The setting of
A Manner of Walking is based on the city of Bristol, and if you are familiar with the city you will no doubt be able to visualise some of the places described. A significant area of the Bristol of the 1920s has changed beyond recognition, due in great part to the bombing suffered during Word War II. However, the road close to which my family owned a blacksmith's business, Blackboy Hill, is still much the same as it was over a hundred years ago. The trams have gone, of course, taken out of service from the end of the 1930s, but it is still a busy thoroughfare, with shops and businesses on either side. Most of the buildings that were there in 1925 are still standing. See the photographs below.
 |
| Blackboy Hill in the early years of the last century |
 |
| Blackboy Hill in May 2016 |
In the story, the hill in question is called "Upstoke Hill" and
Larkin's blacksmith business is situated in the fictitious Cotterell Road, a turning off the hill. From Larkin's, the young blacksmith,
Joe Wallace, would take the tram every working day to and from his humble home in Empire Road, near the city docks. It is in a shop window front in Upstoke Hill that he first catches sight of the very tearful
Elspeth Randall...
As a Bristolian, I was keen to include other notable locations in the city, too, such as "The Fields", which is reminiscent of the famous Downs.
The Tramways Centre also features, as the spot where
Penrose, togther with her girl friend Letitia, get up to some unladylike mischief.
Your article is very informative and useful for us to know more about the BRISTOL. I would like to thanks for sharing this article here. If you are looking for the best Pubs and Bars in Bristol, Visit WhatsoninBristol.net
ReplyDelete