So says the myth, before the first King of Britain, Brutus, this island was ruled by giants, with many of the landscape’s unique features attributed to the colossus creatures (what’s often called a geomyth), i.e. Finn MacCool and the hexagonal columns at Giant’s Causeway
The odd geography of Bristol also comes with its own myth. In fact, the footprints of two legendary giants, Goram and Ghyston (sometimes known as Vincent), can be unearthed all over the area—accounting for everything from the Avon Gorge to Flat Holm Island.
What’s the creation myth of Avon Gorge?
Like all good folk tales, there are variations, but I’ll try to keep it to the most famous story: When the two giants, Goram and Ghyston, were competing for the affection of Avona, she said she’d marry whoever could first drain the great lake that once stretched from Bristol and Bradford-on-Avon. To drain the water, Goram dug through Henbury (creating the gorge within the Blaise Castle Estate), while Ghyston started by Clifton.
Goram, unfortunately, overheated, got drunk to cool off and fell asleep in his seat (aka Goram’s Chair). Ghyston, meanwhile, dug his way to Sea Mills and claimed Avona’s hand. She then gave her name to Ghyston’s newly formed Avon Gorge. Waking, Goram stamped his foot in anger (to form the Giant’s Footprint) and hurled himself into the channel—and his head and shoulder became the Flat Holm and Steep Holm islands.
Another story says the giants carved the Avon Gorge to bring drinking water to the area. With one axe between them, throwing it back and forth, they worked until a stream started to trickle through. Ghyston threw the axe back to Goram, who’d fallen asleep sunbathing, and it hit the giant on the head and killed him. Goram’s body was then laid to rest at Penpole Point.
Where else can I find Goram and Ghyston in Bristol?
Goram’s Soap Dish is a small pond by the Henbury Trym, while Butcombe’s IPA also shares its name with Bristol’s legendary giant. St. Vincent’s Rocks, near Clifton Observatory, used to be known as Ghyston Cliff and The Goram Fair used to be held in Blaise Estate. Two stone heads of Goram and Ghyston can be found hidden on Ashton Court Estate.