Albemarle Row (continued

hotwells.html tel: 0117 907 3047

later Hotwells. http://jeremymcneill.tripod.com/ 5 Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ
stroyed much of this site with useful links:
in World War 2 de- Local resident Jeremy McNeill maintains a
Council and bombing site: www.hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk
again...
clearance by the City See also the community association web- you’ll want to return again and
busy port. 1930s slum (Redcliffe Press) a good pub should be. Try it and
serving the needs of a Years’ by Peter Malpass & Andy King Ales beers and a reminder of what
and a commercial life ‘Bristol’s Floating Harbour: The First 200
for industrial workers
mate environment offers 4 Bath
& Pauline Barnes (Tempus Publishing Ltd.) formed ale house. Its friendly inti-
mented by tenements
‘Hotwells and Cliftonwood’ by Sue Stops
in 1809. The fine houses for wealthy visitors were supple- Join us at this small but perfectly
available in local bookshops:
tral to this massive engineering project which was completed The Merchants Arms
Hotwells is the site of the ship locks and basin that were cen-
For further information the following are
scheme was devised to create a permanent 'Floating Harbour'.
ping caused by the second highest tidal range in the world a
www.the-pumphouse.com t. 01117 9272229
port of Bristol expanded. To overcome the problems for ship-
Sunday lunch.
As the spa declined, in the early years of the 19th century, the Country tipple, perfect in the sunshine with the impressive
houses, gardens, an Assembly Room and even a theatre. the entire range of Thatcher’s cider, the quintessential West
menu, this is seasonal English food with a twist. Try one of
'spa circuit' and sprouted elegant terraces of rooming
la carte menu, or outside for something lighter off the bar
was an important centre, along with nearby Bath, on the Whether upstairs in the restaurant for the more indulgent A
supposedly curative waters of the 'Hotwell'. For a time it House is now renowned for its award winning food.
18th century with the development of a spa based on the Situated in an historic Victorian pumping station, the Pump
history of its own. It grew rapidly in the second half of the
the western gateway to Bristol but has a distinct and rich fabulous surroundings
Hotwells, at the end of the dramatic Avon Gorge, forms food and quality beverages in
those in search of exquisite
The perfect destination for
Explore a historic part of Bristol
Hotwells Heritage Trail
By the 1960s the City Docks had become too small for modern
commercial shipping and the advantages of Hotwells water- © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.
Bristol City Council. 100023406. 2009.
side location, convenient for City centre amenities, brought a
new generation of
residents to the
renovated Georgian
and Regency ter-
races and new
houses and apart-
ments occupying the
sites of redundant
dockside ware-
houses and factories.
Fascinating remind-
ers of all these Hot- Cumberland Basin
wells past stories can
still be found and the list of people associated with the area is SS Great Brit-
like a roll call of British history: Addison, Gay, Cowper, Col-
eridge, Southey, Pope and Sheridan visited or wrote about the
Bristol Hotwell. Humphrey Davy worked at the Pneumatic
Institute in Dowry Square. Peter Roget of Thesaurus fame also
lived in Dowry Square and Jacob Schweppe opened a shop
selling fizzy drinks in 1812. Its industrial heritage was created
by the likes of William Jessop who designed the Floating Har-
bour and Isambard Brunel whose work is evident all around
the Docks. His most dramatic surviving creations dominate the
views from Hotwells. At the eastern end, the 'Great Britain'
steamship, once the largest in the world and now preserved in
the dry dock in which she was built and to the west the fa-
mous Clifton Suspension Bridge, high above the Avon Gorge.
As well as the
historical sites,
there are many
How to reach Hotwells nes Reach) and SS Great Britain also stop at Hotwells (The Pump
good pubs House). Centre to Hotwells takes 20 mins. See
and restau- Walking
www.bristolferry.com or www.numbersevenboattrips.co.uk
rants to greet From Harbourside Millennium Square (about 20 mins) following
the dockside. This is a vehicle-free path Bus
visitors taking
From the SS Great Britain, follow the dockside to Cumberland Park & ride buses from Long Ashton and Avonmouth stop in Hot-
the traffic-free Basin via the Marina and Underfall Yard (about 15 mins). wells (Hotwell Rd). Buses from Bristol Bus Stn. to Weston super
harbourside Mare, Clevedon & Portishead stop at Hotwells (Merchants Road).
Cliftonwood from the Floating Harbour walking and Cycling
National cycle route 41 from Wapping Wharf follows the New Cut Buglers Baltic Wharf loop service 500 links Temple Meads & Bristol
cycling route Centre with Hotwells running along Cumberland Rd. See
to Create Centre (10 mins) and onwards to Pill. Also either of the
around the City Docks. A frequent ferry service also links Hot- above walking routes offer traffic-free access by bike.
www.buglercoaches.co.uk
wells with other sites of interest in the Floating Harbour. Car
Ferry
Follow the orange walking trail on the map overleaf which Regular services calling at Temple Meads, the Centre (St Augusti- Public parking is available on the south and north sides of Cum-
you can join at any point. berland Basin.