Matthew

The Matthew is a caravel replica moored at Bristol's Floating Harbour that features wooden construction with traditional rigging and multiple decks. The vessel displays authentic details of 15th-century sailing ship design, including square sails and period-appropriate hull structure.

The original vessel sailed in 1497 under John Cabot from Bristol to Newfoundland, marking the first European exploration of North America after Viking expeditions. This reconstruction was built in the late 20th century to preserve this key chapter in maritime exploration.

The name connects to merchant John Cabot and holds deep roots in Bristol's harbor culture. Visitors can walk the decks and see how craftspeople applied traditional shipbuilding methods to create this working vessel.

Visitors can board the vessel to experience its construction and craftsmanship up close. Guided tours explain how the ship operated and what ocean voyages were like in that era.

The ship proved to be a working vessel when it sailed to London in 2012 for a major royal pageant on the Thames. This journey demonstrated that the replica serves as more than a dockside museum piece.