11 Bristol sites on the Heritage at Risk Register

Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register helps the organisation understand the overall state of England’s historic sites.

The programme identifies sites that are most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development and is updated each year.

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1. Stoke Park, Stoke Gifford

Bisected by the M32 and under pressure from heavy and, occasionally, anti-social use, the majority of the site was transferred to Bristol City Council in 2012. The mid-18th century park, laid out around the Dower House, received a Historic England grant towards a Conservation Management Plan in 2015, which is implemented by Natural England.

2. All Hallows Church, Easton

This Gothic revival church from the early 1900s was designed by local architect Sir George Oatley. The church was built on a former clay quarry and this has caused structural movements in the last 100 years.

A National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England Repair Grant for Places of Worship was accepted in 2012 for surface water drainage works and structural repairs, but some roofing and drainage issues still need addressing.

3. 28, 31 & 32 Portland Square, St Paul’s

Built between 1789 and 1820, these buildings are part of a terrace. Planning permission for numbers 31 and 32, which have been empty for more than 20 years, were submitted last year. Number 28 was bought by Artist Residence in 2019 to be converted into a boutique hotel, complete with coffee shop, event space and bar. It’s due to open in spring 2020.

4. St Mary-le-Port Church, Castle Park

The ruined church in Castle Park is said to have been founded in Saxon times and was a part of a bustling parish in the 19th and 20th centuries. The church was bombed on November 24, 1940 but remains protected due to its archaeological significance as one of the five ancient churches in Bristol.

5. Swing bridge, Cumberland Basin

This bridge over the North Entrance Lock was built in 1844 by Brunel and moved to its current location in 1873. However, since the construction of Plimsoll Bridge, the site has been made redundant. In 2019, some investigations and repairs were made, focusing on the bridge’s rotational mechanism.

6. Ashton Court Mansion, Long Ashton

A country house at the heart of Ashton Court Estate, Ashton Court Mansion has elements from the 15th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The house is now partly used, but large parts of the structure remains derelict and decaying. The property has been subject of many negotiations between Historic England and Bristol City Council, and the discussions remain ongoing.

7. Brislington House and park, Bath Road

Former lunatic asylum Brislington House is now known as Long Fox Manor – photo from Wikimedia Commons

Brislington House was established as a private lunatic asylum by Quaker Dr Edward Long Fox between 1804 and 1806. After Dr Fox’s death in 1835 the property was inherited jointly by his sons.

The asylum was run by the Fox family until the 1950s, when it was sold and fragmented into St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, a training centre, and Long Fox Manor apartments.

8. St Bernadette’s, Wells Road

Designed in 1967, the church was built to accompany the St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School. The church features bold and innovative design, but some of the original materials are now showing signs of deterioration and this has led to serious issues of letting in water, affecting the ceiling and the roof structure.

9. The stair turret, Inns Court Vicarage, Knowle

This early 15th century is attached to the Inns Court Vicarage built in the 20th century. Situate in the middle of a south Bristol housing estate, it was likely originally part of a larger house built for the lawyer Sir John Innys.

10. St Mary the Virgin Church, Henbury

This 13th century church was restored in the 19th century, but the building is at risk. As well as being subject to heritage crime, the roof coverings, masonry, mortar and cement is eroding away and causing serious damage.

11. Heavy anti-aircraft battery, Avonmouth

20th century military sites are increasingly seen as historic survivals representing a defining episode in the history of warfare and despite some damage to the concrete structures, the heavy anti-aircraft battery at Rockingham Farm, around 3km north of Avonmouth, is in good condition.

Read more: 9 historic doorstep mosaics in Bristol