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North Street, BRISTOL, BS3 1HT

Perhaps the most changed name of Bedminster's old pubs, this is now called The Bay. Previously it was Bar Salt from October 2010, prior to that it was the Aurora, prior to that it was the Florian and Firkin. Most older locals would call it The Star, which it was for many years, but it was actually The Bull from the 1800's. Landlord of the time in 1827, a Mr Martin boosted trade by buying a tiger, which he kept in a cage in the saloon. To further boost business he offered a certain Joseph Kiddle a cash incentive to get into the cage with it. Suffice to say the pub received plenty of publicity surrounding the inquest...

The Steam Crane is named after the Bristol historic landmark Fairbairn Steam Crane which is the world’s only surviving example. The pub has a colourful history - it was here that John Horton, an 18 year old miner from Hanham, was tried and convicted of murdering his former girlfriend Eliza Balsom. Two days later on 13th April 1821, he became the first person to be executed by hanging at the New Bristol Gaol. When their relationship had ended in 1820, he had allegedly sworn that he would ‘mash her bones to pieces’ if he ever saw her with another man. Early in 1821, spotting Eliza with her new boyfriend, he threw a stone at her, striking her on the head causing a minor injury, but she was treated at the Bristol Royal Infirmary for a depressed fracture and Dr. Richard Smith decided to operate, causing a fatal abscess. She died on 17 February 1821. After the public hanging, John Horton’s body was handed over to Dr Smith for dissection. Although that wasn’t unusual in itself, events took a macabre turn when Dr Smith also had the body skinned, tanned and used to bind the Book of Skin, which is today kept at the M Shed museum in Bristol and is embossed with a gallows motif.

This pub at the corner of North Street and Cannon Street has had almost as many name changes as layers of paint. Its current name refers to the old steam powered dock crane of the mid-1800s on the old city docks - which is still there!

The Steam Crane originally opened as 'The Bull' in 1712. It was rebuilt in 1736 when it became the 'Star Inn'. There was a paddock just north of the pub known as Bull Close, which became the bowling green for the Star Inn. This bowling green was built over during the late 19th century. During the 1990s the pub was occupied by 'The Florikan and Firkin' and 'The Aurora'. Until 2010c. the pub was occupied by Salt bar. It was then 'The Bay Bar & Kitchen' until the Steam Crane opened in 2014. On 15th February 1827 a 25 year old man named Joseph Kiddle was mauled to death by a lion, named Nero. A wild animal caravan was being temporarily stored in the bowling green at the back of what was then the Star Inn. On 11th April 1821, John Horton was convicted of murder at the Star Inn. He was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Eliza Balsom. On 13th April he became the first person to be executed by hanging at the Bristol New Gaol. He was buried on 13th April 2011 at Christ Church, Hanham

A view up North Street also showing the old pub. See Image] for a better view of the Bay.

This is now the Steam Crane. Previously it would have been called the Bay, the Florian and Firkin, the Aurora, the Star, the Bull or other such. The crane in picture is the Fairburn Steam Crane - an historic piece of dockside iron that remains on the old docks to this day.

A rather pointed piece of artwork on an old surgery at the junction of Cannon Street and North Street.

This old boozer at the bottom of Dean Lane has had as many new coats as it has new names. Today, its many layers have been removed and gone back to the original brickwork. The Star Inn appears here on maps from the 1820s.

At the junction of North Street and Merrywood Road is an estate agent - look up above to see an inscription, Poets Corner 1882, and a head. Southey & Coleridge had connections with Bedminster, but the poet here was the owner of a butcher's shop in this location who was renowned for bad music-hall type poetry and the monument was erected as a joke. See close up Image

The monument to the butcher poet who owned this property at one time. On the corner of North Street and Merrywood Road. See Image