28 Dec 2020
Fractionally outside my one-mile zone, but I got curious about Saint Vincent's spring, whose last remnants you can see in a defunct drinking fountain on the Portway. Along the way I passed Gyston's cave, sometimes called St Vincent's cave, in the sheer wall of the gorge. It's now accessible by a tunnel from the observatory—I tried it about twenty years ago, I think, and still recall the vertiginous moment of looking down from the protruding balcony and realising that you could see straight through the grille floor to the drop below—but from what I can work out the tunnel is relatively recent. Before the tunnel was dug it was accessible only by access across the cliff face, which must have been even more terrifying.
This cave was first mentioned as being a chapel in the year AD 305 and excavations, in which Romano-British pottery has been found, have revealed that it has been both a holy place and a place of refuge at various times in its history.
A few different sources say that the cave became a hermitage and chapel to St Vincent following Bristol's early trading in Iberian wines; St Vincent of Saragossa is Lisbon's patron saint, and a lot of nearby things bear the name.
I'm not sure where the crossover of Vincent and Ghyston happens, though. On the giants Goram and Vincent (or Ghyston), Wikipedia says:
The name Vincent for one of the giants rests on the fact that at Clifton, at the narrowest point of the Avon Gorge, there was formerly an ancient hermitage and chapel dedicated to St Vincent, at or near the present cave in the cliff-face which bears his name. Another (apparently modern) version of the story calls the Clifton giant Ghyston, which is in fact the name, of obscure origin, for the whole of the cliff-face of the Avon Gorge at least as early as the mid-fifteenth century, in the detailed description of the Bristol area by William Worcestre. The place-name was personified to produce the giant's name. Vincent's Cave is called Ghyston cave or The Giant’s Hole in an article in the July 1837 issue of Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal.
In my research on the original Hot Well House, I've seen quite a few contemporary paintings which state their viewpoint as "from St. Vincent's Rock", so in the 16th century it seems the cliff-face name was typically St Vincent Rock rather than Ghyston's Rock, perhaps.
I am, as you can tell, no historian!
On the way, I also wandered around the base of the popular climbing area, which I think is the site of the old Black Rock quarry.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom A4 Avon Gorge Portway road St Vincent's Rocks
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31 Jul 2021
At the end of July I went to have a look around some of the private gardens opened up by the annual Green Squares and Secret Gardens event. Sadly it was compressed into a single day this year, for various Covid-related reasons, it seems, so I didn't get to poke around too many places. I went to:
And snapped a few things in between, too. It was a lovely day—a bit too hot, if anything—and it was interesting to get into a few places I'd only ever seen from the outside, especially The Paragon and Cornwallis gardens, which are the least visible to passing strangers of all of them.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Clifton Village Clifton Garden Clifton Open Garden Squares Green Squares and Secret Gardens open day The Polygon garden the polygon
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Text Recognition Tags: The Polygon communal garden- an update Welcome! Regular visitors and passers-by wili notice three big changes in the Polvgon communai garden this year. 1. The cherry tree at the west side has been felied (to give neighbours more light) and replaced with a slow growing Frosted Thorn. This should bear berries and provide good autumn colour. We have been busy planting perennials around the tree, although soil depth is stil limited by roots. To that end, we are mulching with compost and putting in smaller plants that we hope wil establish and grow well. 2. We are trying out a 'no mow policy in parts of the garden so we can see what plants arrive. You wil see that we have cut paths round the beds, and up to the sitting and compost areas for ease of access. So far, the most notable arrivals have been yamow, ragwort (which supports the cinnabar moth caterpiliar), red campion, yelow rattie, cranesbill and corn cockle. 