Cabot Tower, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cabot Tower |
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The tower, viewed from Brandon Hill park.
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-Gothic |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′14″N 2°36′24″W / 51.4540°N 2.6068°W |
| Construction started | June 1897 |
| Completed | July 1898 |
| Cost | £3250 |
| Height | 105 feet (32 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Red sandstone, Bath Stone |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Venn Gough |
| Main contractor | Love & Waite |
The Cabot Tower is a famous tower in Bristol, England. You can find it in a public park called Brandon Hill. This park is between the city centre, Clifton, and Hotwells.
The tower was built in the 1890s. It celebrates a very important journey. This journey was made by John Cabot 400 years earlier. He sailed from Bristol to land that is now part of Canada. The tower was closed for repairs from 2007 to 2011. Now, visitors can climb to the top again for amazing views.
Contents
History of Cabot Tower
The spot where Cabot Tower stands has a long history. A chapel might have been there during the Middle Ages. Later, in the 1500s, a windmill stood on the site.
Why the Tower Was Built
The tower was built to remember John Cabot. He was an explorer who sailed from Bristol in 1497. He sailed on his ship, the Matthew. He landed in North America, which later became Canada.
People in Bristol raised money to build the tower. The first stone was laid on June 24, 1897. The tower was finished in July 1898. William Venn Gough was the architect. The builders were Love and Waite from Bristol. There were plans for a lift, but it was never installed.
The tower is so well-known that it gave its name to a local area. This area is called Cabot.
Fixing the Tower
The tower was closed to visitors in 2006. This was because of cracks in its stonework. These cracks were caused by rusty steel inside the tower. It cost about £420,000 to fix it.
After many repairs, the tower reopened on August 16, 2011. The final part of the restoration happened in 2014. A special light was fixed. This light flashes "Cabot Tower, Brandon Hill, Bristol" in Morse code. It had been off since 2001 due to a technical problem.
What the Tower Looks Like
The Cabot Tower is about 105 feet (32 meters) tall. It is made of red sandstone. Cream-colored Bath Stone is used for decoration. Inside, there is a spiral staircase.
There are two viewing platforms at the top. They have metal railings. From these balconies, you can see great views of Bristol. The higher platform is about 334 feet (102 meters) above sea level.
The tower has strong supports called buttresses. These help it stand tall. At the very top, there is an eight-sided spire. It has a ball and a carved winged figure. This figure represents trade and business.
Messages on the Tower
There are special plaques at the base of the tower. They tell us important things:
- One plaque tells us when the tower's first stone was laid. It also says when the tower was opened. This was done by the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava.
- Another plaque is from the Bristol branch of the Peace Society. It hopes for lasting peace and friendship between the people of Britain and America. It also shares a message of peace from the Bible.
- A third plaque explains why the tower was built. It says it was to remember John Cabot's discovery. He found North America on June 24, 1497. He sailed from Bristol on the ship Matthew. He had permission from King Henry VII.
See also
- Cabot Tower (Newfoundland)
- Dingle Tower, Nova Scotia - bronze plaque to John Cabot
