Hotwells

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Hotwells
latitude= 51.45
longitude= -2.62
map_type= Bristol
civil_parish=
population =
unitary_england= Bristol
lieutenancy_england= Bristol
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Bristol East
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_district = BS
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 0117
os_grid_reference= ST572727

Hotwells is a district of the English port city of Bristol. It is located to the south of and below the high ground of Clifton, and directly to the north of the Floating Harbour. The southern entrance to the Avon Gorge, which connects those docks to the sea, lies at the western end of Hotwells. Bristol Cathedral is situated at the eastern end of Hotwells, adjacent to The Council House and College Green. Hotwells forms part of the city ward of "Clifton".cite web | url = http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk//WardFinder/pdfs/cliftonmap-high.pdf | format=PDF | title = Clifton Ward Map | publisher = Bristol City Council | accessdate = June 16 | accessyear = 2006] Ordnance Survey (2005). "OS Explorer Map 155 - Bristol & Bath". ISBN 0-319-23609-9.]

Hotwells takes its name from the hot springs which bubble up through the rocks of the Avon Gorge underneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge. In the Georgian era Hotwell was developed as a spa town in an attempt to compete with Bath, including the building of Dowry Square, but never really attained the same status, and eventually the waters were found to be polluted. Although for many years much of the housing in Hotwells was in a poor state of repair, there has been a noticeable improvement recently, with several new developments, including the opening of premises for the City of Bristol College.cite web | url = http://www.hotwells.freeserve.co.uk/hotwells.html | title = Hotwells - A Historic District of Bristol England | accessdate = June 15 | accessyear = 2006] Hotwells has long had an important part to play in Bristol's transport infrastructure. Towards the end of the 19th century, the western end of the district was the location of a terminus of a Bristol Tramways route, the city terminus of the Bristol Port Railway to Avonmouth, the lower terminus of the Clifton Rocks Railway, the locks giving access to the Floating Harbour, and the landing stages used by passenger steamers. In the 1920s, the A4 Portway road was driven through the Avon Gorge to provide better access from the city to Avonmouth Docks and in the process removing all signs of the Bristol Port Railway's station. Since the 1960s, the western end of Hotwells has been dominated by the Hotwells Flyover complex, which enables traffic from the city centre and the A4 Portway to cross the City Docks to access the south west side of the city.cite web | title = Clifton Rocks Railway - FAQ | url = http://www.cliftonrocksrailway.org.uk/faq.htm | publisher = Clifton Rocks Railway special interest group |accessdate = June 14 | accessyear = 2006]

Grenville Road Methodist Church was opened in 1839 in a rather elaborate Early English Style. Many years used as a garage and now flats.

Hotwells includes several of Bristol's Grade II* listed buildings, including the Church of Holy Trinity, designed by Cockrell, and the whole of Albemarle Row, a Georgian terrace. Also listed is the Pump House, formerly the power plant for Bristol Harbour's bridges and other machinery, now a pub.

Fanny Burney's 18th century novel Evelina is partly set in Hotwells, as the eponymous heroine visits Bristol during its spa-town years.

References

External links

* [http://www.hotwells.freeserve.co.uk/hotwells.html List of links] for Hotwells.
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/0602.htm Map of Hotwells circa 1900]