St Michael on the Mount Without and Jack-in-the-Green arrives at Horfield

Despite having lived here all my life, there are lots of historic buildings in Bristol I've never been inside, and until very recently, one of these was St Michael on the Mount Without, a mostly Georgian church with a mid-15th century tower on the site of a Norman church, which for many years was disused, before an arson attack in 2016 placed its continued existence in doubt. 

It's in a still picturesque part of town, on a steep hillside outside the city walls, hence 'Without'. 

Lower Church Lane

St Michael's Hill

The Church of England eventually sold St Michael's and it has since become an events venue and creative space. A wedding was due to take place in the afternoon of my visit, so it was little more than a case of sticking my nose around the door, but the interior looks magnificent.

The crypt

It's not permitted to loiter in this part of town without paying homage to the tiles that gave the Cafe Wall illusion its name, a geometrical trompe l'oeil which makes parallel straight lines appear sloped. (It's to do with the colour of the grout, apparently.)

Another thing I don't do as often as I could, given I live not that far away, is going to witness the Jack-in-the-Green arrive on Horfield Common and be slain, thus releasing the spirit of summer - something which happens every first Saturday in May. When my friend Julie lived nearby, I went most years, but since she moved to Sheffield some 15 years ago, I haven't got around to doing it that often, so I resolved to go this year.

Horfield butts

While waiting for Jack and his entourage to arrive, I wandered down to look at what used to be Julie's house, where it backs onto the common. I miss her and I miss the lovely welcoming home she'd made, so it was good to see that the current inhabitants are continuing that tradition.

The arrival of Jack

Dancing the arrival of summer

Jack-in-the-Green having fallen, on-lookers take home some ivy to keep until next time

I think as Beltane falls on the first Saturday of May next year, I'll head down to the harbour in the morning and see Jack as he sets off on his journey, and if I'm up to it, follow him through the city to the Common.