Building the exhibition
‘The ancient and the modern will be reproduced in spectacular buildings’
The Bristol International Exhibition Daily Programme, 1914
The Bristol International Exhibition aimed to educate visitors about the British Empire, though perhaps they enjoyed the ‘Figure Eight Coaster Ride’ and ‘Bostock’s Jungle’ more. It was one of the last great exhibitions in Britain, inspired by the Great Exhibition of 1851, and one of the least successful
It was quickly nicknamed ‘The White City’ because of the white plaster used for many of the temporary buildings, not built to last. In the rush to get the site open, every available carpenter, bricklayer, plasterer and general labourer in Bristol was employed, and others brought in from South Wales. At one point, 3,000 men were working on the buildings.
The Bristol International Exhibition aimed to educate visitors about the British Empire, though perhaps they enjoyed the ‘Figure Eight Coaster Ride’ and ‘Bostock’s Jungle’ more. It was one of the last great exhibitions in Britain, inspired by the Great Exhibition of 1851, and one of the least successful
It was quickly nicknamed ‘The White City’ because of the white plaster used for many of the temporary buildings, not built to last. In the rush to get the site open, every available carpenter, bricklayer, plasterer and general labourer in Bristol was employed, and others brought in from South Wales. At one point, 3,000 men were working on the buildings.