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2832448 Part of the Floating Harbour between Ropewalk and Canon’s Marsh, showing St Mary Redcliffe and the back of the New Gaol, 1822 (pencil & w/c on paper) by O’Neill, Hugh (1784-1824); Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, UK; Bequest of William Jerdone Braikenridge, 1908; British, out of copyright.

William II Canynges (c. 1399–1474) was an English merchant and shipper from Bristol, one of the wealthiest private citizens of his day and an occasional royal financier. He lived in a grand house on Ferry Street, Redcliffe – see below. He served as Mayor of Bristol five times and as MP for Bristol thrice. He was a generous patron of the arts in Bristol, particularly concerning the church of St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol, “The crown of Bristol architecture”. Following the death of his wife Joan in 1467, he renounced civic and commercial life and was ordained a priest in 1468, in which capacity he remained until his death six years later. His tomb effigy in St Mary’s later inspired the boy poet Thomas Chatterton to write the romantic poem “The Storie of William Canynge”.

He appears to have started to specialise in shipping the goods of others rather than trading on his own account. He owned a fleet of at least ten ships, as is stated in William Worcester’s “Itineraries”, one of the largest known in England at that time, and is said to have employed 800 sailors. Three of his ships exceeded 200 tons, then considered large: The Mary Canynges (400 tons), Mary Redcliffe (500 tons) and the Mary and John (900 tons). The last was considered by Worcester “a monster” and had cost £2666 13s. 4d. to build. His combined tonnage was almost 3,000 tons.[Wickipedia]

Part of Canynge Tower/House on Ferry Street – This was on the harbour edge in the 15th century but is now 40 metres away

14 Century stone slipway and quay at Canynge House

Avon (Midland Railway) Wharf 1898 — Midland Railway (Avon) Wharf 1898

This Ordnance Survey Map of 1884 shows the Midland Railway Wharf called Albert Quay

Redcliffe Bridge

There was no bridge between Prince Street and Bristol Bridge up until 1942 but this stretch of the floating harbour was served by two ferries:

Redcliffe Backs Ferry – c1928 – Reece Winston

Redcliffe Backs Ferry operated from 1794 until 1930.

Prior to the building of Redcliffe Bridge there had also been a Grove to Guinea Street ferry from 1882.

Redcliffe Bascule Bridge was built from 1938 before formally opening in 1942 .

Redcliffe Bridge commences building on the Redcliffe side

Redcliffe Bridge being built looking towards The Grove

George Frederick Poppleton (1910 to 1953) was appointed to the City Engineers Department in Bristol City Council probably in 1937. He was appointed Resident Engineer on the planning and construction of Redcliffe Bridge which began in 1938/39 due to his experience of bridge building especially bascule bridges.

After the War George was involved in the upkeep and maintenance of Redcliffe Bridge. Richard, his son, recalls visiting the Bridge control room and watching it being raised and lowered and going down into the ‘engine room’ and to see how it all worked.

Information provided by his sons Alan and Richard Poppleton