My Bristol: The History And The Culture

The Romans who once marched through this landscape, and the Saxon founders of the original "Place of the Bridge," would hardly recognize the vibrant city and county Bristol has become today. The immense prosperity brought by centuries of pioneering industry, global trade, and daring maritime exploits ultimately shaped Bristol into one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in the UK.

The motto of the city is "Virtute et Industria"—meaning "Virtue and Industry"—and this spirit is fully alive today in Bristol’s large, cosmopolitan, and diverse landscape; a city bustling with modern industry, arts, culture, music, adventure, sports, and festivals.

Countless historic milestones have occurred here. Bristol is home to the world's first commercially successful brass mills, the revolutionary iron steamship the SS Great Britain, and the supersonic Concorde aeroplane. It also boasts the first president of a global human rights organisation, the birth of the affordable paperback book, the first solid chocolate bar, and many, many more.

Packed with evocative photographs and fascinating diagrams, My Bristol: The History and the Culture will be a revelation to locals and visitors alike—and the ideal companion for anyone wishing to explore this remarkable and beautiful city.