Frome Bridge Multi-Cache
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Brenda
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Size: 
(micro)
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This is one of a series of urban caches that I will be using as an opportunity to relay some of Bristol’s fascinating history.
The strip of land largely enclosed by the rivers Avon and Frome was where the Saxons founded Brigstow at around the end of the 10th century. At this time the Frome would have flowed approximately along what are now Broad Weir, Fairfax Street, Rupert Street, St Stephens Street and Baldwin Street to meet the Avon near Bristol Bridge. By the middle of the 12th century the city was further protected by stone walls and a castle at the eastern end of what is now Castle Park (the construction of the moat meant the city was completely encircled by water). Bristol Bridge (sited where it is now) was the main crossing heading south into Somerset; Frome Bridge (also known at various times as Stone Bridge or St John's Bridge) provided the main crossing north towards Gloucester and was accessed through St John’s Gate at the bottom of Broad Street.
During the 12th and 13th centuries a large number of monastic houses, hospitals and almshouses were established on the north side of the Frome, including that of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in circa 1231-4 just west of the Frome Bridge. This particular hospital was relatively impoverished and was only slowly and economically constructed over the pre-existing buildings (the round piers now visible within the renovated courtyard predate the hospital). It would have housed the sick in return for their prayers on behalf of the benefactor (originally Sir John la Warre).
St Bartholomew’s Hospital was at the foot of one of the more arduous routes up the cliff that had been cut out by the river Frome: Stypestrete (or Steep Street). The route became Queene Street sometime in the 17th century and was paved with stone in 1669 by wine merchant Jonathan Blackwell. Later on again it became known as the Christmas Steps, perhaps after the Knyfesmyths (knifesmiths) who used to trade there. The Steps continue to provide an evocative impression of what it was like to live and work in city in the Age in Discovery, and is consequently a much used film and TV location.
Let’s get back to the Frome. In the mid 13th century the river was diverted onto a new course from the Frome Bridge to travel directly down St Augustine’s Parade / Broad Quay to the waters of the current floating harbour. The diversion provided significantly more harbourage for ocean going ships and enabled the draining of the marsh land now additionally enclosed by the two rivers. The Frome remained open along its whole length up to 1858, when it was crossed by some 13 bridges; since then culverts have been built to carry the river under the streets of the modern city centre.
To get to the cache, you'll need to start at the headline location and walk down the Christmas Steps to where the Frome Bridge was once sited, whilst determining the following on route:
- Queene Street was paved in month A of 1669.
- B figures were relocated from Marsh Street Hall.
- One could order a number at number C.
- D sugar loaves were baked.
- E headless figures can be seen inside the entrance to St Bartholomew’s Hospital (the courtyard beyond is worth a visit during normal working hours).
- The Cloaked Horseman was presented to the city in 19F4.
The cache, which is a micro, is now close nearby at:
N51 27.(A-C-E)(B)(D) W02 35.(F-E)(B+D)(C)
N.B. A primary source for the above history is Roger Price and Michael Ponsford’s “St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Bristol (The Excavation of a Medieval Hospital, Bristol 1976-8)” as published by the Council for British Archaeology in 1998 with ISBN 1872414818.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur terra bar jvgu ahzoref.
Treasures
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