Features / history
The historic churchyard saved from dereliction
Every day from dawn to dusk, St John’s Churchyard is open to the public.
It had remained closed and in a state of disrepair for decades but was recently restored and reopened thanks to the commitment of the Old City Action Group.
What is now the graveyard was consecrated by the bishop of Ross in 1409 but a dispute over who actually owned the land continued for much of the 15th century.
is needed now More than ever
The unusual chamber tomb of Hugh Brown tells a family story
The Merchant Taylors’ Guild, whose former meeting hall remains on Tailors Court off Broad Street, disputed parishioners’ rights of access to the churchyard.
In 1489, members of the guild armed with daggers, swords and clubs stopped a funeral procession, and shut the graveyard gates in the face of the church’s rector.
The original entrance to St John’s Churchyard on Tailors Court, whose cobbles have remained unchanged for many years
The size of the churchyard was reduced slightly when John Street was built in the late-18th century, slicing off its north-west side, but apart from this it has remained largely unchanged for more than 500 years.
It was closed for burials in 1854, 16 years after Arnos Vale Cemetery opened for business, and was taken on by Bristol Corporation in the early 1900s and turned into a public park before being closed due to disrepair.
With thanks to money from the nearby Everards Printworks development, the Old City Action Group worked together with Bristol City Council to reopen the graveyard, which now has a new entrance close to the Bank Tavern on John Street as well as its original entrance at the end of Tailors Court.
The headstones and tombs in St John’s Churchyard reflect the social patterns and occupations of local people from the 16th to the 19th centuries
Two of the churchyard’s most notable tombs are to merchants who were also both sheriff and mayor of Bristol: Hugh Brown (c.1605-1653) and John King (d.1734).
The oldest readable gravestone, now mounted on a wall, is to Jane, “daughter of Wm. Wade of this city”, who died in 1565 aged 73.
The tombstone of Jane, who died in 1565 aged 73
One of the saddest graves is to Thomas Howell (d.1811) and Susanna Howell (d.1832) and six of their children “all of whom died in their infancy”.
Explore St John’s Churchyard and Tailors Court on a walking tour of the Old City and Castle Park with Martin Booth. To find out more and to book, visit www.yuup.co/experiences/explore-bristol-s-quirkiest-corners
Worn headstones are used as paving
All photos: Martin Booth
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