158 Discovery of the Scite of Prior's- Hill Redoubt. 



The ground occupied by these fortifications is a long ridge, rising abruptly 

 from the Avon to form Brandon Hill, and terminating also abruptly at 

 Kingsdown, on the north. 



In the centre of this line, upon St. Michael's Hill, was thrown up St. 

 Michael's, or the Windmill Redoubt, which was subsequently enlarged and 

 converted into a regular pentagonal fort, and is usually mentioned in the 

 transactions of the period as the " Royal Fort." From hence, on the left, 

 a covered way passed down the hill, crossed the present road a little above 

 the top of Park Street, and passing diagonally across the ground on which 

 Berkeley Square now stands, terminated in the Brandon Redoubt, which 

 still crowns the hill of that name. From hence the line descended towards 

 the Avon, and just at the bottom of Limekiln Lane terminated in the 

 " Water Redoubt," beyond which, recommencing, it finally terminated a 

 few yards further on, in the river. 



A similar line of defence extended itself in a contrary direction, guarded 

 also by two redoubts, one behind the present Montague Parade, called 

 " Colston's Mount," and the other upon a hill formerly belonging to the 

 priory of St. James, Prior's Hill. 



The lines were thus strengthened by a central fort, two flanking and two 

 intermediate redoubts. 



During the siege of Bristol, first by the royal, and afterwards by the 

 parliamentary party, these works, and more especially their extreme flanks, 

 became points of great importance, and no pains were spared, both to take 

 and to defend them. 



The redoubt on Prior's Hill, in particular, was the scene of many fierce 

 skirmishes ; and after having been battered from the adjacent hill (Mont- 

 pelier) by Cromwell and Fairfax in person, was finally taken by storm, and 

 the greater number of its defenders put to the sword. 



This redoubt then, upon the loss of which the city surrendered, is in 

 some measure identified with its history; but its exact scite had fallen into 

 oblivion. 



A few weeks since, some labourers employed in cutting a new road, in 

 what is called " Mother Pugsley's field,"* directly opposite to the north 

 wing of the last house in Somerset Street, discovered a considerable num- 

 ber of leaden bullets, slugs, and tobacco-pipe bowls. The bullets were of 

 twelve to the pound, some flattened, having being fired, and others un- 

 used. The bowls belonged to a kind of pipe called, from its resemblance 

 to the head and bill of that bird, the " woodcock's-head pipe." The bowls 

 are small, thick, and globular ; and round their margin is a narrow milled 



* Pugsley was the owner of the field in which the work stood, and held a com- 

 mand under Prince Rupert. He was shot in or near the fort, and was buried where 

 he fell, with military honours. His widow died in 1700, at the age of eighty : she 

 was remarkable for her attachment to the memoi-y of her husband, and for the ex- 

 centricity of her funeral. 



