Creativity in Clifton

Creativity in Bristol

My needle felting supplies were running low so this morning I visited the little shop called Creativity in Worrall Road, Clifton, Bristol.   An absolute treasure trove for anyone into wool, fabric or paper crafts.  If you are not able to visit in person then they also offer an online service via their Ebay shop.

A flower in the midst of creation - hand felted wool and mawata silk

This was my first trip to this part of Bristol so after stocking up on supplies I wandered up to Durdham Down for a breath of fresh air high on the hill.   The first thing to catch my eye was the very colourful tent of the Moscow State Circus – but it was too early in the day to spot any of the performers.

Just across the road I noticed a charming old building and to my delight found this to be the public toilets.   

But this HAS to be a first because there above the entrance to the Ladies was a blue plaque.  I wonder whether there are any other WCs in the UK so adorned?  

The plaque is to the memory of Victoria Hughes (1897-1978) who was “loo lady” here from 1939 to 1962.  Victoria found that many of her customers were prostitutes who worked on the Downs and over time she became their confidante and adviser.  She would offer them a cup of tea and listen to their tales.  Victoria’s memoir entitled “Ladies Mile” was published the year before her death and is now on my list of “wants” from Amazon.  The blue plaque was unveiled in 2003.

Just along from the public toilets are posters from the “Downs 150 celebration” in 2011.  I particularly liked the Haymaking poster.  This is forecast to be the last day of our beautiful summer and the golden colours reminded me that Autumn is already here.

Walking down to the City Centre I passed a Gorilla from the 2011 Wow! Gorillas Project when 61 gaily decorated fibreglass gorillas were placed around the city.  “Good Day Mr Gorilla – thank you for making me smile”.

Walls of old buildings within the centre have now become blank canvasses for artists.  The most amazing artwork can be seen right here on the street – free for all to admire.

 Bristol the Beautiful

Bristol - Nipper the HMV Dog

This is one dog who is famous throughout the world.  Even those too young to remember the old wind-up gramophones will have seen the image of this little dog trademarked by HMV.  

The puppy was born in Bristol in 1884 and adopted by Mark Henry Barraud, a scenery designer employed at the Princes Theatre in Park Row.  He was named Nipper because of his tendency to nip at the heels of those passing by.  In 1887 his owner died but he had the good fortune to be taken to Liverpool to live with Mark’s brother, Francis, who was an artist.  Francis would play music on the phonograph which fascinated Nipper.  He would sit with his head cocked to one side listening intentively as the notes floated out. 

Nipper died in 1895 by which time his owner had moved south to Kingston-upon-Thames.  It is said that Nipper was buried in a park surrounded by magnolia trees.  It was a few years after Nipper’s death that Francis painted the picture “Dog looking at and listening to Phonograph”.  The Royal Academy turned it down and it seemed no-one else was interested in the painting either.  Then a friend suggested that Francis change the black horn on the painting for a nice shiny brass one – perhaps this would grab peoples attention.  So Francis went along to a small phonograph manufacturer, The Gramophone Company, and asked if he could borrow a nice shiny horn.  The manager liked the painting and offered to buy it IF Francis would change the phonograph in the picture for one of the new Berliner gramophones.  Francis did just that and later the modified picture became the trademark of Victor & RCA Records and later HMV Records.

Many years later a branch of Lloyds TSB was built on the site of the park where Nipper had been buried and a brass plaque was added commemorating the famous terrier who lies beneath the building.  In 2010 a small road in Kingston upon Thames was named Nipper Alley in commemoration of the dog.

But back to Bristol where in the year 2000 Nipper was honoured with his very own Blue Plaque on Merchant Venturers Building.  

His statue looks down from the plinth above the doorway – but did you know he was there?

A little further down the road I found Nipper in yet another incarnation – in the window of a Violin shop.

After the search for Nipper I wandered down to one of my favourite rest stops in Bristol – the Cathedral Coffee Shop.  To my surprise at the main entrance I was stopped by two burly security guys.  They were both wearing ear pieces and looked quite menacing.  What had I stumbled in on?  Was some head of state visiting?  Did I look like an assassin?  Nothing so exciting – apparently the Cathedral was closed for graduation ceremonies.  “But I was hoping to visit the coffee shop” says I looking down at the sign which clearly stated that the Coffee Shop was open !  I was courteously directed to the back entrance where I was able to walk through the cloisters to the watering hole.

The café also provides a very good loo stop if you are in the area – but better still is the enchanting garden in the churchyard.  The headstones hide beneath luxuriant shrubs and flowers

and the seagull I met TODAY was much better behaved and just wanted to pose for my camera.