Barton Hill, Bristol

Barton Hill is an area of Bristol, just to the east of the city centre and Bristol Temple Meads railway station.

It includes residential, retail and industrial premises and is crossed by major roads, railway tracks and the feeder canal leading to Bristol Harbour.

History

Barton was a manor just outside Bristol mentioned in the Domesday Book as Bertune apud Bristov,^[1] and later in 1220 as Berton Bristoll.^[2] In Saxon and early Norman times the manor was held by the king, and was known as Barton Regis. The manor gave its name to the hundred of Barton Regis. Sloping ground at the southern end of the hundred, leading down to St Philip's Marsh, became known as Barton Hill.^[3]

Great Western Cotton Mill on Great Western Lane was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the early 19th century. Great Western Cotton factory opened in 1838 and closed in 1925. From a plan of 1839 the sheds are seen to have contained up to 1600 looms. The main spinning mill was demolished in 1968.^[4]

Cultural references

• Space Rock band Alien Stash Tin originated from Barton Hill and vocalist–guitarist Jon Wisbey still lives in the area. The regeneration of the area is also the inspiration behind the band's song "Rat In A Maze".
• Barton Hill is also a stronghold of drum and bass with notable artist and Mercury Prize-winning Roni Size/Reprazent having a studio in the area, with his latest album showing Barton Hill on the front cover of Return to V.
• During 1977 and 1978 Barton Hill Youth Centre was a popular venue for punk and New Wave acts to play. Among the bands that appeared were Siouxsie And The Banshees, Subway Sect, Slaughter And The Dogs, Adam And The Ants, Cocksparrer, Wayne County And The Electric Chairs and local acts including The Media, The Pigs and The Pop Group. It was probably Bristol's first live punk venue. However escalating violence at the gigs contributed to its short lifespan as a concert venue.

Arts

• Art and design studio in the old Cotton Mill on Great Western Lane. The Cotton Mill has been converted into work space for artists, designers and makers. Also providing workshops for ceramics, printmaking and woodwork. The Studio called 'In Bristol' started in 2006 by four artists and makers from University of Plymouth.
• Barton Hill Artists are a free collective of locally based artists who specialize in community art activism and community based public instillation. Their work includes a 90-foot-long (27 m) mosaic on the Ducie Road railway bridge in the area, and a mural in Gaunts Ham Park, in nearby Lawrence Hill, Bristol.

References

External links

• The Barton Hill Settlement is a community resource for people in Barton Hill. Among other services it offers adult education classes on a variety of subjects, and runs a creche.
• In Bristol Studio is work space based in Barton Hill for artist, designers and makers.
• Barton Hill Advice Service