Illustrated Talk: The History of the Bristol Tramways Company

This year sees the 150th anniversary of the operations of The Bristol Tramways Company Ltd.

The company was formed in 1875 by Sir George White and its first tram, horse-drawn, left Perry Road at noon on Monday 9 August 1875, bound for Black Boy Hill. Flag-waving members of the public lined the route! The company became Bristol Tramway & Carriage Co Ltd in 1887, began the use of electric trams in 1895, and later still became Bristol Omnibus Co Ltd – now First Bristol, Bath & the West.

To mark the anniversary, on 9 and 10 August on the quayside in front of M Shed there will be a line-up of buses which had been in service with Bristol Tramways & Carriage Co and Bristol Omnibus Co. This talk by Martin Curtis, local author and historian, will give us the history of Bristol’s trams and buses as a preamble to the celebrations later in the summer.

There will also be complimentary tea, coffee, and homemade cakes.