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

Bristol, the " Metropolis of the West, " is situated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, but is independent of both, having been created a county by special charter of Edward III. The early history of the town is lost in the mists of antiquity, but it was undoubtedly a place of importance at the time of the Roman evacuation (occupation??) of Britain.

In Norman times, the walled town was of less than twenty acres in extent ; and, standing on a peninsula, with the land approach effectually guarded by a powerful Castle, some six acres in area, it fulfilled all the necessary conditions of strength and defence in that age of feudalism. Bristol Castle indeed, was, up to the time of its demolition by order of Cromwell, one of the strongest fortresses in the kingdom.

As a port, Bristol has always held a foremost place. It is reputed to be the oldest seaport in the kingdom, and so far back as in the reign of King Stephen it was described as being " the most famous place of commerce nest to London. "

Bristolians are justly proud of the fact that it was a Bristol crew on board a Bristol ship which first set eyes on the mainland of America. The honour belongs to John Cabot and his son Sebastian, who in May 1496, sailed down the Avon, and made their great and memorable voyage of discovery across the Atlantic.

To Bristol also belongs the honour of having first established steam communication with America, the " Great Western, " which was launched at Bristol in 1837, accomplishing the journey in 1838 in a little over fifteen days.

The visitor who wishes to make a circular tour of the older parts of the city will do well to take Temple Meads Railway Station (Joint G.W.R. and L.M.S.) as his starting point.

The article goes on to describe many of the buildings and features of the city, but little of relevance to our Penarth Dock story, hence, this chapter has been abridged.