Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - The Bristol Channel District Guide - selected articles - [1934 Edition] . . . .

Within a radius of one hundred miles is a population of not fewer than ten millions for whose requirements - imports and exports - the Port of Bristol acts as the most conveniently situated medium of transit. Produce is distributed through the Port to upwards of 1,500 cities and towns.

In ocean distance Avonmouth is twenty-nine miles nearer New York than Liverpool ; eighty-eight nearer than Southampton ; and 253 nearer than London ;  and is 116 miles nearer Melbourne than Liverpool ; 155 nearer than London ; and 275 nearer than Hull.

The Passenger Station at the Royal Edward Dock, equipped with the customs Examination and Waiting Rooms Telegraph Office, Buffet, etc., is chiefly used for passenger services with the West Indies by Messrs. Elders & Fyffes' Line, the Federal Line from Australia and New Zealand, and the Henderson and Bibby Lines direct from Rangoon.

The train journey between this station and London and Birmingham occupies only two hours. For the purpose of anticipated industrial developments the Port Authority has acquired recently the " Chittering Estate " of 270 acres for site for factories.

Portishead Dock, on our left, a little below the mouth of the Avon, was opened in 1879, and has an area of twelve acres. grain, timber and petroleum spirit are the principal commodities dealt with at this Dock.

There is a Pier, at which Campbell steamers occasionally call. Near high water mark at Battery Point, we note, has recently been placed a new unwatched group flashing light in a steel framework tower. It has a range of 10 miles.

Shaping our course down Channel, we pass Battery Point (with its Recreation Ground), and the favourite residential suburb of Portishead, situated under wooded hills and partly hidden from view.

The Esplanade extends along the shore for about half a mile, and an ancient coastguard path, called the Mariner's Way, winds along the sea cliff to Clevedon. Unfortunately, the scenery of the coast beyond the Esplanade is not improved by a colony of bungalows which has sprung up -  " a series of crimes, " is one writer's merciless description.