Bristol

"What about coating her with black stuff?" "That‟s the last step. We 're not in Bristol or Liverpool."

- Robert Greene and Jack Sparrow, talking about the Wicked Wench

Bristol was a port-city on the south-west coast of England. During the Age of Piracy, it was one of the most prosperous merchant centers in Great Britain.

History
In the late 15th century the merchants of Bristol began to join together to protect their own interests. Their organisation, the Merchant Adventurers was incorporated in 1552. In the 16th century the main exports from Bristol were tin, lead, hides, fish, butter and cheese. However the cloth industry in Bristol declined.

In 1642 came civil war between king and parliament. In December 1642 a parliamentary army occupied Bristol and earthwork defenses were created around the town. In July 1643 the Royalists lay siege to Bristol and soon captured the town. The Royalists held Bristol for more than 2 years. While they occupied the town in 1644-45 there was an outbreak of plague in Bristol. In September 1645 a parliamentary army attacked Bristol. By this time the king was losing the war and the Royalists soon surrendered Bristol. In 1656 Cromwell ordered that Bristol castle be destroyed to prevent it ever falling into Royalist hands.

Bristol boomed in the late 17th century as new colonies were founded in the West Indies and North America. Bristol was well placed to trade with them because of its position in the West. Tobacco was imported from North America and sugar from the West Indies. In the later 17th century a glass industry prospered in Bristol. So did a shipbuilding industry.

In the first half of the 18th century Bristol was heavily involved in the slave trade. Manufactured goods from Bristol such as woollen cloth and brass and iron goods were given to the Africans in return for slaves. The slaves were then transported to the West Indies of North America and sold. The ships then took tobacco, sugar and rum back to Bristol. So the trade formed a triangle.

Glass and shipbuilding also thrived in Bristol. So did a chocolate industry. Some of the tobacco imported from North America was made into snuff in windmills. The metal industry made cannons, chains and anchors. There was also a large brewing industry in Bristol. In the 18th century coal was mined within the boundaries of Bristol.

Behind the scenes
Kevin McNally, who portrayed Joshamee Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, was born in Bristol.

Appearances

 * Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom