Clifton.
[Barrett, in his _History of Bristol_, p. 72., gives a clue to the
origin of this local name: "Before the quay was made the usual place,
as Leland says, for landing goods out of the ships was at the Back (or
_Bec_, a Saxon word for a river), where was the old Custom-house. The
quay being completed, and the marsh of Bristol thereby effectually
divided from that {518} of St. Augustine, houses and streets began to
be built there; Marsh Street terminated with a chapel, dedicated to St.
Clement, and a gate; and Back Street, with a gate also, and a chapel
near it, dedicated to St. John, and belonging to St. Nicholas; the
church of St. Stephen and its dependent parish, and the buildings
between the Back and the quay, seem to have taken their rise at this
period, and were all enclosed with a strong embattled wall, _externa_
or _secunda moenia urbis_, extending from the quay to the Back, where
King Street has since been built."]
_Broom at Mast-head._--Whence did the custom originate of a broom being
fastened to the mast-head of boats and small craft, to indicate their being
for sale?