News / local history
Bristol book digs into an obscure history
A local resident has dug into the history of one part of Bristol, uncovering a rich and varied past.
Richard Coates’s Shirehampton Sketches illustrates the people, places, buildings and times which make up a unique village heritage.
This book of 84 short chapters is a scrapbook of insights into Shire’s history, dating back to “a very long time B.C”.
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In fact, Richard argues that some of the very earliest evidence of human occupation in the British Isles is found on streets of Shirehampton.
The book details how the gravel terraces between High Street and Station Road were home to some of our ancient Bristolian ancestors, who left behind stone tools over 250,000 years ago.
It also looks into the lives of some famous figures who called Shire their stomping ground such as footballers, cricketers, writers, and astronomers.
17th century Shirehampton even became a refuge for royalty, when it was King William III’s first landfall in England after his victory over king James VII and II’s army at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
Captain Grenvile Collin’s depiction of King William III landing in Shire – photo: Shirehampton Sketches
The book also encompasses the history of Shirehampton’s surrounding areas, highlighting key moments in Kings Weston, Avonmouth, Lawrence Weston and Sea Mills’ past.
Through his collection of local research, Richard reveals an intriguing history that is still very much alive on the streets of north west Bristol, as well as highlighting the relics we have lost along the way.
Richard has lived in Shirehampton since 2006, working as a researcher and teacher in language, place-names and surnames at the UWE Bristol.
His book also breaks down the meaning behind the names of streets and buildings which locals walk past everyday.
Speaking of his interest in uncovering Shire’s past, Richard said: “Wherever I’ve lived I’ve found myself drawn to local history so that I could understand more about where I was going to call home.”
“[I was surprised] that one obscure place could have so much history. Shire and its neighbours within a couple of miles have been home to farmland, a bishop’s palace, scientific flood prevention, a tourist magnet, a millionaire’s retreat, a major port, a military base, and an industrial centre”
Shirehampton Sketches is sold on behalf of SCAF, a local grassroots organisation and charity which works to improve the quality of life in Shirehampton.
Ella Calland is reporting on Shirehampton as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media.
Main photo: Shirehampton Sketches
Read more: Bristol City Council conservation team extend protection of historic area
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