The joy spilled onto East St as generations came together to mark the special and unforgettable occasion.

by the First ResidentsBS3 Heritage Group for Futures Past Less than a hundred years since its establishment, our community of streets came under its greatest threat. The outbreak of war with Hitler’s Germany in 1939 was only two years old before its impact moved across from the battlefields of Western Europe to the streets of Bristol, in what became known as the Bristol Blitz. Image copyright David Facey Collection, Bristol Archives 41969/1/52 At its height between January

by the First ResidentsBS3 Heritage Group for Futures Past Just imagine a knock on your door, with lunch on the go, to be told that one of the UK’s biggest stars of Variety, Radio and TV is at the other end of your street! It happened to Florrie Tame, who lived at no.50, Little Paradise in the early Fifties. On hearing the news, she promptly marched, with family members in tow and frying pan still in hand, to find Max Bygraves, the well known showbiz personality sitting on

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.

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 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