Fascinating aerial photos offer bird’s eye view of Bristol and beyond in the 1970s
Rare images from the past reveal lost buildings and long-gone industry, as well as new construction and city landmarks that live on in the 21st century
![University of Bristol, 1970](https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article6622122.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200/0_Bristol-University-of-Bristol-1970.jpg)
It’s always fascinating to see familiar neighbourhoods and scenes pictured from high in the sky, but these aerial images from the archives have the added attraction of turning the clock back to how things used to be in and around Bristol in the 1970s.
This collection of heritage gems reveal distinctive parts of the city and surrounding areas where some things have changed out of all recognition, and others where the core remains the same, but with key differences.
The view of the University of Bristol in 1970 focuses on the original University Precinct, Royal Fort House and gardens, with the Queen's Building in the foreground. The historic Temple Meads Railway Station and its neighbourhood were photographed in 1975 when there were still huge freight sheds for goods arriving by train.
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Avonmouth Bridge can be seen under construction at Shirehampton in 1970 when the foundations and piers for the bridge across the River Avon were already in place.
Canon's Marsh has been redeveloped beyond recognition since this 1970 photo of a mostly run-down industrial area. The gas works were still operating, along with the 1930s warehouse that was later replaced by the Lloyds Bank HQ at Millennium Square.
Work can be seen underway on the M5 motorway. In another photo from that year, the Almondsbury Interchange - Junction 15 on the M5 and Junction 20 on the M4 - build was in progress, before the M5 was opened.
At Wapping Dockyard in 1970, the SS Great Britain had just returned to the same dry dock that was purpose-built for its construction by the Great Western Steamship Company between 1839 and 1843. The historic ship was eventually restored to its full glory and opened to visitors as a living museum in 2005.
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Over at Portishead Dock in 1970 there’s no hint of the leisure enclave it would be 50 years later. The 19th century deep water dock was built to accommodate large ships that had difficulty reaching Bristol Harbour, but when the nearby power stations shut down 40 years ago, the dock gradually became redundant and closed in 1992. It’s now a residential district and popular destination with shops, restaurants, pubs and public art, as well as the busy marina.
Clifton Suspension Bridge, Observation Hill and the suburb of Clifton, Bristol, pictured in 1971 by artist Jim Hancock look little altered today, while his image of the Royal Edward Dock at Avonmouth the same year confirms its continuing industrial role.
Finally, we can see Bristol Airport as it was in 1970. The old 1940 RAF relief landing ground was converted into a new airport for Bristol in 1957. In the 1960s the A new control tower was added in 1962 and both the terminal building and runway were extended in 1965. In 1970 it saw in the region of 250,000 passengers coming through the airport; at its peak in 2019, following a huge expansion programme, it was handling over 8.9 million.
What are the landmarks and old haunts you miss from these views, and what has replaced them? Do let us know in the comments section below.
For beautiful, historic images from the past have a look at memorylane.co.uk and see what you can discover
Temple Meads Railway Station, Bristol, 1975
(Image: English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images)1 of 9Avonmouth Bridge under construction, Shirehampton, Bristol, 1970
(Image: English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images)2 of 9Canon's Marsh, Bristol, 1970
(Image: English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images)3 of 9