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All the United Kingdom England Bristol St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail

St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail

World War II air raids over Bristol dislodged this fragment of tram line that ended up embedded in a churchyard.

Bristol, England

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Javier Pascual Aguilar
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St Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
St Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
St Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
St Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
St Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
St Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail   14GTR, CC BY-SA 4.0
St Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail   14GTR, CC BY-SA 4.0
‘The Church Cat’ grave   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Front entrance to St. Mary Redcliffe   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
St Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
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About

During the Bristol Blitz of 1940, a bomb exploded in a nearby street and threw a piece of tram rail over the houses into the St Mary Redcliffe churchyard, where it sank into the ground. The rail was left as a memorial.

The plaque in the churchyard explaining how this impressive monument escaped a dramatic ending sreads: "ON GOOD FRIDAY 11TH APRIL 1942 THIS TRAMLINE WAS THROWN OVER THE ADJOINING HOUSES BY A HIGH EXPLOSIVE BOMB WHICH FELL ON REDCLIFFE HILL. IT IS LEFT TO REMIND US HOW NARROWLY THE CHURCH ESCAPED DESTRUCTION IN THE WAR 1939-45".

The Bristol Blitz took place during World War II. A series of air raids resulted in significant damage to the infrastructure, including the city center and industrial areas. The consequences were devastating: there were numerous deaths, the destruction of homes, and the displacement of thousands.

Despite the hardships, the resilience of Bristol's citizens led to post-war rebuilding efforts and contributed to the city's recovery and eventual restoration of its economic and social fabric.

Related Tags

Railroads World War Ii War History War Memorial

Know Before You Go

To see the piece of tram rail, take a walk through the churchyard towards Colston Parade, it is right next to the fence that surrounds the garden.

There is also a grave to "the Church Cat" located nearby.

Community Contributors

Added By

Xavixavir

Edited By

SEANETTA

  • SEANETTA

Published

March 19, 2024

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Sources
  • https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/features/13-things-didnt-know-mary-redcliffe/
  • https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/8438/Memorial-Rail-Track-Bristol.htm
  • https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/119457/
St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail
12 Colston Parade
Bristol, England, BS1 6RA
United Kingdom
51.448334, -2.589522
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