North West Bristol Guide

About Bristol

Bristol received a Royal Charter in 1155 and was granted county status in 1373.
Bristol has twinning or friendship agreements with the municipalities of Bordeaux in France, Hanover in Germany, Oporto in Portugal, Tbilisi in Georgia, Puerto Morazan in Nicaragua, Beira in Mozambique and Guangzhou in China to share international projects and development initiatives.

History

• By the 14th century, Bristol was one of England’s three largest medieval towns after London.
• Archaeological finds believed to be 60,000 years old provide “evidence of human activity” in the Bristol area from the Palaeolithic era.
• The name is believed to come from Brycgstow meaning the place at the bridge.
• By the 12th century, Bristol was an important port, handling much of England’s trade with Ireland. Becoming a county in its own right in 1373.
• A dark side of Bristol’s history came with the 17th-century rise of England’s American colonies. During the height of the slave trade, more than 2,000 slaving ships were fitted out at Bristol, carrying a (conservatively) estimated half a million people from Africa to the Americas for slavery.
• In the 18th century, Isambard Kingdom Brunel found fame designing the Clifton Suspension Bridge and bringing the railway from London Paddington to Bristol. Brunel also helped design the SS Great Britain, which after renovation, today sits in dry dock in the old city harbour.
• The University of Bristol was formed in 1909.  The second university, the University of West England (UWE) opened in 1992.
• As the city grew the main port of Bristol became Portbury Docks on the Severn Estuary, this lead to the regeneration of the city docks to a heritage and culture centre.
• Bristol suffered heavily in World War II, with the subsequent rebuilding of several tower blocks, some of which have since been demolished.
• Bristol city centre has seen further redevelopment with the pedestrianisation of central roads, renovation of the Broadmead shopping area to extend into Cabots Circus (opened 2008).

Facts

• Population – 459,300 (2018 estimated)
• Governing Authority – Bristol City Council
• Regional Planning Body – South West Strategic Leaders’ Board
• Major Industries – Aeronautics, Tourism, Media. IT, Financial Services
• Post Town – BRISTOL
• Postcode – BS
• Dialling Code – 0117
• Police – Avon and Somerset Constabulary
• Fire – Avon Fire and Rescue Service
• Ambulance – South Western Ambulance Service
• Championship Football – Bristol City FC
• Football League One – Bristol Rovers FC
• Guinness Premiership Rugby – Bristol RFC

Useful Links

• At Bristol
• BBC News – Bristol
• Bristol Airport
• Bristol City Council
• Bristol Link
• English Heritage
• National Trust
• Visit Bristol
• Whats on – Bristol

About Clifton

Clifton is a large inner suburb of the city of Bristol and it is home to many buildings of the University of Bristol. Other landmarks in the city include Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Roman Catholic Clifton Cathedral, Clifton College, Bristol Zoo, and BBC Bristol.

History

• Clifton is recorded in the Domesday Book as Clistone, meaning  ‘hillside settlement’. This refers to its position on a steep hill.
• Clifton was once separate. However, through continuous development became attached to Bristol through the 1830 Georgian period.
• Clifton is the filming locations of many popular BBC dramas and the setting of great works of literature.

Facts

• Population – 21,818 (2011 estimated)
• Unitary Authority – Bristol City Council
• Major Industries – Mixed Local Economy
• Post Town – BRISTOL
• Postcode District – BS8
• Dialling Code – 0117
• Police – Avon and Somerset Police
• Fire – Avon Fire and Rescue Service
• Ambulance – South Western Ambulance Service

Useful Links

• BBC News – Somerset
• Bristol Zoo
• British Towns – Clifton
• Clifton Suspension Bridge
• Visit Somerset

About Henleaze

Henleaze is a northern suburb of the city of Bristol. It is an almost entirely residential development with Edwardian streets on its southern fringes. Its main neighbours are Westbury-on-Trym, Horfield and Redland.

History

• In 1659 Robert Henley bought a property which became known as Henley’s House and later as Henleaze Park.
• It is believed that the Henleaze name was adopted from this when land between modern day Henleaze Road and Durdham Down was sold for development. Most of the rest of the area was developed in the 1920s.
• In the 1900s The Blind School opened in Henleaze offering a full education. Funds were very short and former pupils report having to dig out the swimming pool for themselves.
• Henleaze lake is a flooded former quarry and since 1919 has served as the home to the famous Henleaze Swimming Club.

