Where there’s a Will…

Wills Memorial Building Tour 

I walk past this majestic tower every day and guilty, as we all are, of never looking up in my daily meander I never really SEE it.  So when I spotted a sign advertising a tour I thought, “today’s the day!”

I booked for a Saturday afternoon and begged the sungod to smile on me having heard that on a clear day you can see all the way to Wales (or maybe it was Wells, I’m still finding my way through the strongest of Bristol accents).  Sure enough the sun shone brightly and the view was splendid.  But first there’s a challenge, you don’t just get fantastic panoramic views handed to you on a silver platter you know.  No, you have to climb for them 215 feet above street level.  But fear not, for modern man has invented a magical soaring machine which transcends you to the 5^th floor where a mere 205 steps await you.  Easy peasy.

But first we’ll begin on the ground.  On arriving at the tower, where the students gather to plot their Jägerbomb foraging excursions, I was met with a chap called Dave who runs the tours.  Standing on the original stone slabs and looking up at a spectacular sight of gothic architecture, he summarised the history of the tower in an interesting monologue taking us from it’s commissioning in 1912, through it’s opening in 1925, it’s survival of two world wars and right up to it’s present day status as the third highest structure in Bristol. 

We scaled one of the two grand staircases leading to the first floor, which holds the Great Hall with it’s intricately carved panelled walls, arched gothic ceiling and coloured lighting used to set the mood for the formal events that take place there including graduation ceremonies and exams.  I don’t think I’d have passed a single test sitting there, far too much to gaze at.  Dave handed us over to his son, Jim, who brought a quirky fun aspect to the tour, certainly the best tour guide I've ever encountered.  Never before have I been told if I fell on the stairs I was going over the top, that’s a successful health and safety warning if ever I heard one.  Needless to say, the visitors were too afraid to break that rule.

The next stop was a visit to Great George, the 9.5 tonne bell housed in the tower.  Georgy boy was so excited to see some visitors that he chimed for us.  I’m glad he didn’t ring however, apparently he can be quite loud.  He can be heard as far away as twelve miles I believe, ouch.  In the absence of modern construction equipment during the homing of George, horses were used to hoist him up into the tower in a pulley system that took up all of Park Street - the horses pulled ropes tied to the bell and basically went up and down the hill until the bell was in place.  On the arrival of George to his new home, a spelling mistake in his inscription was pointed out by an observant professor and George had to be lowered slightly to amend it, poor horses.  I’ll let you find out where it is for yourselves!

   
We said goodbye to George and ascended the winding staircase further to the very top of the tower, where a dizzying view opened up before us and, I’m relieved to say, the sungod answered my plea.  A stunning sunny 360 degree view of Bristol certainly brought the wow factor to my Saturday afternoon and made the ascension of the tower so worth it. 

 

The tour costs just £4 per person (£3 for seniors and students, free to children aged 8 – 11) and part of the fee goes towards funding Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.  A bit of exercise, a history lesson and funding a good cause – that's a Saturday avo well spent!

http://www.bris.ac.uk/university/visit/tower-tours/

http://www.grandappeal.org.uk/

Images: Sinead Millea & http://www.flickr.com/photos/17251154@N00/