Bring back any memories? - Take a look at pictures of Bristol estates during the 1960s and 1970s
Here we take a look at pictures showcasing Bristol estates in their infant years, did you grow up on any of the estates we have selected?
It seems a new building goes up on the corner of every street each week in Bristol. Many of the estates Bristolians grew up on are unrecognisable compared to when they were in their younger years.
Bristol World has pulled together eight images documenting estates across Bristol either at the time of their completion or shortly after. The areas included cover Bedminster, Brislington, Easton, Henbury, Hartcliffe, Fishponds, Two Mile Hill and Barton Hill. The pictures were supplied by the Housing Department function on Bristol City Council’s Know Your Place site.
5. Merryweathers and Gilton House, Brislington - early 1970s
The photo looks down Brislington Hill. The turning on the right is Glenarm Road. During the 1960s, the council acquired two large properties on the north-east side of the road which were to be redeveloped for social housing. These would become Brislington Hill House, an 18th century mansion which had been derelict since WW2, and the Shrubbery nurseries further down the hill. The area was radically redeveloped by 1970 which can be seen in this picture. The two-storey development is Merryweathers, a block of flats for elderly residents, and Gilton House, also built for older tenants.
6. Selbrooke Crescent, Fishponds - early 1960s
Looking across Whittington Road with space which won’t be found today, this image show Selbrooke Crescent curving out of frame. The houses pictured were built in 1951. The Ford Zephyr near the centre dates the photo to 1962 or later.
7. Bright Street, Barton Hill - 1971
Cashmore House, made up of three low-rise blocks of maisonettes, can be seen in this picture, shortly after its opening. Children are found playing outside the nursery based on the site as a Vauxhall Cresta is parked at the front of the site. This was the final development in the Barton Hill compulsory purchase area which had been defined close to 20 years prior, during the 1950s.
8. Wellington Road, St Paul’s - c1975
Taken around 1975, to the left of the picture is Wellington Road looking south-west. To the right is the now-forgotten Moreton Street. Condemned housing on both roads were cleared in the previous decade - the industrial buildings and warehouses beyond would follow shortly after and be replaced by a retail centre. The tower of St Paul’s Church can be seen in the background, dwarfed by the then recently-built Tollgate House which would eventually make way for Cabot Circus’ multi-storey car park.