Bristol After The Bombs Volume 1

Description

After it was devastated by the Luftwaffe’s bombing raids during the Second World War, much of Central Bristol was rebuilt in the 1950s, and a new shopping centre emerged in Broadmead. Illustrated by evocative archive film, never previously released on DVD, and stunning period photographs, this is the story of how and why the city underwent such massive changes. Until it was virtually wiped out in 1940, Castle Street was Bristol’s principal shopping area. The planners decided that Broadmead was to be the post-war retail centre, and stores such as Woolworths and Marks & Spencer were among the first of the new arrivals in the early 1950s. Towards the end of the decade, the huge structures of Lewis’s and Jones’ dominated the scene. You will also see glimpses of pubs, streets and businesses which were swept away by these new developments. The story is enhanced by interviewees who remember the city at that time, and modern film which provides a comparison with many of the places depicted in the archive footage. Produced in association with Bristol Record Office, and narrated by eminent local historian and author Mike Hooper, this documentary will be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in Bristol, past or present.