PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 CLXXV 



From the "Back of Avon " w^here, as we have seen, the shipping lay, 

 and the mei'chants' residences and traders' warehouses stood, to the 

 northern end of old Bristol bridge was but a step, inasmuch as there the 

 one joined the other. Representations of the old bridge show a curious 

 structure not unlike the old London bridge, so much better known. It 

 was formed of four pointed arches with massive buttresses, and above 

 towered the tall houses and shops w^th projecting bays, half-timbered 

 fronts, and gabled roofs, overhanging the river below. Between the two 

 rows of tenements ran the narrow roadwa}', which was still further con- 

 tracted half-way across by an archway, above which rose the chapel of the 

 Assumption of Our Lady, much resorted to by the mariners frequenting 

 the port. This ver}' old-world structure was erected as far back as 1247, 

 when it became the link between the oi'iginal town and the districts of 

 Kedclift' and Temple, which were then incorporated with it. For five 

 hundred years it stood, with its immense superincumbent weight, until 

 in 1761 it was taken down to make way for a modern structure. At the 

 end of the fifteenth century, therefore, it was just about half-way through 

 its long period of usefulness. The tall houses on the western side looked 

 across a bend in the river, immediately on to the Back, with the mercan- 

 tile surroundings which I have described. 



We are left to conjecture respecting the precise locality in the port of 

 Bristol, at which the "Matthew" lay moored on the morning of May 2, 

 four hundred years ago. It may have been at the " Back of Avon," so 

 often referred to, or at the "key " which ran up to Small street, where 

 many of the merchants dwelt, or from a little creek or rill that ran inland 

 close to St. Mar}' Red cliff church. This being a matter of conjecture, I 

 must incline to the ^'Back" as the probable place of departure, and on 

 that supposition one can, without any vindue stretch of imagination, pic- 

 ture the scene when the " Matthew " emerged from amongst the other 

 little vessels that lay there, and glided down the river on the ebbing tide 

 of that ever memorable day. Groups of the merchant adventurers stand 

 upon the " back " gravely discussing the chance of this new undertaking. 

 Around the little vessel that was destined to accomplish so much, small 

 boats are lingering with " Bristol boys " who wish they could change 

 places with those on board. Upon the deck stand the Cabots, father and 

 son (supposing them both to have been there), the one the soul and in- 

 spiration of the undertaking, the other wistful and waiting for develop- 

 ments. And now, as the vessel swings round, they take a last look at the 

 old bridge, and see from above many hands waving a hearty farewell. 

 The eighteen determined men who formed the crew are on the alert, and 

 so away they go, down the narrow winding river, out upon the broad 

 bosom of the Severn sea, and away westward into unknown depths of 

 ocean, at last to reach that mysterious coast which many had sought but 

 had not found. 



