Temple Local History Group Publications – Current Price List

Bristol Past Revisited - read about:

• The Church within a Church
• Mystery of Bristol's Star Chamber
• Bristol's hidden Bridge
• The Dock that is no more..
• Our missing Angel
• See what lies beneath the High Street Obelisk
• "And Bristol far away, once more a pathway laid through Western Lands…". Can you provide the missing lines from Patricia Jones' poem?
• "Childe Rowland to the Dark Tower came" - bad news for a seagull - learn why.

All this and much more in this special issue of The Bristol Templar.

"Parish Boundary Survey for Eleven of the Ancient Parishes of Bristol."

This second edition, trebled in size, tells about the development of the early Bristol parishes, dating from the time that Bristol was a border town between the Kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex.

There are line drawings of each of the medieval boundary markers, over 110 in the centre of Bristol alone, together with their National Grid references and photographs of their associated parish churches.

Temple Local History Group is involved in restoration and conservation, as well as research, and we were pleased to be able to arrange for the restoration and reinstatement of a mark stone for St. Peter's Parish, missing since the World War II Blitz. Thanks to the efforts of Trafalgar House Construction and the civil contractors for Castle Green, this, the only remaining mark for this parish, has now been installed on the true boundary line on Castle Green. July 2003 update - Our thanks to the person who has recently highlighted the lettering on the St Peter's boundary mark, also congratulations to Bristol City Council for the very nice refurbishment of Bristol Bridge and the new colour scheme of Blue and Gold - including the Parish Boundary marker No. 42 for St Nicholas located between the parapet railings over the centre line of the River. Lastly the restored Queens Square - the two Boundary markers Nos. 37 & 38, also for St Nicholas, which were on the kerb stones, have been renewed and relocated at the base of Rysbrach's famous equestrian statue of King William.

For those living outside Bristol, or in the suburbs, there are chapters about parish life, complete with anecdotal examples, explaining the significance of the Poor Laws and the Turnpike Acts to the ordinary parishioner. An appendix details other types of boundary marks also to be seen in and around Bristol together with information on such oddities as a "Tyburn Ticket".

St John's Conduit - an account of one of Bristol's medieval water systems

To find out who built them, why and how, get a copy of this book, the only full account of the history and development. The book is packed with maps, plans, sketches and photographs showing how is today.

Abstract:

Bristol, today home to half a million people and a major contributor to the European Aerospace industry, grew from a key medieval town and staple port. Yet today, in AD 2003, it still has a number of surviving examples of medieval leaden water conduits. Bristol situated on the border between the ancient Kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia, and probably because of its role as a staple port, became the second most important town in medieval England.

Bristol's importance led to four Monastic orders and other religious houses establishing themselves in or around the medieval town. This book focuses on the engineering achievements of one such order, that of the Carmelite, or White Friars, although other ancient monastic water supply systems in Bristol and elsewhere, are referred to for comparison. The Carmelites' system of pipes and tunnels dating from 1267 was built to carry and safeguard the water from their springs on the upper slopes of the surrounding hills, down to their Friary a third of a mile away - the singularities of the route necessitating a sealed pipe for part of the route. In 1376 they extended their system to provide water for their neighbouring parishioners. After the confiscation of their possessions on 30th July 1538 by the King (The Reformation), their water supply and pipe, although continuing as a supply for the Parishioners, was also put to a number of secular uses.

Our group's research started in 1986 with a field survey to develop a topographical overview of the system and to gain an understanding of the problems facing the Monastic engineers. The findings of this initial survey enabled a framework to be established for the main research and to place the results into the historical context of life in Bristol in the Middle Ages. Subsequent analysis and comparative research with other systems enabled the identification of the manufacturing methods used for the pipe construction, together with the engineering reasoning and methodology, as well as the maintenance and financial background.

The civic authorities responsible for the maintenance of the system today in 2003, seven hundred and thirty six years after its construction, use the information arising from this research. Historians are also given an insight into an often-overlooked aspect of life in a medieval English town.

Bristol's First Street Directory

Learn all about Bristol's streets, their name derivation, changes that have taken place since 1755, the residents, long gone trades, etc. etc.

This 72 page book is a compilation and extension to Mr. Sketchley's 1755 Bristol Residents Directory, re-arranged into street order, together with a location guide for many of Bristol's Courts, Alleys, Squares and backwaters not listed in the main directories. Additionally, a forward to each street entry describes its derivation and lists changes that have taken place between 1755 and 1911; of particular value encompassing as it does the major road changes implemented during the Victorian era.

We believe that this publication will become a valuable reference work for Local Historians and Family History researchers.

Learn about places such as : Alderskey Lane, Unity Street, Quiet Woman's Entry, Welsh Back, Bucket-Well Court, Culver Street, Pipe Lane, Rock Court, Wine Street, Taylor's Court…. Who were the Grutt makers? Why were there two slop sellers on Narrow Quay? All this and much more for only £5.00

"BRISTOL CONNECTIONS"

This issue of our Journal concentrates on articles dealing with connections between Bristol and other places such as America and Europe.

CONTENTS

• Looking Back - Memories of Horfield in the 1920's
• Famous Bristolians, Doctor Elizabeth Blackwell, - The story of a Medical Pioneer (including details of a plaque appeal).
• Bristol, Cradle of America, - 1497 to 1776.
• Ley Lines in Bristol - From Alfred Watkins to recent discoveries.
• John King - Surgeon of Clifton
• Some Georgian Letters - Chance discovery links, Redcliffe, Chipping Sodbury, Falmouth.
• Bristol 'Notes and Queries' - short pieces of general interest
  • Memories of the Mabys
  • James Edward Bird - a Bristol Artist
  • The Mills at St. James' Back & Castle Mill Street
  • Price Powell, Graham Farr & The Coach & Horses
  • Vindovala - More on the Templars' Bath.
  • A Mysterious Plaque - Soil makers
  • Christmas Steps - An appeal
  • Interlinking Businesses
  • Underground Water
  • The Temple Conduit - An update
  • Memories of an Exile
  • The Window Tax Revealed - Explanation & Table of Costs