Overlooked Bristol monument marks blitz bombing anniversary

A little-known monument in Bristol commemorates the devastating Bristol Blitz, a series of bombings during World War II that claimed over 1,200 lives and forever altered the city’s landscape.

Between November 1940 and April 1941, incendiary and explosive bombs rained down on Bristol, destroying entire areas such as Castle Park, once filled with homes, and damaging large parts of the Old City. Amidst this destruction, a unique relic stands as a poignant reminder of the city’s resilience.

In the churchyard of St Mary Redcliffe, a piece of tram rail remains embedded in the ground—a result of a bomb that exploded on Redcliffe Hill on April 11, 1941. The force of the explosion hurled the tram rail into the air, lodging it in the churchyard, where it remains to this day.

St Mary Redcliffe miraculously avoided major damage during the war, though minor roof and organ repairs were needed. A commemorative plaque beside the tram rail acknowledges the church’s narrow escape, stating:

“On Good Friday, 11th April 1941, 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 1939–1945.”

Picture credit: Paul Gillis