Bristol is a city known for its love and abundance of independent stores and high streets, supposedly boasting the longest independent high street in Europe, Gloucester Road.
More recent shopping quarters, such as Wapping Wharf have also been cemented as city-favourite shopping destinations as an emphasis is placed on local, high street shopping following the Covid pandemic.
However, Bristol has changed immeasurably as a city over the years with many areas being completely renovated - with high streets being unable to escape this trend.
Bristol World has put together a collection of postcard images from Know Your Area which allows us to peer into the past at 10 of the city’s high streets. Some areas may be unrecognisable while others will have shops still trading today, perhaps under a different name.
Here are the 10 high streets we have chosen (credit: BCC/Vaughan Postcards) :
1. Park Street, 1913.
This image was taken looking up Park Street and predates the now-iconic Wills Tower which would be built in 1925. On the right hand side you can see businesses such as John J Brownlow, costumier, dress and mantle maker.
2. Bedminster, East Street 1915-1920
An image of Bedminster’s East Street taken from British Road, then named Victoria Street. The name was changed to avoid confusion with the city’s other Victoria Streets.
3. Gloucester Road, 1905
Arguably Bristol’s most famous high street, here Gloucester Road is traffic-free. On the right is J Pearce, the ironmonger which today trades as Pearce’s Hardware store.
4. Two Mile Hill, year unknown
Two pubs can be seen here on Two Mile Hill Road, year unknown. The Prince Albert pub, based in number 130, is found on the right with the Rose and Crown opposite in number 111.