Bristol
Bristol is a city and county in south-west England. It received a Royal Charter in 1155 and became a county of itself in 1373. It has been a city since 1542 when the Cathedral was founded. In 1974 it became a district within the county of Avon, but Avon was abolished in 1996, when Bristol regarined its county status and became a unitary authority. In mediaeval times Bristol was one of the most important towns in England, and a port second only to London. Much of its subsequent growth was connected with the slave trade.
Notable Bristol landmarks include the Clifton Suspension Bridge across the Avon Gorge. In 1961 John Betjeman described Bristol as "the most beautiful, interesting and distinguished city in England".[1]
LGBT history
In the early 1970s there was a Bristol GLF branch.
Gay West, founded 1982, is a support and social group for LGBT people. The history of the group, and other groups in the area, is described in Gay West (2011) by Robert Howes.
Local sports teams include Bristol Bisons RFC and Bristol Cycle Out.
References
- ↑ Reece Winstone, Bristol's Suburbs Long Ago 1985, page=124