Facts

• Population – 10,402  (2011 estimated)
• Unitary Authority – Bristol City Council
• Major Industries – Mixed Local Economy
• Post Town – BRISTOL
• Postcode District – BS9
• Dialling Code – 0117
• Police – Avon and Somerset Police
• Fire – Avon Fire and Rescue Service
• Ambulance – South Western Ambulance Service

Useful Links

• BBC News – Somerset
• British Towns – Henleaze
• Henleaze Society
• Visit Somerset

About Redland

Redland is an affluent suburb of the city of Bristol, its main neighbours are Westbury-on-Trym and Clifton. The suburb is populated with mainly Georgian properties with a few Victorian, many of the properties are used as 2nd and 3rd-year student accommodation due to the proximity of the university.

History

• The name Redland has a mixed history with some believing it was after an old English translation of cleared land, others believe it means ‘the third part of the estate’ and a third belief is that the name comes from the colour of the soil.
• In 1898 the Bishop of Bristol’s Palace was built in Redland. A raid in December 1940 caused it to burn down and it was later demolished.

Facts

• Population – 11,801  (2011 estimated)
• Unitary Authority – Bristol City Council
• Major Industries – Mixed Local Economy
• Post Town – BRISTOL
• Postcode District – BS6
• Dialling Code – 0117
• Police – Avon and Somerset Police
• Fire – Avon Fire and Rescue Service
• Ambulance – South Western Ambulance Service

Useful Links

• BBC News – Somerset
• Visit Somerset

About Sneyd Park

Sneyd Park was originally developed in Victorian times and today, many Victorian and Edwardian villas built in those eras still line the edge of the Downs.

Facts

• Population – N/A
• Unitary Authority – Bristol City Council
• Major Industries – Mixed Local Economy
• Post Town – BRISTOL
• Postcode District – BS9
• Dialling Code – 0117
• Police – Avon and Somerset Police
• Fire – Avon Fire and Rescue Service
• Ambulance – South Western Ambulance Service

Useful Links

• BBC News – Somerset
• Somerset Archives Maps
• Visit Somerset

About Stoke Bishop

Stoke Bishop is a very affluent and medium-sized outer city suburb in the north-west of Bristol, located in between Westbury-on-Trym, Sneyd Park, and Sea Mills. Although relatively small, Stoke Bishop has grown since the infilling on the Smelting Works sports ground and The Grove which previously belonged to Clifton High school.

The suburb supports a good number of local business and shops around Druid Hill.  The Downs has a large number of halls of residence attached to the university so the community number changes throughout the year. The university creates much of the local employment and uses The Holmes for its botanical gardens.

History

• Abona, the small port at the mouth of the River Trym, was used by the Roman military forces passing in transit to Roman settlements in what is now South Wales.
• There are ruins of a small Roman Villa at the entrance to Roman Way from the Portway, a trunk road, approximately 6.5 miles long, which links central Bristol with its port at Avonmouth.

Facts

• Population – 9,269 (2011 estimated)
• Unitary Authority – Bristol City Council
• Major Industries – Mixed Local Economy: University
• Post Town – BRISTOL
• Postcode District – BS9
• Dialling Code – 0117
• Police – Avon and Somerset Police
• Fire – Avon Fire and Rescue Service
• Ambulance – South Western Ambulance Service

Useful Links

• BBC News – Somerset
• Botanic Gardens
• Bristol Zoo
• British Towns – Stoke Bishop
• Stoke Bishop
• Visit Somerset

About Westbury-on-Trym

Westbury-on-Trym is a suburb in the north of the city of Bristol, located near the suburbs of Stoke Bishop, Clifton, Henleaze, Sneyd Park and Henbury. The village is named after the river Trym that flows through it.

History

• With so many places called Westbury the name of the local river was added to distinguish it from all the others. In 1621, the local preacher wrote the name “Westberrye super Trim” for distinction. The origins of Westbury-on-Trym predate those of Bristol itself.
• In the 10th century, the Westbury Monastery was home to 12 monks who were sent here to follow more stringent rules. The monastery became a college, the gatehouse is now in the hands of the National Trust.
• In 2010, Westbury on Trym restaurant Casamia earned a Michelin star bringing more people to the village.

Facts

• Population – 10,754 (2011 estimated)
• Unitary Authority – Bristol City Council
• Major Industries – Mixed Local Economy
• Post Town – BRISTOL
• Postcode District – BS9 & BS10
• Dialling code – 0117
• Police – Avon and Somerset Police
• Fire – Avon Fire and Rescue Service
• Ambulance – South Western Ambulance Service

Useful Links

• BBC News – Somerset
• British Towns – Westbury-on-Trym
• National Trust
• Visit Somerset