Watch again: Manson's Bristol Miscellany Book launch
Online launch of Manson's Bristol Miscellany with author Michael Manson from 24th March 2021
Online launch of Manson's Bristol Miscellany with author Michael Manson from 24th March 2021
Discovering the ‘soul of the city’
People interested in the ‘hidden history’ of Bristol can buy the first volume of an indispensable treasure trove of fascinating discoveries from the city’s rich and diverse past.
People interested in the ‘hidden history’ of Bristol can now purchase the first volume of an indispensable treasure trove of fascinating discoveries from the city’s rich and diverse past.
Manson’s Bristol Miscellany began simply as a compilation of things that piqued his own curiosity as he wandered around the streets he has called home for 45 years in a quest to find the ‘soul of the city’.
He said: “I’m still finding new corners, new streets, new communities even. I’d be delighted if the Miscellany helps readers to see their environment just that little bit more clearly, and maybe embark on their own voyage of discovery.
“The toppling of Edward Colston’s statue in the city centre last June prompted an increased interest in Bristol’s history. It made me think that it was time for a revaluation, and I’ve very much tried to look at Bristol from ‘below’, hence the items included in the book.
From hidden rivers, medieval walls and public protests to links with slavery, prisons and the treatment of mental illness, Michael’s search for the soul of the city has resulted in a ‘curiosity shop’ compendium of interesting snapshots of the city.
He added: ““It was thanks to being in lockdown that I gained the motivation to pull all the loose ends of my compilation together and finish the Miscellany.”
Sometimes informative, frequently fascinating, occasionally shocking, the book is extensively illustrated with some striking images to help recount the city’s power and politics, business and trade, markets and fairs, law and order, mines, plague and much more.
From Britain’s first female doctor to Bristol Cars, even people who think they know Bristol well are likely to discover something new to them in this book’s clearly-written, bitesize sections.
Did Bristol once have its own time zone? Why is the city’s High Cross 40 miles away? Did a Bristol citizen really invent the blanket? It’s all here, and plenty more besides.
Eugene Byrne, Editor of the Bristol Times, said the new publication was: “The result of a long love-affair with the city, and a splendid introduction to all the important milestones in Bristol’s history, with plenty of oddities and surprises for those who think they know it already.”
Steve Poole, Professor of History and Heritage at the University of the West of England, and Director of the Regional History Centre, described the book as: “An indispensable compendium of Bristol ephemera for streetwalking and armchair explorers alike…dig in and enjoy!”
Michael Manson
Michael has written four history books on Bristol as well as three novels. His debut work of fiction, the Bristol-based Where’s My Money?, which was published in 2015, was selected by BBC TV as one of their ‘Books That Made Britain’.
He is also co-founder of the Bristol Short Story Prize and is an organiser of the Bristol Festival of Literature.
Manson’s Bristol Miscellany is available buy now from the Bristol Books website, priced £18.
Bristol Books van
Look out around the Bristol area for an historic 1967 mini van, which is proudly bearing the name of Bristol Books after being lovingly restored and brought to the City.
Look out around the Bristol area for an historic 1967 mini van, which is proudly bearing the name of Bristol Books after being lovingly restored and brought to the City.
Bristol Books is sponsoring the van, which will be used for promotional purposes at bookshops and book fairs in 2021. We love a bit of history and the van has a chequered past having spent some time in a barn in Wales before being rescued for restoration in 2011.
First registered in Aberystwyth the van was originally grey in colour and used by a farmer. Now it is in a Swinging Sixties burgundy and cream livery!
One lifetime of history preserved in print
The latest publication from Bristol Books covers the post-war history of Keynsham and Saltford, taking readers on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
The latest publication from Bristol Books covers the post-war history of Keynsham and Saltford, taking readers on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
The story of Keynsham and Saltford spanning just one lifetime records a host of well-known places and familiar faces from the period between 1945 and 2020.
From the famous Fry’s factory at Somerdale to the changing face of Keynsham’s shops; from the great flood of 1968 to the construction of the by-pass; from the Pascoe family – of pet food and opera fame – to some famous faces of today, such as Bill Bailey and Judd Trump – it’s all preserved in print.
Keynsham & Saltford 1945 – 2020 has been researched and written by members of the Keynsham & Saltford Local History Society.
The 176-page book includes more than 200 photographs and illustrations which help bring the colourful history to life.
The book is split into two sections, the first of which features significant events, beginning with the VE Day celebrations right the way through to April 2020, and the support provided to the local community by Keynsham’s own radio station as people went into lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The second section – “Lives and Times” – first recalls some of the people who have made their mark on Keynsham and Saltford through the decades.
Keynsham & Saltford Local History Society Chairman Richard Dyson edited the book, the idea for which began when the society’s committee discussed how best to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2015.
He said: “When we started, our idea was to compile a chronological account of the period. It soon became clear that this snapshot approach could not cover everything, so we extended our reach to include people of interest who have a local connection, sports clubs and aspects of life that affect us all, such as shops, schools and transport.”
Whether you want to re-kindle old memories or learn about the area’s recent past, the wide-ranging collection of accounts and pictures brings local history to life.
An Alternative Bristol House Through Time
Peter and Sue Cullimore’s Georgian home in the Montpelier area of Bristol was shortlisted for the TV history programme ‘A House Through Time’. The BBC eventually chose a rival property near the city centre for its new four-part series in Bristol.
Peter and Sue Cullimore’s Georgian home in the Montpelier area of Bristol was shortlisted for the TV history programme ‘A House Through Time’. The BBC eventually chose a rival property near the city centre for its new four-part series in Bristol.
But despite narrowly missing out, the couple were inspired to become house history detectives themselves and then write a book about their experience. Peter and Sue re-discovered an assortment of amazing and colourful characters who’ve lived at 60 Fairfield Road over the centuries before them.
These include: a shady French aristocrat whose parents were guillotined in the Revolution; a Quaker philanthropist who twice married into slave-owning local families; an aptly named brewer, Jacob Crook, who tried to sell 60 Fairfield Road when he wasn’t the owner; the Phippen sisters, who ran early schools in Bristol for destitute girls; and a present-day mover and shaker in the city, Penny Gane, who chairs Bristol Women’s Voice.
The book, entitled ‘Saints, Crooks and Slavers’, combines the history with a step-by-step guide for readers on how to research past residents of their own home. There are tips at the end of each chapter on using property deeds, family ancestry websites, Censuses and other sources available to the public.
Peter, a retired TV journalist who worked for Radio Bristol back in the 1980s, admits it’s been a steep learning curve for him and Sue. She is a former senior lecturer in Education at the University of the West of England and compiled the research tips with advice from staff at Bristol Archives.
Peter said: “We’ve been living here for over 30 years. But just because you own or rent a house doesn’t suddenly make you an expert on its history and past residents. Yet it’s amazing what you can pick up very quickly if you put your mind to it, and with a little help from friends.”
He added: “House history detective work is time-consuming, quite addictive and can drive your family mad. But it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on a laptop!
“We hope our experience will encourage many others to delve into the secrets of their own house through time.”
‘Saints, Crooks & Slavers’ (ISBN 9781909446243) is lavishly illustrated with photos and historical maps. Published by Bristol Books it costs £12 and is available now https://www.bristolbooks.org/shop/saints-crooks-and-slavers
The book is also available direct from the author by emailing petercullimore@blueyonder.co.uk and from Max Minerva's Bookshop in Westbury Park and Better Food's outlets in St Werburgh's, Whiteladies Road and Wapping Wharf. It will also be available to buy at Bristol Archives when it reopens later in the summer.