Famous Residents of Bristol (past and present) and other urban legends...

• J K Rowling, author of Harry Potter books
• Blackbeard the Pirate, allegedly born in the city, near the old harbour. Also known as Edward Teach, the infamous sailor led a reign of terror over the Caribbean Sea and the islands that inhabit it.
• The Llandoger Trow, a pub on Bristol’s King Street. Legend has it that after Alexander Selkirk was rescued from pirates and taken back to Bristol, he met the author Daniel Defoe in this salty old pub. Selkirk later became inspiration for Defoe’s character Robinson Crusoe in the famous book of the same name.
• Hole in the Wall, a pub just off Queen Square which which bares striking resemblance to the Spyglass Tavern in Treasure Island.
• Cary Grant, famous actor born Archibald Leach in Horfield, Bristol, Grant's first role in theatre was working at the Bristol Hippodrome. He remained a regular visitor to Bristol, usually staying in the Royal Hotel, now known as the Bristol Marriott Royal. His statue stands in Millennium Square by the harbourside.
• Dave Prowse, actor who played Darth Vader in Star Wars.
• Bananarama, popular band from the 1980’s.
• John Wesley, Founder of the Methodist Church. Wesley worked and preached in Bristol and his statue can be seen outside the New Room in Broadmead - the first Methodist Chapel ever to have been built (1739).
• John Harver, creator of Harvey's Bristol Cream. John Harvey started a wine importing business in Bristol in the 19th Century, before creating a new blend of sherry, Harvey's Bristol Cream, available today across the world.
• Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor, was born in Bristol and lived there for most of her life.
• Banksy, controversial local grafitti artist famed throughout the world for his street art. Some of his pieces have sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds, with Hollywood A-listers and celebrities being some of the top collectors of his work.