was often in excess of 11 million per episode.
December 11, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Weird Bristol
And there we have it, the final goodbye! 40 years of entertainment, 40 years of joy, 40 years of a daily escapism filled with love, laughter and tears. What a sad day. Again. #GoodbyeNeighbours #Neighbours
December 11, 2025 at 7:36 AM
This stretch of road going through Bedminster Down (Bridgewater Road) is said to be haunted by a jogger. Always wearing red and smiling. She even passes through cars as she jogs along the road - seemingly oblivious to being a ghost.
December 10, 2025 at 7:55 PM
WHERE AM I WEDNESDAY
December 10, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Weird Bristol
In 1857 the body of a woman was found on the Leigh Woods side of the Avon Gorge.
The only clue to her identity were the initials “C.P.” stitched into her handkerchief.
Read the shocking story of the murder of Charlotte Pugsley in WEIRD BRISTOL: TRUE CRIME.
Link is in my profile.
December 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Kings Weston Roman Villa (built circa the 3rd Century AD) was discovered in 1947, during construction of a Lawrence Weston housing estate.
During later excavations, the skeleton of a pig was discovered near the entrance - thought to have been sacrificed to bring good fortune to the property.
December 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
In 1898, work began on Cabot Tower in St. John’s, Newfoundland in Canada to mark where it’s assumed Cabot ended his journey to the New World. Despite being of a very different design, it’s often considered the “twin” of the tower built in Bristol to mark the start of his voyage.
December 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
In 1857 the body of a woman was found on the Leigh Woods side of the Avon Gorge.
The only clue to her identity were the initials “C.P.” stitched into her handkerchief.
Read the shocking story of the murder of Charlotte Pugsley in WEIRD BRISTOL: TRUE CRIME.
Link is in my profile.
December 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
In 1937 a dual carriageway was built diagonally across Queen Square, in hopes of lessening Bristol’s traffic woes.
At its peak, 20,000 cars were driven across the park daily,
The road was closed in 1992 and all traces of the carriageway were removed by the end of the millennium.
December 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
What is even happening with Christmas films anymore? What the hell am I watching?
December 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Henry Wallis’ dramatic 1856 painting “Chatterton” depicts the 1770 suicide of Bristol “boy poet” Thomas Chatterton, aged only 17. His tragic end coupled with his florid, gothic poetry appealed to the Victorians especially. He’s often hailed as one of Bristol’s most significant writers.
December 6, 2025 at 8:04 PM
In 1714 a man living on Baldwin Street found an enormous, black cobweb in his garden, measuring 34 foot/10 metres across. Fascinated locals paid to cut off pieces to take home and fearful word soon spread that a giant spider was lose in Bristol. No explanation was ever found.
December 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Edward Thatch/Teach (AKA the pirate Blackbeard) was born in Redcliffe, Bristol around 1680.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Blackbeard ran his ship as a democracy and tried to avoid violence whenever possible.
He is probably the second most famous Bristolian in history (after Cary Grant).
December 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
In 1845, in a bakery near this spot in Broadmead, baker Henry Jones invented self-raising flour.
His patented recipe of flour, baking soda and salt was initially intended for sailors so that they could bake bread whilst at sea without the need for yeast.
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December 3, 2025 at 8:23 PM
WHERE AM I WEDNESDAY
December 3, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by Weird Bristol
WEIRD BRISTOL: TRUE CRIME features 100 tales from Bristol’s criminal past - including the shocking tale of the murder of William Rowe.
When Russell Pascoe (along with his accomplice Dennis Whitty) was found guilty of Rowe’s murder, he became the last person to be executed in Bristol.
Link in profile
December 1, 2025 at 9:07 AM
According to local legend, this building near Horseshoe Bend in the Avon is the scene of a morbid tragedy.
In the 18th century, two star crossed lovers from rival families were imprisoned by their parents in the rooms at either end of the structure and forced to watch each other starve to death.
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December 2, 2025 at 8:04 PM