The stables were the home of the first riding school in Bristol opened by R.C.Carter in 1761. This school consisted of circular stables around an open area or ampitheatre which is likely to have been used for training riders.
A similar school established in 1768 by Philip Astley at Lambeth was also used for the public performance of equestrian tricks and is widely accepted as the originator of the modern circus. It is possible that the circular ampitheatre at Backfields was used for similar performances and thereby predating Astley's 'circus', but there is no evidence to support this.
In 1834 the circular stables had become Bristol's first circus and continued in use until being destroyed by fire in 1895.
Archaeologists working on the site have established that structural remains of the stables survive below ground and these have been preserved beneath the new development on the site.