3. We also took the plunge and established a pond where the oid firepit was situated up by the sitting area The pond has a population of frogs and water snails and we have spotted one dragon By so far but are hoping for more We have put in a solar powered aerator to keep the water ovygenated. Wildflower seeds around the pend took well and we have had a great crop of poppies. We weicome wildife: tawny owis, poistrelle bats, many butterflies, honey and bumble bees and a wide variety of birds goldfinch, dunnock, great spatted woodpecker. Plus foxes and the occasional badger. We hope you enjoy our garden. Apologies for the leck of refreshments, but many people are away so we are not up to speed. Next year, we hope to be back in full swing with refreshments, including Polvgon elderfiower cordial and home baked cakes. The Polygon communal garden- an update Welcome! Regular visitors and passers-by wili notice three big changes in the Polvgon communai garden this year. 1. The cherry tree at the west side has been felied (to give neighbours more light) and replaced with a slow growing Frosted Thorn. This should bear berries and provide good autumn colour. We have been busy planting perennials around the tree, although soil depth is stil limited by roots. To that end, we are mulching with compost and putting in smaller plants that we hope wil establish and grow well. 2. We are trying out a 'no mow policy in parts of the garden so we can see what plants arrive. You wil see that we have cut paths round the beds, and up to the sitting and compost areas for ease of access. So far, the most notable arrivals have been yamow, ragwort (which supports the cinnabar moth caterpiliar), red campion, yelow rattie, cranesbill and corn cockle. 3. We also took the plunge and established a pond where the oid firepit was situated up by the sitting area The pond has a population of frogs and water snails and we have spotted one dragon By so far but are hoping for more We have put in a solar powered aerator to keep the water ovygenated. Wildflower seeds around the pend took well and we have had a great crop of poppies. We weicome wildife: tawny owis, poistrelle bats, many butterflies, honey and bumble bees and a wide variety of birds goldfinch, dunnock, great spatted woodpecker. Plus foxes and the occasional badger. We hope you enjoy our garden. Apologies for the leck of refreshments, but many people are away so we are not up to speed. Next year, we hope to be back in full swing with refreshments, including Polvgon elderfiower cordial and home baked cakes.
19 Aug 2023
It's been a long while since I did one of these walks.
I'm thinking of finishing up the project by walking one or two last bits of road, thus being able to declare with all honesty that I've done my best to walk every public road within my mile (and quite a few alleyways besides.) As a prelude, and just because I felt like it, I decided to drag out the camera and GPS on this little wander to the local shops.
Also looking nice and fresh since my last wander is the pair of community noticeboards, with a plethora of local news.
I found out recently that I was a winnner of one of the Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association 500 club prizes, which, alongside my membership, is a fun way to give money to the local organisation that puts up these noticeboards and does so much else for the community.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Clifton Village Hotwells Clifton
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Text Recognition Tags: Howells and Cliftonwood Community Association (ACCA) community cond Useful local information Cond Local Pang Vefa Avon and R Ay GTA abyQMalaw De Oy He PO De 30 G F PAD Lesson for t FRA Obag w BATANGA to your whatapang Var JOE MICKS GUITAR TEACHER BUTHORE.COM y Gramgenee07504 ty PO Box 200 Online Coaching and 61100 TW utrition Quidance Fra ersonal Training sessions LONDRE om prope tech y and get aang d 222000 Get Fit, Be Healthier, Be The Best Version Of You! www.top be and reach SOF ing out to Our sto Quran We have ww Facebook Tutir @COtt G35 Top for my on or stop you A O 07564375433 @w tabourside and Satu Action Fraud ALERT AF Google .