“Oyez, oyez, oyez”, was the cry from Madeleine Bills, the current Mayor for Mangotsfield, her husband also a former Crier for Bristol. Madeleine gave a jovial presentation on a hot night for all. She was dressed in full regalia! She started by outlining why there was a need for a Crier. Many could not read in the past and hence the need, if you wanted to know what was going on. This was not just the only duty of the…
A reminisce as Mike Hooper took us back up Castle Street and on into Old Market. A great presentation of old photographs mainly before WW2 compared to more current. A great deal of Castle Street being destroyed in the blitz. Castle Street being the main central shopping area for Bristol. In this Street you would of found BHS, M&S, Boots, the Coop but a few. Indeed the Coop was the only main shop to survive. There was good interaction with…
Steam, Sheds, Sidings and Smoke were the order of the day, as Dave Cheesley gave an atmospheric presentation. Dave took us through many of his boyhood and later memories of this great railway yard, near Lawrence Hill. Many photos were shown presenting the yard from different viewing points, alas nothing remains including the 13 arch Bridge. The yard including the railway Sheds were built in 1873 and closed in 1965. Demolition followed in 1966. It was built to service the…
Professor Brian Vincent from Bristol University gave a captivating talk to the Kingswood History Society on June 6, 2023. He focused on Butlers Tar Works, founded in 1843 by William Butler under Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s request. The factory produced creosote for preserving wooden sleepers on new railroads. Butlers Tar Works, located in Bristol’s polluted Crew’s Hole area, grew into an international business owned by the Butler family until 1980. They owned Bristol’s first car (AE1) and installed the city’s inaugural…
Saturday, July 2nd 2022 We arrived at Blist Hill Victorian Museum approx. 10.30 am, the weather was dry with no rain just a bit overcast. We had time to look around a part of the museum before a buffet lunch which was in the large room above the museum’s pub . After lunch we continued to explore what Blist Hill had to offer, which was how life was lived during Queen Victoria’s reign. I would like to thank Chauffeur Hire…
The Kingswood History Society are delighted to announce that after an extended period of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are now back up and running again with a regular programme of events. Please check out our 2021 programme from the drop-down menu above! Dennis Noble (Chairman)
The first two pictures represent the societies 40th Anniversary with the planting of the Silver Birch Tree in Warmley Forest Park, in the year 2005. It shows, the then, Chairman, Brian Haynes and current Vice Chairman, Alan Britton, filling in around the tree, which had previously been planted by the Forestry Experts, together with a small group of members in attendance. The third picture, taken in June 2020, shows the growth of the tree over the 15 years since it…
Sixteen members travelled to Newport to enjoy a viewing of the medieval ship. We had one of the stewards tell us all about the ship and what work is being carried out to preserve the remains. When you consider that this medieval ship is longer than the SS Great Britain it must have been a giant in its time. After viewing the ship we then went to the Transporter Bridge, about a mile and a half away. The majority of…
With a full coach, including members and a few friends, we set off from the Kingswood Park, main gate, at 8.00am to spend a day at Hartland Abbey, just a few miles from Clovelly, North Devon, arriving at 11.10 am. We were transported by Chauffeur Hire of Chipping Sodbury, driven by none other than Ian, the Gaffer, a first class driver. We split the party into two halves, 25 in each group. We were then given a guided tour of…
We left Kingswood Park at 9.15am to journey to Hestercombe Gardens near Taunton Somerset. It was the first day of the school holidays and the M4 was very busy, so we decided to head for the A38, this was a good decision as it turned out to be quite free running, reaching our destination around 11.35am. There was not a lot to see in the house, but the gardens even though we have had no rain were not in too…