Bristol, a city of England, a county of itself, but lying within the limits of Gloucestershire and Somersetshire, on the Avon, at its confluence with the Frome, 8 miles from Bristol Channel, and I 18 miles by rail W. of London. Several railways meet here. Bristol is one of the leading British ports in the foreign trade. It is noted for its fine public buildings, among which are the cathedral, the guild hall, the museum and library, the exchange, two colleges, the famous Muller's Orphan House, numerous fine churches, the public hospital, and other charities. Large ships can ascend the river to the city, where spacious docks, quays, and ship-yards have been constructed; and at King road, or Avonmouth, there are additional facilities for unloading and freighting ships. It is the seat of numerous schools, and of large and varied manufactures, prominent among which are those of metallic wares, soap, shoes, leather, hats, glass, bricks, spirits, stays, cottons, and chocolate. It is the fourth town of Great Britain in amount of customs revenue. Pop. in 1891, 221,665. The name Bristol seems to be derived from Briestow, an old Saxon name of this city, which may be literally translated "breach place;" i.e., the place or town of the breach or chasm through which the Avon finds a passage to the sea. The ancient British name was Caer-Odor, the "city of the breach."
Bristol, a city of England, a county of itself, but lying within the limits of Gloucestershire and Somersetshire, on the Avon, at its confluence with the Frome, 8 miles from Bristol Channel, and I 18 miles by rail W. of London. Several railways meet here. Bristol is one of the leading British ports in the foreign trade. It is noted for its fine public buildings, among which are the cathedral, the guild hall, the museum and library, the exchange, two colleges, the famous Muller's Orphan House, numerous fine churches, the public hospital, and other charities. Large ships can ascend the river to the city, where spacious docks, quays, and ship-yards have been constructed; and at King road, or Avonmouth, there are additional facilities for unloading and freighting ships. It is the seat of numerous schools, and of large and varied manufactures, prominent among which are those of metallic wares, soap, shoes, leather, hats, glass, bricks, spirits, stays, cottons, and chocolate. It is the fourth town of Great Britain in amount of customs revenue. Pop. in 1891, 221,665. The name Bristol seems to be derived from Briestow, an old Saxon name of this city, which may be literally translated "breach place;" i.e., the place or town of the breach or chasm through which the Avon finds a passage to the sea. The ancient British name was Caer-Odor, the "city of the breach."
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