Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Bristol The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum

The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum

The unpredictability of this pendulum's movements has drawn visitors to this magnificent church for decades.

Bristol, England

Added By
Javier Pascual Aguilar
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Chaotic Pendulum at St Mary Redcliffe   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum   Darlith Rolin, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Among the many things to see and do in Bristol, a visit to St Mary Redcliffe is undoubtedly right at the top. Queen Elizabeth I said this church was “The fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England.”

A pendulum is usually a symbol of predictability and regularity, but this one exhibits chaotic behavior due to its sensitive dependence on initial conditions. The chaotic pendulum at St Mary's is believed to be unique in design, and maybe the only device of its kind. As recycled water is continually pumped into the crossbeam, causing it to tip one way or the other to let it flow out again.

It was unveiled on September 25th, 1997, and was constructed and designed by Rob Knight of Op-Ticks in Bristol. The original idea for the contraption was conceived by Sir Brian Pippard FRS, former Cavendish Professor of Physics at Cambridge University, who was also an advisor to its implementation. Dr. Eric Albone is credited with having the idea to bring the apparatus to the church. 

Even if a completely accurate mathematical model could be built, any readings taken from the real pendulum would contain errors.

Related Tags

Mathematics Design History & Culture

Know Before You Go

St Mary Redcliffe is open to visitors at the following times: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Saturday 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm Sundays. The chaotic pendulum is located to the left of the altar.

Community Contributors

Added By

Xavixavir

Edited By

SEANETTA

  • SEANETTA

Published

March 31, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk/queen-elizabeth-i
  • https://maths.straylight.co.uk/archives/301
The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum
12 Colston Parade
Bristol, England
United Kingdom
51.448334, -2.589522
Get Directions

Nearby Places

St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail

Bristol, England

miles away

John Cabot's Whalebone

Bristol, England

miles away

Model of the Matthew

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Nearby Places

St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail

Bristol, England

miles away

John Cabot's Whalebone

Bristol, England

miles away

Model of the Matthew

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    Budapest, Hungary

    Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    A stunning Art Nouveau cinema in the heart of Budapest.

  • Ireland's Oldest Postbox

    Cork, Ireland

    Ireland's Oldest Postbox

    Inside Cork's Kent station stands its country's longest-serving postbox.

  • Edificio Sol

    El Grao de Castellón, Spain

    Edificio Sol

    Believed to be the largest Spanish sculpture affixed to a housing block.

  • Dhow Building Yard

    Muharraq, Bahrain

    Dhow Building Yard

    The last place in Bahrain where you can get a custom-made dhow.

  • De Riekermolen

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    De Riekermolen

    A beautifully rebuilt windmill from the 17th century, situated along the Amstel River.

  • Mr Therm Balcony Railings

    Oxford, England

    Mr. Therm Balcony Railings

    An obsolete, long-forgotten advertising character lingers on this Sainsbury’s balcony railings.

  • Hôtel Solvay

    Brussels, Belgium

    Hôtel Solvay

    This historic Art Nouveau townhouse was the former home of the son of a famous chemical inventor and industrialist.

  • Kissy Boundary Gun

    Freetown, Sierra Leone

    Kissy Boundary Gun

    A curiously placed cannon along a roundabout in Freetown marks the boundary of the old city.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.