Bristol (UK) has had a public library since 1613 and was only the third city in the country to establish one. In the 19th century it was the first library in Britain to found a local collection devoted to the history of its locality, and has assimilated various private collections of Bristoliana over the last two centuries. As a result it holds unparalled files of research material.

The Bristol 1807 images form the first stage of a plan to put much of the Local Studies collection of images online, including local places, events and architecture.