As we’ve discovered, for many centuries, Bedminster’s principal route and retail street had been East Street with its mix of houses, shops, pubs and industrial premises.

Rapid industrialization in the second half of the 19th Century had persuaded people to b the first residents of this area. By the early twenties, those from our streets were engaged in ‘traditional’ work associated with the city, as well as a variety of new and emerging industries. Bristol’s nautical and maritime links were a continuing source of work.

One of the most popular entertainment locations for our residents in the 1920s was Bedminster Town Hall on Cannon St.

The new residents of Bedminster were pioneers, attracted to the area by the prospect of employment.

The largest building to greet the newcomers to this expanding part of Bedminster was St John’s Church. In 1829, as residents arrived in Little Paradise, the Church was clearly visible across a small undeveloped field. Unfortunately, the building was experiencing a rather less than positive period in a lengthy and significant history.

The West Street neighbourhood remained rural in character and given over to agriculture throughout the post-medieval period (16th-18th centuries).  This was reflected in the names of pubs along the street:  The Three Horse Shoes, the Plough and Windmill, the White Horse, the Lamb.   

by the First ResidentsBS3 Heritage Group for Futures Past The Bedminster awaiting new residents in the early 19th century was a small community centred around an ancient parish church, overlooking fertile pastures, and orchards, through which a constant stream of water flowed. Buildings were few and fields were plentiful. Apart from East Street, a major thoroughfare giving access to Bristol to and from the west, the landscape was rural. Ashmead's Map of Bristol, 1828. The Ma

by the St Luke's Heritage Group for Futures Past Far Left: Rev Dr David Daudney St Luke’s may never have become St Luke’s if it were not for this man – the Rev Dr Daudney. We have been researching who he was & how he became so pivotal in the story of the parish & the naming of our roads. David Daudney was born in 1811 and grew up in Portsea on the south coast. He left home to become a printer’s apprentice at 13. He later began his own printing and publishing house and became

by the First ResidentsBS3 Heritage Group for Futures Past Futures Past - First Residents BS3 Heritage Group Photo: Gathering Voices for Futures Past Bedminster is dramatically changing in the 21st century with new neighbourhoods and communities emerging. One of the first will see over 300 residents moving into the nearby new Stafford Yard buildings in 2025. But what of the original community living, working and playing in that Little Paradise and Stafford Street

Archaeological investigations from 2015-2018 at the former Mail Marketing site on West Street revealed late Neolithic/early Bronze Age flint and pottery.  Structural features and artefacts suggested an enclosed rural agricultural settlement, established during the later Iron Age.

Just next to the old Bristol General Hospital (built in 1859 and now being developed for luxury accommodation) is Bathhurst Basin....

Women were first used as conductors or "clippies" (as they were nicknamed) on the trams during World War One.  They began work in ...