Bristol City Council conservation team extend protection of historic area

From the medieval village layout, to its establishment as a picturesque Georgian retreat and Edwardian aspirations as a garden city, the history of Shirehampton is threaded into its streets, greenspaces and buildings.

Now, newly drawn boundaries could see the preservation of the ‘Shire’s’ unique village heritage doubled.

In 2020, a refreshed conservation area document was presented to the local community proposing to demarcate new boundaries and extend the historic areas which it protects.

In the draft appraisal, Bristol City Council outlines the special character of the area to the west of Bristol.

The team hope the document will become a blueprint to ensure future developments enhance rather than detract from the unique sense of place.

The document also offers fascinating insights into Shirehampton’s past, explaining why the Shire’s history is still very much present throughout the streets – and worth protecting.

At the moment, the conservation area covers two distinct sections, protecting the village centre and the ferry landing at Lamplighters Marsh. A reassessment of the boundaries has revealed that areas which are significant to the town’s identity have been omitted.

The extended boundaries will double the conservation area – image: City Design Group

Shirehampton’s local conservation area was originally established in 1975, aiming to maintain the area’s historical significance and uniqueness.

In July, the council held a question and answer session on the proposed amendments at Shirehampton Public Hall.

A local couple who attended the consultation spoke about what extending the conservation area would mean to them.

David Thomas said: “Shirehampton has got a very interesting character and at the moment it is protected in the existing conservation area, but there are lots of other very interesting and well worth preserving neighbouring parts that are not in the current area and would benefit from that protection.”

Development in Shirehampton is a contentious issue, a planning application for The Nurserymen Florists site in the conservation area has been met with over thirty objections.

Janet Thomas added: “Some very valuable historic buildings in Shirehampton have already been lost which is a great disappointment really, and I think it is very important to preserve what remains of our history and to enhance it and not let anymore destruction of our historic buildings take place.”

New areas proposed for protection include the Bristol Garden Suburb, an early example of the garden city movement in the UK set up in 1910 by pioneering women directors, Station Road, home to the eccentric architect of an extravagant metropolitan boulevard, Frederick Bligh Bond and his pet lemur, and the Bradleys, a street of distinctive terraces which preserve the boundaries of the medieval strip fields.

Bradley Crescent will become protected under the new boundaries

The character appraisal goes into great detail on these areas as well as Green, High Street, and Lamplighters Marsh.

A council spokesperson said: “Conservation areas protect and promote places that enjoy a special historic and architectural character. They give legal protection to places and buildings that are recognised as being special.

“A consultation process was carried out over two years with the community, to promote a greater understanding of what makes Shirehampton special, empower residents to protect it and make sure any future developments are based on a clear understanding of those characteristics. We received an overwhelmingly positive response to the consultation.”

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

All photos: Ella Calland

Read more: Shirehampton conservation area could be extended

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