Looking at Buildings

This and St. Peter\'s [2] are evidence of the severe blitz raids that obliterated this area in 1940-41. Previously this was a densely packed area of medieval and later buildings and the heart of Bristol's shopping centre, which was redeveloped at Broadmead after the war. St Mary's is possibly of pre-Conquest foundation - Bristol itself was probably established as a trading settlement around the late C10. The church was much rebuilt and enlarged between the late C11 and the C16. All that remains now is the C15 Perp. tower, with a good Bristol spirelet [3] topping the stair turret. The rest is now low rubbleGlossary Term [4] walls. The 5 bayGlossary Term [5] naveGlossary Term [6], N aisleGlossary Term [7] and narrow chancelGlossary Term [8] can be seen in outline. Stone slabs in the grass mark the naveGlossary Term [9] arcadeGlossary Term [10]. Still visible, a small priests' door in the S chancelGlossary Term [11] wall, roodGlossary Term [12] stairs and foundations of a N porch. In the 1930s John Betjeman described the liturgy at St. Mary-le-Port as "black-gown Calvinist".