Description:

Photograph of the cave inside The Ostrich public house, Bristol, as seen from the lounge area. Local myth has it that the caves were linked to the slave trade. They are part of a larger sytem of caves called Redcliffe Caves, which the pub backs on to. These caverns were made by sand being dug out for glass making. It is very unlikely that enslaved Africans were brought here, as few came directly to Bristol. Prisoners of war from the French and Spanish wars in the 18th century were possibly held there before being moved to local gaols. They may have been used to dig out the sand.

Creator: BCC Museum

Date: 2003

Copyright: Copyright BCC Museum