Bishopsworth

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Bishopsworth
static_

static_image_caption= Boundaries of the city council ward.
latitude=
longitude=
population= 11,444 [Bristol County Council, 2005. " [http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/WardFinder/pdfs/bishopsworth-profile.pdf Bishopsworth Ward Profile] " (PDF)]
unitary_england= Bristol
region= South West England
lieutenancy_england= Bristol
constituency_westminster= Bristol South
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_district = BS13
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 0117
os_grid_reference= ST569686

Bishopsworth is the name of both a council ward of the city of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and a suburb of the city which lies within that ward.

As well as the suburb of Bishopsworth, the ward contains the areas of Bedminster Down, Highridge and Withywood.

Bishopsworth

Bishopsworth is a largely residential suburb in south Bristol, England, which was formerly a civil parish.

The name may originally have been Bishport. [cite web | title=Bishopsworth | work=GENUKI |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Bishopsworth/ | accessdate=2006-07-09]

In 1928 the parish of Bedminster Down was created from the north of Bishopsworth in response to the development of the area. The parishes of Hartcliffe and Withywood were separated off more recently.

Bishopsworth has an estimated population of 11,444 people (2001 Census). Its municipal services are run by Bristol City Council whilst its local health services are managed by the Bristol South and West Primary Care Trust.

Local facilities include shops and pubs, a public library and swimming pool.

Church

The first church in Bishopsworth was a small chapel dedicated to St Peter and St Paul built under an arrangement in 1194 between Robert Arthur, lord of the manor, and George de Dunster, prebend of Bedminster. The agreement provided for a chaplain to visit from Bedminster on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This provision continued until dissolution in 1540. The chapel was converted into three cottages which stood until the Corporation demolished them in 1961 to make way for a swimming pool.

The present church, dedicated to St Peter, was built in 1841-43. The neo-Norman design was the work of Samuel Charles Fripp. [cite web | title=St Peters Bishopsworth | url=http://www.instabook.com/stpeterbishopsworth/index.htm | accessdate=2006-07-09] It is a grade II* listed building. [cite web | title=Church of St. Peter | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=379165 | accessdate=2006-07-09]

Bishopsworth Manor

Bishopsworth Manor was built around 1720 and is grade II* listed. It was owned in the 1970's and 1980's by the late Denis Bristow who restored much of it to it's present state. [cite web | title=Bishopsworth Manor | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=379164 | accessdate=2006-07-09]

Other listed buildings

The School House and attached school rooms in church road were built around 1840 in a Tudor Revival style and is grade II listed. [cite web | title=School House and attached school rooms | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=379163 | accessdate=2006-07-09] Chestnut Court dates from the early 18th century in an early Georgian style. [cite web | title=Chestnut Court | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=380763 | accessdate=2006-07-09]

Bedminster Down

Bedminster Down is an area of Bristol, England.

Bedminster Down is a suburb of Bristol. Much of the area was built in the 1930s. It extends from Bedminster to Ashton, Bishopworth, Highridge and Uplands, and is a largely residential area. Much of the area is built over disused coal mines.

The Parish Church is dedicated to St Oswald and was built in 1927.

Highridge

Highridge is a mainly residential area of Bristol, located at the extreme south-west corner of the city. The area has a football team, Highridge United, which plays in the Gloucestershire County League.

Withywood

.

It is a large estate] , begun in the 1950s. The road links to Withywood are adequate, although they should improve with the proposed [http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/ccm/content/Transport-Streets/projects-and-schemes/major-highway-schemes.en South Bristol Ring Road]

Withywood has a number of primary schools: Fair Furlong, Four Acres, Gay Elms and St. Pius. There is a secondary comprehensive on Molesworth Drive which is due to close in 2008 and then re-open as an Academy. Aside from St. Pius all the other schools have relatively large sports fields and grounds. Withywood also has its own 'University', a private home on the corner of Bishport Avenue and Queens Road where studying and lectures take place.

Amidst other redevelopment in the area, a new education complex called [http://merchantsacademy.org/ The Merchants Academy ] had been built on Gatehouse Avenue. It opened September of 2008.

Queen's Road has a number of shops and the Amelia Nutt Health Clinic. Four Acres road also has shops directly opposite Sherrin Way bus terminus (the end of the journey) next to 'The Rusham' retirement homes.

It has a number of public houses: The Woods (Four Acres), Queens Head and Rising Sun (both located on Queen's Road).

Withywood has its own 'University', a private home on the corner of Bishport Avenue and Queens Road where studying and lectures take place.

Many young working couples are now purchasing property within the area due to the "size of property for pounds" ratio being far better than other other areas of bristol. A well renovated and modernised 3 bed semi with driveway and large rear garden in a cul-de-sac location can be bought for circa £175,000, a great steal at this price!

A big regeneration program is taking place around the area, new apartments on Hengrove Way and further development of The Junction shopping complex, and a proposal of a swimming pool and leisure complex alongside Cineworld, all within walking distance of Withywood.

People move to Withywood because it is sociable, accessible and quiet and within a few years this will be an area with house prices to match those of other areas of Bristol, a purchase in withywood could prove very valuable.

External links

* [http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Libraries/library-finder.en?XSL=library&LibraryId=4 Bishopsworth Library]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/0610.htm map of Bishopsworth circa 1900]
* [http://www.withywood.net/ Withywood Community School]
* [http://www.hwcp.org.uk/ Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership]
* [http://www.universityofwithywood.org.uk/ University of Withywood]
* [http://www.codestar.co.uk/wap Withywood Adventure Playground]