Features / Lockdown 2.0 Diaries
Lockdown 2.0 diaries: BS4 – Knowle West and Totterdown
A poster outside Filwood Community Centre still advertises the 2019 lantern parade. It’s a tantalising reminder of times past: of large group gatherings, unmasked bus journeys and community events.
Now, Filwood Broadway in the heart of Knowle West is like a ghost town. Printed out letters welcome people to the now-closed library while a solidarity figure rests his back against the fence of the quiet playground.
The convenience store and pharmacy welcome stragglers through their doors, and a small group of men get their caffeine fix at the Sandwich Shop.
is needed now More than ever
An elderly women and middle aged man meet while walking their dogs. “It’s quiet, isn’t it,” says the woman, whose dog shivers in their orange coat.
“Yes, it is,” he agrees. “How are you spending your days?”
“Oh, mostly alone,” is her reply. The two walk together, albeit a safe distance apart, the two dogs enjoying the company of another as much as the two individuals.
Posters outside Filwood Community Centre hark back to a different time
An older woman and middle aged man walk together in Knowle West
Nearby, in the sea of houses, poppies cover some of the windows as the world marks Armistice Day.
In other windows, faded rainbow signs thank key workers. Barely visible paint showing appreciation of the NHS still lines some of the streets; a reminder of the first national lockdown earlier in the year.
A faded thank you to key workers on Filwood Broadway
Many activities at the Park Centre are paused during lockdown, some of the takeaways are temporarily closed and there us nowhere for many people to be. The most life to be seen is at the Tesco Express on Axbridge Road.
Builders grab a meal deal, workers gossip and children head inside, pointing at the Christmas tree which stands a little sadly in the entrance of the shop.
Each street is as quiet as the last. Broadwalk is silent, the sprawling expanse of Perrett Park is empty except for one child and their parents in the play park, and Wells Road is distinctly hushed.
Tesco Express, unlike its neighbouring closed takeaways, is a hub of activity on a recent Wednesday morning
All is peaceful in Perrett Park
A few hundred yards away, Totterdown Canteen offers takeaway and the lights are on inside the Silverman pharmacy.
Building works continues behind the Church of the Holy Nativity and a steady stream of people queue for groceries from Fox + West. The automatic doors of the Co-Op and Polski Sklep International Food create an almost drum beat, with the flow of people heading in and out.
Otherwise, the main road of Totterdown resembles life in the much of south Bristol.
With closed stores, the chill of November and no chance to gather with community, BS4 – at least on its streets – is muffled by the quiet of lockdown.
Wells Road is quiet, like much of BS4
All photos: Lowie Trevena
Read more: Lockdown 2.0 diaries: BS3 – Bedminster, Southville and Ashton Gate
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
