The Invisible Circus

Hidden Stories of Christmas Steps

Arts EN ↓ 12 episodes

Interactive characters deliver true historic tales, with an Invisible Circus infused theatrical twist. You can hear an array of stories told at different spots up and down Bristol’s iconic Christmas Steps, in the Chapel and the Foster’s Alms Houses. Created by the Invisible Circus. Hidden Stories of Christmas Steps is part of the City Centre and High Streets Culture and Events Programme funded by Bristol City Council and The West of England Combined Authority.

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Author

The Invisible Circus

Episodes

12 - Extra story: Commerce, chaos and craft 29.04.2025 1:47

Commerce, chaos and craft, the living archive of Christmas steps

11 - Extra story: Layers beneath 29.04.2025 2:11

Layers beneath, lives in between, stories of the steps

10 - Dr Richard Smith 29.04.2025 4:10

Dr Richard Smith. Surgeon and lecturer. 1772 - 1843.

9 - Almshouse Ladies 29.04.2025 3:59

Ladies of Fosters Almshouse. Sanctuary for the poor. 1492 - 2007.

8 - Dorothy Hazard 29.04.2025 3:47

Dorothy Hazard. English Baptist leader and religious reformer. The siege of Bristol 1643.

7 - Gladys Shufflewick 29.04.2025 3:19

Gladys Shufflewick aka Rex Jameson. Star performer of Club 49. 1970’s / 80’s.

6 - Carlos Trower 29.04.2025 4:39

Carlos Trower . "The African Blondin". World renowned high wire walker and abolitionist.

5 - Harriet and Francis 29.04.2025 4:39

Francis Burnett Wood and Harriet harman . Actors from the play Uncle Tom's Cabin - New Theatre Royal 1878.

4 - The Swell Mob 29.04.2025 3:43

The Swell Mob. A notorious pickpocket gang of the 1860’.

3 - Sir Thomas Lunsford 29.04.2025 4:17

Sir Thomas Lunsford . Royalist colonel known as the cannibal cavalier! 1610 - 1653.

2 - John Chandler Langdon Esq. 29.04.2025 6:57

John Chandler Langdon Esq. ‘Sailor Jerry’. Chronicler of the steps. 1866-1947.

1 - Full audio tour 29.04.2025 41:20

The complete tour, listen to all of the stories in one go. Peel back the layers of time and plunge headfirst into the untold, the bizarre, and the spellbinding history of this iconic Bristol location.