Features / history
Saving Bristol’s heritage
As a small flurry of snow begins to fall around her, Emma Brown gazes up at the intricate shell hood above the doorway of the former Merchant Tailors’ Hall.
Found just off Broad Street in the heart of medieval Bristol, Tailors Court and the historic hall within it – built in 1740 and designed by the same architect behind Coopers’ Hall, now part of the Old Vic on King Street – now lies mostly forgotten.
But Emma has visions of it being brought back to life with a walkway created through the sadly neglected St John’s Churchyard to bring people out near the Bank pub.
is needed now More than ever
The council-owned St John’s Churchyard was consecrated in 1409
On Tuesday evening, Emma will be talking about Tailors’ Court as part of her volunteer role with Bristol Heritage Forum. She encourages as many people as possible to meet there at 6pm and promises that they will probably soon head to the nearby Strawberry Thief to continue talking about the area in the warmth over a beer or two.
Tailors Court in bygone days – photo courtesy of Bristol Archives
In her day job, Emma works for the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), with her interest in Tailors’ Court beginning because she has responsibility for looking after the CCT-owned St John on the Wall church at the end of Broad Street – one of the last remaining examples of Bristol’s city wall.
“I never thought that history could be a career for me growing up in Barton Hill,” says Emma, who describes herself as a “through and through Bristolian”.
“It was shop work for me. But now I discover something new every day.”
Two mutilated 15th Century stone figures set into one wall of Tailors Court
Emma’s latest discovery is that the two fifteenth century stone figures within Tailors Court – recently sprayed in gold by persons unknown (“so disheartening,” said Emma) – are probably remnants from the former St George’s Chapel which used to be situated next to and was later within what is now the Guildhall.
In 1551, St George’s Chapel was used as the first ever place to store Bristol’s archives – something which Emma only recently discovered and was particularly excited about.
“Sometimes I feel like Indiana Jones,” Emma says while sipping a coffee in Full Court Press cafe on Broad Street. “I’ve always been absolutely bonkers about history. When you work in heritage, it’s not a nine to five job. This is my hobby and interest as well as my job, and there are so many people that are also passionate about our city.
“I love to walk around Bristol. I look up. I love to tell people about our heritage. It’s brilliant to take people on walks around our city and tell them things they weren’t aware of. I’m not an academic. I’m a total amateur. But I just love it.”
Join Emma at Tailors’ Court at 6pm on Tuesday, February 27 as she leads a discussion about the area’s heritage. For more information about the work of Bristol Heritage Forum, visit www.bristolheritageforum.com
Emma on John Street looking onto St John’s Churchyard – with the white building in the background, the Court House built in 1692, currently privately owned and empty for many years
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