MShed_800x53328th and 29th September 2019

Explore Bristol’s maritime past at Docks Heritage Weekend 2019, with events for all ages at Underfall Yard, M Shed and SS Great Britain. This annual event celebrates the important story of Bristol’s historic Docks, which were the centre of the city’s trade for centuries. Eclipsed after the 1920s by Avonmouth Docks, the last regular trading ship departed in 1974 and the Docks were closed to commercial shipping in 1975. Since then the Harbour has been regenerated into the leisure, residential and business centre that we see today.  This special weekend offers a taster of yesteryear with fun and engaging activities for all the family.

At Underfall Yard you can:

  • Experience demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing
  • Watch the pumps that powered a port running on the hour from 11am – 4pm
  • Learn about historic tools with Tools and Trades History Association and play ‘guess the tool’
  • Go behind the scenes in the magnificent Victorian Workshops. Only recently restored to working order, all the line-shafting will be in operation and several of the yard’s Victorian machines will be at work turning, planing and shaping metal
  • Appreciate engineering in miniature with demonstrations of our collection of model stationary steam engines and workshops
  • Try your hand at knots and rope work with the International Guild of Knot Tyers
  • Visit the Sluice Room and discover the elegant Georgian engineering that makes Underfall Yard the most important piece of land in Bristol
  • Enjoy entertainment courtesy of Bristol based shanty group the Harry Browns

Docks Heritage Weekend events at Underfall Yard are free to visit. Donations to Underfall Yard Charitable Trust are gratefully received.