A reminisce as Mike Hooper took us back up Castle Street and on into Old Market. A great presentation of old photographs mainly before WW2 compared to more current. A great deal of Castle Street being destroyed in the blitz.

Castle Street being the main central shopping area for Bristol. In this Street you would of found BHS, M&S, Boots, the Coop but a few. Indeed the Coop was the only main shop to survive.

There was good interaction with the audience, as one remembered playing snooker on the top floor of BHS. There was some tittering as others remember getting off the bus outside The Tatler.

Rogers Brewery was quite a dominant building overlooking the area. Just a wall now remains on one side of Castlegate House.

Other notable discussion points; Central Hall ( still there) which had seating for 2000 people, Bristol’s first street light was in Old Market, The Empire Palace of Variety, Drill Hall for 4^th battalion Glouc. Regiment. I could go on.

A quandary was Trinity Church, Mike showed us a picture of another similar church. However, no one new where this second church could be, has to be the same architect?

We were all greatly entertained, thanks to Mike.

Next meeting at the Park Centre, Kingswood is Tuesday 5^th September, 7pm for 7.30 pm start.

Presentation by Madeleine Bills on Town Cryer (please refer to website for any late change).

Visitors £3.50 incl tea/coffee and biscuit.

Full schedule of presentations for 2023 can be found at www.kingswoodhistorysociety.org