The Matthew

In Bristol floating harbour - this is a replica of the Matthew. The original was the ship in which John Cabot (a Venetian) sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497.
The replica was built between 1994-96 at Redcliffe Quay. It’s a sailing ship that also has a diesel engine for when needed. It’s surprisingly small for a ship that has sailed across the Atlantic and faced those huge waves. It sailed to Newfoundland in 1997 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the original voyage. Nowadays it’s used for films and tv. It also is used for school trips and social events. When not in use it’s moored here, and you can go on board to explore, and admire the beautiful woodwork
Behind is the Lloyds Bank office building - the curve of which creates an amphitheatre sometimes used for concerts - classical or rock. The most frequent users are skateboarders, who practice all their various moves on the steps and structures in the space.