The bridge is composed of three spans; the two outer ones are fixed and the central section can be raised to provide a navigation channel in the harbour. The most distinctive features of the bridge are the pair of horn-shaped sculptures which act as counterweights for the lifting section, leading it to be commonly known as the Horned Bridge or Shrek's Bridge as the counterweights resemble the ears of the animated star of the eponymous film.
Peroedit
The bridge is named after Pero, also known as Pero Jones, who lived from around 1753 to 1798, arriving in Bristol from the Caribbean Island of Nevis in 1783, as the slave of the merchant John Pinney (1740–1818) at 7 Great George Street.[1][2] Pinney also brought his wife's maid with him, Frances Coker, had also been born a slave, but Pinney had freed her some years before.[3]
Historyedit
The bridge was designed by the Irish artist Eilis O'Connell, in conjunction with Ove Arup & Partners engineers.[4] It was formally opened in 1999 by Paul Boateng MP, then a Home Office minister.[5] The name of the bridge was attacked by then Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Williams. He condemned the decision as "gesture politics", instead wanting a statue or permanent memorial to remember Bristol's role in the slave trade.[6] Eilis O'Connell commented "The council can call it what they want, but Pero's Bridge sounds a bit political."[7] Hundreds of people now attach padlocks to the bridge as a sign of affection to each other.
For four days in June 2020, the Statue of Edward Colston, a Bristolian slave trader, lay at the bottom of the harbour directly south of the bridge after being toppled from its plinth by protestors during the George Floyd protests. It was then retrieved by the council and put in storage. It now resides as a permanent feature in Bristol's M-Shed museum shown now lying instead of standing, with all original protest graffiti maintained.[8]
Dimensionsedit
Close up of the horn-shaped counterweights
The length of the lifting span is 11 metres (36 ft) and a 9-metre (30 ft) navigation channel is provided.[9]
Referencesedit
^. History Footsteps. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
^. Bristol City Council. Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
^Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004), "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. ref:odnb/73299, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/73299, retrieved 9 February 2023
^"Eilis O Connell Biography". Eilis O Connel sculptor. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
^Nicks, Gary (17 March 1999). "Bridge to a future of racial harmony". Western Daily Press. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
^Booth, Martin (14 June 2020). "THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF PERO'S BRIDGE". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
^Onions, Ian (17 November 1998). "Slave Bridge Attack; New name a snub to city benefactor" (subscription required). Bristol Evening Post. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
^"Edward Colston statue pulled out of Bristol Harbour". BBC News. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
^. Arup. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
Bibliographyedit
Eickelmann, Christine; David Small (2004). PERO: The Life of a Slave in Eighteenth-Century Bristol. Redcliffe Press Ltd. ISBN1-904537-03-0.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pero's Bridge.
pero, bridge, grid, reference, st585726, pedestrian, bascule, bridge, that, spans, augustine, reach, bristol, harbour, bristol, england, links, queen, square, millennium, square, coordinates51, 4501, 5979, 4501, 5979carriespedestriancrossesst, augustine, reach. Pero s Bridge grid reference ST585726 is a pedestrian bascule bridge that spans St Augustine s Reach in Bristol Harbour Bristol England It links Queen Square and Millennium Square Pero s BridgeCoordinates51 27 00 N 2 35 52 W 51 4501 N 2 5979 W 51 4501 2 5979CarriesPedestrianCrossesSt Augustine s Reach in Bristol HarbourLocaleBristol EnglandMaintained byBristol City CouncilCharacteristicsDesignbascule bridgeLongest span11 m 36 ft Clearance below3 3 m 11 ft HistoryOpened1999Location Contents 1 Structure 2 Pero 3 History 4 Dimensions 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksStructure editThe bridge is composed of three spans the two outer ones are fixed and the central section can be raised to provide a navigation channel in the harbour The most distinctive features of the bridge are the pair of horn shaped sculptures which act as counterweights for the lifting section leading it to be commonly known as the Horned Bridge or Shrek s Bridge as the counterweights resemble the ears of the animated star of the eponymous film Pero editThe bridge is named after Pero also known as Pero Jones who lived from around 1753 to 1798 arriving in Bristol from the Caribbean Island of Nevis in 1783 as the slave of the merchant John Pinney 1740 1818 at 7 Great George Street 1 2 Pinney also brought his wife s maid with him Frances Coker had also been born a slave but Pinney had freed her some years before 3 History editThe bridge was designed by the Irish artist Eilis O Connell in conjunction with Ove Arup amp Partners engineers 4 It was formally opened in 1999 by Paul Boateng MP then a Home Office minister 5 The name of the bridge was attacked by then Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Williams He condemned the decision as gesture politics instead wanting a statue or permanent memorial to remember Bristol s role in the slave trade 6 Eilis O Connell commented The council can call it what they want but Pero s Bridge sounds a bit political 7 Hundreds of people now attach padlocks to the bridge as a sign of affection to each other For four days in June 2020 the Statue of Edward Colston a Bristolian slave trader lay at the bottom of the harbour directly south of the bridge after being toppled from its plinth by protestors during the George Floyd protests It was then retrieved by the council and put in storage It now resides as a permanent feature in Bristol s M Shed museum shown now lying instead of standing with all original protest graffiti maintained 8 Dimensions edit nbsp Close up of the horn shaped counterweights The length of the lifting span is 11 metres 36 ft and a 9 metre 30 ft navigation channel is provided 9 References edit Pero s Bridge History Footsteps Archived from the original on 11 August 2007 Retrieved 19 August 2006 Bristol s Georgian House Museum Bristol City Council Archived from the original on 13 August 2006 Retrieved 19 August 2006 Matthew H C G Harrison B eds 23 September 2004 The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Oxford University Press pp ref odnb 73299 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 73299 retrieved 9 February 2023 Eilis O Connell Biography Eilis O Connel sculptor Retrieved 31 July 2013 Nicks Gary 17 March 1999 Bridge to a future of racial harmony Western Daily Press Retrieved 31 July 2013 Booth Martin 14 June 2020 THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF PERO S BRIDGE Bristol 24 7 Retrieved 15 June 2020 Onions Ian 17 November 1998 Slave Bridge Attack New name a snub to city benefactor subscription required Bristol Evening Post Retrieved 31 July 2013 Edward Colston statue pulled out of Bristol Harbour BBC News 11 June 2020 Retrieved 1 October 2020 Pero s Bridge Bristol UK Arup Archived from the original on 26 August 2004 Retrieved 19 August 2006 Bibliography editEickelmann Christine David Small 2004 PERO The Life of a Slave in Eighteenth Century Bristol Redcliffe Press Ltd ISBN 1 904537 03 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pero s Bridge 360 degree panorama of the bridge from BBC Bristol City Council presentation amp booklet Pero s Bridge at Structurae Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pero 27s Bridge amp oldid 1208537638 Pero, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
