Bristol’s recent architectural history is the theme of a series of free public art lectures starting next week.  The lectures have been organised by Dr Tim Mowl, Reader in Architectural and Garden History in the Department of History of Art at Bristol University.

The lectures, which cover topics such as why the central shopping area was moved and whether it is possible to make cities beautiful, will be held on Tuesdays in the Reception Room, Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road, Bristol, from 5.15 to 6 pm.

The first lecture, on October 21, entitled Breaking the rules to make new places, will be given by well-known local architect and President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, George Ferguson.

The five subsequent lectures are:

• October 28, Mike Jenner, Castle Street to Broadmead: why the shopping area was moved
• 4 November, Peter Meacock, Living in a box? A new domestic   
  modernism for the City
• 11 November, Mark Pearson, Bristol - positively provincial?
• 18 November, David Mellor and Richard Lee, Can we make beautiful cities again?
• 25 November, Robert Adam, Tradition, the city and Bristol

No pre-booking is necessary and the lectures are open to everyone.