St. James' Priory
Route
Haymarket - Newgate - Castle Park - Penn Street - Quakers Friars - Broadmead - Cabot Circus
Distance
1.6 km
Map
The Haymarket was the location for the Horsefair held in Bristol from 1238. The fair lasted for fifteen days and originally started on July 25th (the feast day of St James) this was later changed to the first fortnight in September. The fair, which was held in the churchyard and adjoining streets, was regarded as the most important of all the Bristol Fairs. By the 17th century, the fair was so prominent that merchant ships sailing into Bristol to attend the fair were frequently attacked by Turkish pirates in the Bristol Channel. The last fair was held in 1837. It also subsequently left its mark on the geography of Bristol as the roundabout nearby was originally named the Horsefair, this was changed more recently to incorporate the Bearpit.
Start your walk at St James Church which sits up behind the White Hart Inn. St James Priory is the oldest building in Bristol and retains some rare original architectural features. It was originally founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1129 by the 1st Earl of Gloucester Robert FitzRoy also known as Robert Rufus and Robert de Caen. The earl was the illegitimate son of King Henry I of England and grandson to William the Conqueror.
St. James Church is a fine Norman Church with some unusual features. The church is entered through the West Front entrance in Whitson Street, where you will see the Norman arcade of arches …
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