Goram’s chair

Goram's Chair is a rocky outcrop in the wooded gorge of Hazel Brook, within the Blaise Castle Estate at Henbury, on the northern edge of Bristol. Cliffs here are shaped like a huge stone seat, and local folklore says they once belonged to a giant. It is a small, quiet landmark, best enjoyed as part of a walk through one of the city's most historic parks.

What is Goram's Chair?

The name describes a feature of the cliff: two flat-topped walls of solid rock jutting out from the steep side of the gorge, resembling a throne for someone far larger than a human. Wikidata describes it simply as cliffs that resemble a giant's throne near Bristol. Beech trees cling to the gorge sides and can largely hide the formation, so it is easy to walk past without noticing it.

Who was Goram?

Goram is a giant from West Country legend. In the best-known telling he competed with a rival giant, called Vincent or Ghyston depending on the version, for the hand of a maiden named Avona. She had promised to marry whichever of them could first drain a great lake said to stretch from Bradford-on-Avon to Rownham Hill.

Goram took the Henbury route. According to the story he became drunk and fell asleep in his stone chair, having dug only the much narrower Hazel Brook. His rival won. In some accounts Goram stamped his foot in anger, leaving the Giant's Footprint, and threw himself into the channel, where his head and shoulder became the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm.

Versions differ. In one, Goram digs the Avon Gorge himself and Vincent never appears. In another, the giants carve the gorge to bring drinking water to the area. The oldest known written version appears in William Camden's Britannia (1586), and a variant is recorded by Robert Atkyns in his history of Gloucestershire (1712).

What else is in the Blaise Castle Estate?

The chair sits inside a public park of real heritage value. The estate includes:

• Blaise Castle House, a Grade II* listed 18th-century mansion;
• Blaise Castle, a Grade II* listed folly built in 1766;
• an orangery, a dairy and other listed ancillary buildings;
• Blaise Hamlet, nine small cottages around a green, built in 1811 for retired employees.

The whole parkland is listed Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

Visiting tips

• Combine the visit with the folly and the mansion, which makes a good half-day outing.
• The gorge slopes are steep and can be slippery after rain, so wear proper footwear.
• Take your time looking at the cliff face. Trees hide much of the formation, and it is clearer when you know what shape to look for.
• The estate is a public park, so it suits families and casual walkers.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Goram's Chair? In the Hazel Brook gorge in the Blaise Castle Estate, near Henbury, Bristol.

Is Goram's Chair a real chair? No. It is a natural rock formation whose shape resembles a giant's seat, which gave rise to the legend.

Who was the giant Goram? A figure from West Country folklore who lost a contest with a rival giant for the hand of Avona.

Is it free to visit? The estate is a public park, so the grounds are open to walkers. Check current opening arrangements for individual buildings before you go.

Is it suitable for children? The legend appeals to children, but the gorge is steep, so keep a close eye on younger ones near the cliffs.