This edition of the St Luke’s Gazette is packed with discoveries, local legends, and vivid glimpses into the lives of the people who built St Luke’s as we know it today. Our Futures Past Heritage Project has unearthed remarkable stories from St Luke’s Road and Crescent — tales of bustling pubs, bustling families, steep steps and steeper struggles, and the colourful characters who once called our streets home.

In the 1800’s three schools served the West Street Neighbourhood, although we are told there was also a school started by the miners on the site of the then gospel church on West Street, later the United Reformed church.

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.