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Bristol Leasing

Did You Know?

Bristol began life as a town called Brigg stow, which means the meeting place at the bridge in the old Saxon language. The original town was listed in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 1051.

Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard the Pirate was born in Bristol in the late 1600s and called the city his home. Blackbeard went on to become one of the most infamous pirates in history, and his legacy is still well known to this day.

Bristol has so much to offer and do, you have Clifton Downes where the Zoo is located, the Museum and the University. Its worth having a walk over Clifton Suspension Bridge just for the view. Not to far away is Brunel's Ship the SS Great Britain and if you get the chance to see old Christmas Steps.

Bristol has been a trading port since the Roman era. Trading in tobacco, wine, cotton and more, Bristol is a port city known as the 'Birthplace of America' - John Cabot sailed from the docks on The Matthew to help 'discover' North America in 1497.

The World’s first bungee jump took place in Bristol on 1 April 1979 and was undertaken by members of the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club.

1980s TV magic was made in the cityl, when the anarchic comedy series The Young Ones chose Horfield as the setting for their fictional student house. The old swimming baths on Gloucester Road doubled as a bank in a scene from the final episode.

A Bristol-based firm was the first company in the world to produce solid chocolate bars. This was Fry’s Chocolate led by Joseph Fry. Their chocolate bar: Fry’s Chocolate Cream was first created in 1847 and then mass produced in 1866. Before then, chocolate was only taken as a drink.

Dave Prowse who played Darth Vader in Star Wars came from Kingswood, Bristol.

The medieval town of was incorporated in 1155. The harbour was improved in 1247 by diverting the Frome to the west and building a stone bridge at the point of its former confluence with the Avon.

25% of the world’s nature documentaries are produced in Bristol, many of which star the infamous David Attenborough.

P.J. Kerswell invented the motorcycle and detachable sidecar after opening a riding school in Cheltenham Road in 1887.

The much-loved blackcurrant drink was invented in Bristol at the National Fruit and Cider Institute, originally as a vitamin C supplement. Scientists at the institute turned blackcurrants into a concentrated syrup which could easily be mixed with water to make a healthy drink.

The club's home colours are red and white, and their nickname is The Robins — a robin featured on the club's badge from 1976 to 1994 and from 2019 onwards.

Bristol is a pioneer at many things, but did you know the city introduced the UK to the chocolate easter egg? It was during Easter 1873 that the chocolate producer — Fry’s first concocted the treat, which has been a tradition ever since.

World-renowned guerilla street artist, Banksy, was born in Bristol in the 1970s. Many of his earliest works can still be found throughout the city