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Christmas Steps (road)
Encyclopedia
Christmas Steps is a historic street in the city centre
of Bristol
, England
.
pronunciation of Knyfesmyth, with the K sounded, may be the origin of the street's modern name. An alternative theory is based on the nativity scene found in a stained glass window of The Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne
, which stands at the top of the steps.
In the 17th century, the Christmas Steps is also believed to have been called Lonsford’s Stairs for a short period, in honour of a Cavalier
officer who was killed at the top of the steps during the siege of Bristol in the English Civil War
.
outside the city walls near the old St Bartholomew's Hospital
, towards St Michael's church
.
The four flights of steps which are dated 1865 and 1881 are grade II listed buildings, and are now home to a variety of shops.
The listed buildings on the steps include:
Bristol city centre
Bristol city centre is the commercial, cultural and business centre of Bristol, England. It is the area south of the central ring road and north of the Floating Harbour, bounded north by St Pauls and Easton, east by Temple Meads and Redcliffe, and west by Clifton and Canon's Marsh...
of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Name
The street was originally called Queene Street in medieval times before becoming known as Knyfesmyth Street, after the tradesmen there. The Middle EnglishMiddle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
pronunciation of Knyfesmyth, with the K sounded, may be the origin of the street's modern name. An alternative theory is based on the nativity scene found in a stained glass window of The Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne
Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne
The Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne is a church in Colston Street, near the top of Christmas Steps, Bristol, England.The chapel was built in 1504 and refaced and roofed in 1861 by Foster and Wood, with further restoration in 1865...
, which stands at the top of the steps.
In the 17th century, the Christmas Steps is also believed to have been called Lonsford’s Stairs for a short period, in honour of a Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
officer who was killed at the top of the steps during the siege of Bristol in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
History
The steep-slanted steps were constructed in September 1669 and were paid for by wealthy wine merchant, Jonathan Blackwell. Prior to this there had been a steep, muddy and narrow street leading from the bridge over the FromeRiver Frome, Bristol
The River Frome is a river, approximately long, which rises in Dodington Park, South Gloucestershire, and flows in a south westerly direction through Bristol, joining the former course of the river Avon in Bristol's Floating Harbour. The mean flow at Frenchay is The name Frome is shared with...
outside the city walls near the old St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, Bristol
St Bartholomew's Hospital is at the bottom of Christmas Steps, in Lewin's Mead, Bristol, England.This 12th century town house was incorporated into a monastery hospital founded in 1240 by Sir John la Warr, 2nd Baron De La Warr , and became Bristol Grammar School from 1532 to 1767, and then Queen...
, towards St Michael's church
St Michael on the Mount Without
St Michael on the Mount Without is a church on St Michaels Hill in Bristol, England, near the University.The tower dates from the mid 15th century, however the rest of the church was rebuilt between 1775 and 1777 by Thomas Paty....
.
The four flights of steps which are dated 1865 and 1881 are grade II listed buildings, and are now home to a variety of shops.
The listed buildings on the steps include:
- No.1 The Sugar Loaf Public House c1720
- No 12 c1800
- No 13 & 14 c1800
- No 15 Late C17, refronted early C19
- No 16 early C19
- N0 18-19 early C19
- No 20 early C19
- No 3 c1800
- No 4 c1800
- No 5 c1800
- No 6 & 7 c1800
In popular culture
- The song Christmas StepsChristmas Steps (song)"Christmas Steps" is a song by Scottish post-rock group Mogwai, from the 1999 album, Come On Die Young. The original version of the song, entitled "Xmas Steps", appears on the 1998 EP, No Education = No Future .-Overview:...
by MogwaiMogwai (band)Mogwai are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite , John Cummings , Barry Burns , Dominic Aitchison , and Martin Bulloch...
is named after the street.