The Matthew of Bristol

This full-​size replica of a Tudor merchant ship is based in Bristol, although it’s very much a ‘working’ vessel that disappears off on harbour tours for tourists, and offshore sailing cruises from March to September.
It’s an exact copy of the ship that John Cabot and his crew set sail on for Asia more than 500 years ago, planning to trade goods there — although they actually ended up in North America!
You can go on board the Matthew when it’s moored in Bristol harbour next to the SS Great Britain, or you can join one of the trips — from one hour harbour tours to the regular fish & chip supper sails! They even do specials such as father’s day breakfast cruises, so it’s worth checking their website for up to date details.
On board, you’re given a bit of the ship’s history, and in such an intimate space you can begin to imagine how cramped life would have been below board.

Another jewel in Bristol’s exceedingly twinkling crown is a replica of what would be a 500+ year old ship, the Matthew. She’s only a small ship, but the original got John Cabot all the way across the Atlantic (though it was bound for Asia).
In 1997, the ship was sailed across the Atlantic, replicating the original voyage. Now, she is moored in the floating harbour, next to her slightly bigger friend, the SS Great Britain. Why not combine a visit of the two, and if you can take a trip on this pretty little ship.

John Cabot sailed across the Atlantic from Bristol in 1497 and discovered Newfoundland in the good ship Matthew, which a replica of (please bare that in mind) is moored in Bristol harbour side next to the SS Great Britain.
The detail of the replica is great though (apart from the electric lights) but what’s most interesting and striking about it when you go on board, is the size. It’s tiny and you really get an appreciation of (well sort of) what life would have been like in this cramped little vessel.
For a small fee you can sail on the ship itself as it sails along the floating harbour and under the Suspension. Check before you go down there though as it’s often not there or can’t go out due to bad weather.

Regular readers will have already heard me lecture on John Cabot. Basically, he was a Portuguese man that sailed from Bristol and discovered the new world, landing at Newfoundland. A sources of local pride, he’s had various things (shopping centres, schools, towers) named after him and also this replica of the ship he sailed in built. It’s an eye opener to have a look round this boat — there’s a big effort to make sure you pick up a bit of history when you visit. Also, it’s just pretty amazing that he managed to get across the Atlantic at all in something like this, let alone for the first time.
Enough of the history. They do offshore sailing (e.g. proper country to country voyages), which means the boats not always moored up in Bristol harbour. When they are in town they have have various different events going on, with education and corporate stuff featuring heavily. For the general tourist they have ‘Fish and Ships’ cruises. Here you get to go on a cruise around Bristol’s docks, drink a bit of wine and have some chips. All very nice and a lovely way to see the sights of Bristol. At sixteen quid it isn’t the cheapest of evenings. A good treat for someone that’s interested in the history or just would like to get chauffeured round Bristol’s docks.

Loads of History, if you speak to the crew they are very knowledgeable. They will give you all the details of forthcoming sailings the Matthew is about to undergo.
The Matthew goes out for trips around the harbour, taking fee paying passengers, weather permitting, but it’s a great trip, and very interesting. If you wanted a nautical theme for the day, you could always pop next door to the HMS Great Britain.

Moored beside Brunel’s massive SS Great Britain, the replica of Matthew, the ship in which John Cabot sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497, looks almost comically small. And that is one of the best reasons to visit: one can sense the hardship of weeks on board this tiny vessel. Kitted out with largely unobtrusive safety features, lights and so on, the replica Matthew regularly cruises along the Avon and the Floating Harbour. When it isn’t doing so, admission is free, and a guide is normally on hand. However, because of various duties, the ship isn’t always there. Make sure that it is before you visit, by checking
.