***. of St DAS y Th y AudionFraud SA 13304 W 15. Ch Lifeskitts LEARNING FOR LIVING Guing which includes working wilt amal and active safatyti Wysan bes the fe WELCOME SPACE at CLIFTON LIBRARY activitating January 2635 (10 ng WELCOME SPACE We are currently looking for people to help us deliver safety education to children via our enginteractive village based in central Bristol www50 Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association 500 CLUB RESULTS 2023 1 mn m Hot drinks Relax GAMES CRAFTING Films CHAT Wellbeing Newspapers Study KAPHY TABLE TENNIS Hasting which includes opening and sing talk with the c sporting teachers re The 100 Challe Join us for a tester heut Wednesday 12th April is the next scheduled taster hour please contact the email below for more information and to book your place OLLYW4 Hvat e ang pag Apt Now swight Robert C con Nowhe CIP ad NC Nowe Man No for 2 yr y dece ww OXO AUTY New THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE YOUR 300C SUCTIONS A HANG POSLE POES THAT HELPO THE LOCALE EVERY MONTH WE HAVE UNCLAIMED PRIZE HONEY THAT COULD YOUR CLUB FOR THE CHANCE TO BE YOU NAM NAD OF NO WINNER OWN AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY SCAN ME bile PR COURE Ap C Te qu 700 Emetas T Com You to t You fost d Shpaloaph we would love to make oef regularly vegade ba ne Beinart Art & Art haling p A you missing making an DEMENTIA SAFEGUARDING SCHEMEL www.beinartotive.c 4 Ben sad fin BEWARE PROSITY Criminals are adapting! there are many where you ca weket M -Tudo que fa thoshwade - pada poleg oniks and li MA ART whick - server creaty PCRIME and the deving the vers If you're not sure, research more! www Having a baby? - PRACTICAL and EMOTIONAL support is available for you in the cala in pomancy, birth and pomnically Sear Roma Helen Whit ANME PROCITY O Howells and Cliftonwood Community Association ( ACCA ) community cond Useful local information Cond Local Pang Vefa Avon and R Ay GTA abyQMalaw De Oy He PO De 30 G F PAD Lesson for t FRA Obag w BATANGA to your whatapang Var JOE MICKS GUITAR TEACHER BUTHORE.COM y Gramgenee07504 ty PO Box 200 Online Coaching and 61100 TW utrition Quidance Fra ersonal Training sessions LONDRE om prope tech y and get aang d 222000 Get Fit , Be Healthier , Be The Best Version Of You ! www.top be and reach SOF ing out to Our sto Quran We have ww Facebook Tutir @COtt G35 Top for my on or stop you A O 07564375433 @w tabourside and Satu Action Fraud ALERT AF Google . *** . of St DAS y Th y AudionFraud SA 13304 W 15. Ch Lifeskitts LEARNING FOR LIVING Guing which includes working wilt amal and active safatyti Wysan bes the fe WELCOME SPACE at CLIFTON LIBRARY activitating January 2635 ( 10 ng WELCOME SPACE We are currently looking for people to help us deliver safety education to children via our enginteractive village based in central Bristol www50 Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association 500 CLUB RESULTS 2023 1 mn m Hot drinks Relax GAMES CRAFTING Films CHAT Wellbeing Newspapers Study KAPHY TABLE TENNIS Hasting which includes opening and sing talk with the c sporting teachers re The 100 Challe Join us for a tester heut Wednesday 12th April is the next scheduled taster hour please contact the email below for more information and to book your place OLLYW4 Hvat e ang pag Apt Now swight Robert C con Nowhe CIP ad NC Nowe Man No for 2 yr y dece ww OXO AUTY New THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE YOUR 300C SUCTIONS A HANG POSLE POES THAT HELPO THE LOCALE EVERY MONTH WE HAVE UNCLAIMED PRIZE HONEY THAT COULD YOUR CLUB FOR THE CHANCE TO BE YOU NAM NAD OF NO WINNER OWN AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY SCAN ME bile PR COURE Ap C Te qu 700 Emetas T Com You to t You fost d Shpaloaph we would love to make oef regularly vegade ba ne Beinart Art & Art haling p A you missing making an DEMENTIA SAFEGUARDING SCHEMEL www.beinartotive.c 4 Ben sad fin BEWARE PROSITY Criminals are adapting ! there are many where you ca weket M -Tudo que fa thoshwade - pada poleg oniks and li MA ART whick - server creaty PCRIME and the deving the vers If you're not sure , research more ! www Having a baby ? - PRACTICAL and EMOTIONAL support is available for you in the cala in pomancy , birth and pomnically Sear Roma Helen Whit ANME PROCITY O