Queen Square
Queen Square is one of Bristol's great open spaces: a two-hectare Georgian square begun in 1700 on former marshland, lined with tall houses and centred on Rysbrack's bronze statue of William III. It sits a few minutes' walk from the harbourside, making it an easy pause between the old city and the docks.
Photos
Male Pequeño
From marsh to merchants' square
In 1699 the city decided to ring a stretch of marsh with houses, and building started the following year. Queen Anne and Prince George visited in 1702, and the square came to be known as Queen Square. Avenues of 257 trees were planted in 1716, and the whole area is now a Conservation Area.
The statue and the riots
The equestrian statue of William III was cast in 1733 by John Michael Rysbrack and put up in 1736, paid for jointly by the City Corporation and the Society of Merchant Venturers. It is Grade I listed. In October 1831, during unrest before the Reform Bill, rioting centred on the statue and two sides of the square were burnt. The statue spent the Second World War at Badminton and came back in 1948.
Using the square today
Most visitors cross it on the way between the city centre and the harbour, but it rewards a slower look: walk the perimeter to take in the Georgian frontages, then sit near the statue. It works well as a picnic spot before a show at Bristol Old Vic on King Street, or as a breather between drinks at Small Bar and dinner nearby.
Highlights
- Georgian square begun in 1700
- Rysbrack's Grade I statue of William III (1736)
- Two sides burnt in the 1831 Reform riots
- Covers around two hectares
- Short walk from King Street and the harbourside
Good to know
- The square is a public open space with no entry charge.
- It lies within a Conservation Area, so the surrounding buildings are protected.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: parksandgardens.org · en.wikipedia.org