Bristol International Exhibition
bristol international exhibition held ashton meadow bower ashton area bristol england exhibition planned since commercial venture fully supported civic dignitary city caused difficulty raising fund needed construction venue wooden frame covered plasterboard occurred month prior opening opened may closed june funding raised exhibition reopened continued struggle lower expected attendance following several court hearing finally closed august outbreak world war site covered acre ha next river avon served two railway station venue included international pavilion concert hall replica bristol castle representation old plymouth replica revenge dominion pavilion attraction included scenic railway roller coaster building representing shakespeare england entire site lit electric lighting including pageant ground grandstand holding people premature closure exhibition site used barrack gloucestershire regiment building became warehouse troop left demolished world war ii site used troop squatter housing structure site used allotment cricket club horse dog section avon somerset constabulary construction started housing part site plan exhibition laid initial director local business leader soon replaced merchant john bellham theatre artist director leolyn gustav hart involved festival empire held crystal palace london celebrate coronation king george v idea hold colonial exhibition encourage local business trade british dominion support leader city civic leader limited many already involved organising annual exhibition royal agricultural society england held bristol durdham share issued company rental site agreed owner city corporation acre ha great western railway acre ha publicity event distributed newspaper april extensive coverage detailed plan exhibition building concert music competition pageant pageant planned john henderson themed around history bristol period – – – cast local people planned company planning exhibition raised fund variety backer based account projected income £ would include entrance fee million visitor expenditure £ including £ construction cost clearance site started end delayed march finance agreed two month exhibition due open may average worker per week employed westminster construction company ltd site site also known ashton field rownham field well ashton meadow covered acre ha served two railway station clifton bridge railway station ashton gate railway station renamed exhibition station duration event triangular site bordered river avon north road called ashton avenue east railway track west bridge set railway track running across site exhibition hall built timber frame cladded plasterboard moulding made fibre gypsum given white appearance became known locally press report white city major building included international pavilion concert hall capacity replica bristol castle erected northern end site hold military exhibit next dominion pavilion intended showcase product dominion south pageant ground seating grandstand exhibit included scenic railway roller coaster building representing shakespeare england designed jennie cornwalliswest better known lady randolph churchill successfully exhibited earl court exhibition centre electric lighting installed bristol corporation electricity department still innovative expensive involved mile km cable including river although incomplete exhibition officially opened may john swaish lord mayor bristol day included tour journalist concert choir followed firework display visitor entered exhibition via avenue mural canvas representing agriculture trade landscape culture rhodesia india australia malaysia passed foot bridge railway approached international pavilion foot high covered floor space square foot held exhibit related industry manufacturing next section included egyptian garden colonnade music pavilion could hold customer large dance floor orchestra space choir pleasure side exhibition included figure eight roller coaster jungle area performance included lion entertainment hall mirror rifle range shakespeare england consisted oldworld architecture adjacent dominion garden bandstand close dominion pavilion fine art gallery near replica bristol castle representation old plymouth replica revenge flagship francis drake spanish armada june eight day official opening leolyn hart closed exhibition told workman still finishing display come work gate receipt poor original funding £ exhausted debenture holder wanted exhibition stay open try recoup loss arthur collins appointed receiver attempted raise fund local supporter reopened june funding obtained backer london new manager appointed criticised bristolians backing exhibition although windingup order submitted creditor june receiver announced money raised plan additional attraction place daily pageant variety lecture included programme daily pageant ran june july failed recoup initial outlay court hearing held july company responsible exhibition wound although stayed open attendance increased exhibition closed good august soon declaration hostility became first world war closure building used troop barrack drill hall troop bristol th battalion gloucestershire regiment last troop left site january equipment sold building used warehouse removed world war ii site used barrack troop post war period squatted made homeless bombing bristol blitz building since removed site used sport pitch including bedminster cricket club white city allotment former horse dog section avon somerset constabulary burlton clive bristol lost city built inspire transformed war bristol book isbn oakley mike bristol railway station – redcliffe isbn