Bedminster

Bedminster is an area of Bristol to the south of the city centre; once a small town in Somerset.

Related Topics:
Bristol - Town - Somerset

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Bedminster?s origins seem to be Roman, centred around the present East Street and West Street. The Malago river, which runs through Bedminster to join the Avon, was an early Christian place for baptisms - the old word for which, beydd may be the origin of Bedminster?s name.

Related Topics:
Roman - Malago - Avon - Christian - Baptism

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The Royal Manor of Bedminster comprised all the land south of the Avon, from the Avon Gorge to Brislington, and in the Domesday Book had 25 villeins, 3 slaves and 27 smallholders. In 1154 it was given to the Lords of Berkeley, who kept it for 300 years. In 1605 it was purchased by the Smyth family of Ashton Court who remained the Lords of the Manor until the 19th century.

Related Topics:
Avon Gorge - Brislington - Domesday Book - Villein - Slave - Smallholder - 1154 - Berkeley - 1605 - Smyth - Ashton Court - Lords of the Manor - 19th century

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In 1644, during the English Civil War, Bedminster was sacked by Prince Rupert and it took a long time to recover. When John Wesley preached there in the 1760s, it was a sprawling, decayed market town, with orchards next to brick works, rope walks and the beginnings of a mining industry.

Related Topics:
1644 - English Civil War - Prince Rupert - John Wesley - 1760s - Orchard - Brick works - Rope walk

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Open cast coal mining had been done on a small scale since the 1670s, but in 1748 the first shafts were sunk by (Sir) Jarrit Smyth at South Liberty Lane. By the end of the century there were eighteen coal-pits operating in the Bedminster and Ashton Vale coalfield.

Related Topics:
Open cast - Coal mining - 1670s - 1748 - Ashton Vale

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In 1809 the New Cut was excavated through the northern part of the parish. This is a canal draining St Phillip?s Marshes and providing water for the Floating Harbour; it is now the boundary between Bedminster and the City centre.

Related Topics:
1809 - New Cut - Canal - St Phillip?s Marshes - Floating Harbour

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The population of Bedminster increased rapidly, from 3,000 in 1801 to 78,000 in 1884, mostly as a result of the coalfield and other industries such as smelting, tanneries, glue-works, paint and glass factories. In the 1880s two major employers moved there - E. S. & A. Robinson (paper bag manufacturers) and W.D. & H.O. Wills (cigarette and cigar makers). The population overflowed to Windmill Hill, Totterdown, Southville, the Chessells and Bedminster Down. During this time, many churches, public houses, shops and businesses were built, some of which still survive.

Related Topics:
1801 - 1884 - 1880s - E. S. & A. Robinson - W.D. & H.O. Wills - Windmill Hill - Totterdown - Southville - The Chessells - Bedminster Down - Church - Public house - Shop

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In the Second World War Bedminster took a dreadful pounding from air raids. Post-war town planning relocated most of the heavy industry to the rural areas to the south of the parish, and new estates grew up in Withywood, Hartcliffe and Highridge. Bedminster declined during the post-war years, but recent redevelopment, a big new supermarket and a pedestrianisation scheme is starting to improve things once again.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Air raid - Town planning - Withywood - Hartcliffe - Highridge - Supermarket

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Bedminster has many educational institutions. There are many primary schools, including Holy Cross RC Primary School, South Street Primary School and Victoria Park.

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