You might remember a few years ago that Bristol was invaded by a ‘blessing’ of unicorn sculptures to celebrate the city’s 650th anniversary celebrations. But the mythical creature’s connection to these parts runs much deeper than that. From roofs to seals, once you notice it, you can’t stop spotting unicorns in Bristol.
How did Bristol become associated with unicorns?
Variations of single-horned animals have existed in the human imagination since at least the Bronze Age, but modern unicorn myths largely stem from the Medieval and Renaissance periods—when it came to symbolise things like innocence and grace. It’s this ‘purity’ that attached the mythical animal to Bristol.
Shortly after becoming a city in 1542, Bristol’s official seal was created in 1569, featuring two golden unicorns. According to the City Audit Books, they were chosen solely because they “only do homage to men of virtue”, which is also why they’re also seated rather than rampant and rearing.
Where else can I see unicorns in Bristol?
Still visible on Bristol’s coat of arms (which also features a golden ship and a silver castle), you will find unicorns all over the city if you look carefully for them on buildings and bridges. It’s often accompanied by our motto: “Virtute et Industria”, which is Latin for “With virtue and industry”.
Most notably, you will find two bronze unicorns standing on the roof of City Hall on College Green—added in 1950. But there’s also a unicorn across the bow of the SS Great Britain (from 1845), and above the pulpit at St John the Baptist Church (thought to have once supported the royal arms), as well as painted outside in the arches.
Keep an eye out when visiting the Royal West of England Academy, the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and Bristol Cathedral too. Meanwhile, in the past, a unicorn formerly adorned the University of Bristol logo (now a horse), too, while from 1994 to 2019, unicorns could be found on Bristol City FC’s crest. Once you start seeing unicorns in Bristol, you will realise they’re everywhere!