Lawrence Weston, Bristol

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude=
longitude=
official_name= Lawrence Weston
static_

static_image_caption= Within Bristol (left) and England
population= 10,947
unitary_england= Bristol
region= South West England
lieutenancy_england= Bristol
constituency_westminster= Bristol North West
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_district = BS11
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 0117
os_grid_reference=

Lawrence Weston is a post war housing estate in north west Bristol between Henbury and Shirehampton.

The estate is bounded in the east by the Blaise Castle estate and woods. It is situated directly beneath the wooded Severn Escarpment, here topped by Kingsweston Hill. The industrial complex and port of Avonmouth is a mile or so west, across the flood plain. Lawrence Weston forms part of the city ward of Kingsweston.

Lawrence Weston was originally a hamlet, a tything of the parish of Henbury. [ [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/GLS/Henbury/Gaz1868.html Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868] ] It was transformed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, when the estate was built, absorbing both the original hamlet and the neighbouring hamlet of Kings Weston. Originally council owned, much of the housing stock is now in private hands. It is known as "El Dub" to its inhabitants. The row of shops in Ridingleaze has been revamped and each shop is now adorned with a mural.

Lawrence Weston is well known locally for its vibrant facilities for young people. There are two youth centres, a BMX track, a young people's shop called Juicy Blitz and a Youth Inclusion project. It has a community farm and a range of clubs and groups for young people.

Kings Weston House and Kings Weston Roman Villa both lie near the western end of the estate.

Lawrence Weston Moor

Lawrence Weston Moor is a 11.9 hectares nature reserve leased from Bristol City Council and managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust. The drier fields are hay meadows where plants such as Meadowsweet and Pepper Saxifrage are common. The wetter meadows have Ragged Robin, Marsh Marigold and Creeping Forget-me-not. The fields and old pollarded willows support birds such as Reed Buntings, Snipe Reed and Sedge Warblers Little Owls and Kestrels. The rhynes are rich in water plants and provide homes for frogs and many insects, such as dragonflies. [cite web|url=http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/level1/reserves/lawrence_weston.htm|title=Lawrence Weston Moor|work=Reserves|publisher=Avon Wildlife Trust|accessdate=2008-06-04]

ee also

*Kingsweston

References