A new commemorative plaque has been erected by Historic England on one of Cary Grant’s childhood homes. Our festival director, Professor Charlotte Crofts (UWE Bristol), was delighted to be invited to speak at the unveiling ceremony on Friday 22 November, alongside Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
This year marks 120 years since the birth of Archie Leach, who ran away from his Bristol home to join an acrobatic troupe, travelling to America and re-inventing himself as Cary Grant, the Hollywood actor. The blue plaque honours not just the Hollywood icon, but also the resilient and talented man behind the screen.
Grant spent his early years in various homes around Bishopston, Horfield, and Montpelier, facing the hardships of a working-class life. Despite these challenges, he fondly remembers this home, 50 Berkely Road, as being a happy home with its large garden with a long lawn, vegetable patch and an old apple tree, where his father had built a sturdy swing. Although he took pride in owning the swing, his fear of heights prevented him from fully enjoying it, finding even his father’s gentle pushes too daunting. Grant’s early fears of heights, were later contradicted by his later daring performances on stage and screen. As a teenager, he joined the Pender Troupe of Knockabout Boys and Comedians, where he honed his acrobatic skills. These talents became a hallmark of his acting career, with iconic roles that showcased his agility and grace, such as in To Catch a Thief and North by Northwest.
This year’s Cary Comes Home Festival happening next weekend, will celebrate his acrobatic talents and the breadth of his career. Beyond his on-screen heroics, Cary Grant’s story is one of overcoming personal fears and challenges. His journey from the fields and gardens of Bristol to the heights of Hollywood continues to inspire us all.
Our festival director said “We extend our gratitude to Historic England for recognising Cary Grant with this plaque. His legacy lives on not just in his films, but in the spirit of determination and grace that he embodied. As we unveiled this plaque, we remembered the boy who played under the apple tree, the young man who dared to dream, and the star who never forgot his roots.”
