The Chessells

The Chessels is an area of Bedminster, Bristol that runs from the mid section of Luckwell Rd to the White Horse pub on West Street. Chessel Street is the main road. It has a number of streets on either side that are all named after gemstones, including Ruby Street, Pearl Street, Beryl Road, Jasper Street and Garnet Street. At the West Street end Chessel Street also turns off into British Road, and at the Luckwell Hill end there is a moderately sized old Anglican church, St Aldhelms, which is part of the Bedminster Team Ministry. Until as recently as 1980 there was a shop on every corner of the entire street - over 10 shops. These included a bakery, general store, sweet shop and newsagent, a cooker and electrical shop, and a dry cleaners. These days only a post office and a strange little shop (sometimes) selling bits of almost antique bric-a-brac remain. The post office has now been closed as part of the Labour Government's post office closure plan.