When I saw it, I just couldn’t resist buying it. There, on eBay, was a small hand-sized book called ‘Walking around Bristol’ by Helena Eason, printed in 1979 - and I could buy it for under £10!
Please forgive me for my love of walks and nostalgia, as previously seen here, but I thought it’d be of interest to read how an area of Bristol looked like through the eyes of someone nearly half a century ago, compared to now.
Back in 1979, of course, there were fewer cars, and more buses. Bristol was smaller in terms of housing. And there were many more pubs open.
But, as I found out, many places, as well as attitudes, haven’t changed. In her introduction, Ms Eason says ‘it is a sad fact that Government economies and local vandalism’ sometimes lead to buildings becoming damaged or/and derelict.
The walk I chose was Walk 4, from Lawrence Weston to Kings Weston to Shirehampton, and I completed it with my family on a beautiful, warm day last week. It took me from Lawrence Weston, past the Giant Goram pub and up to Kings Weston House. Then we walked down into Shirehampton before finishing at The Lamplighters pub.
We managed to get a bus back from Shirehampton to Lawrence Weston to also take us back to our car. Here’s a collection of photographs showing the way we took with comments from the 1979 walking guide book:
Back in 1979, of course, there were fewer cars, and more buses. Bristol was smaller in terms of housing. And there were many more pubs open.
5. Giant Goram
The guide book then tells you to walk up Barrowmead Drive where the Giant Goram, built in around 1960, is located. The author says the pub got its name from the legend of giant Goram, who with his bother Vincent, is credited with having ‘hewn’ out Avon Gorge. His home was in Blaise Castle woods where his footprints, cave and giant chair can be found. Today, sadly this pub is closed and is currently up for sale with plans having been refused for housing.
6. Footpath up to Kingsweston House
The sun is out and the well-trodden footpath from woodland off Kings Weston Lane to the front garden of Kings Weston House is busy with school children on an outing.
7. Glory of Kings Weston House
As this picture shows, very little has changed at Kings Weston House. The guidebook tells us it was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, best known as the architect of Blenheim Palace, for Sir Edward Southwell in 1710. One peculiar feature, the author writes, is the grouping of the chimneys which were intended to give the appearance of a grandiose Roman ruin. When the author writes this book, it is being used by the local police force after plans to turn it into a hospital were halted by the outbreak of the Second World War, when it was used by the army. Today, it’s owned by John Barbey.
8. The view from Kings Weston House
Look west from the garden of Kings Weston House and you can only admire the view down to the Severn estuary. The author says not even the housing and industrial areas can spoil the ‘superb’ view. The same can be said today.
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