Features / Barton Hill
11 things you probably didn’t know about Barton Hill
With Banksy’s old stomping ground of Barton Hill now centre stage following the artist’s latest artwork, we round up some lesser known facts about the east Bristol neighbourhood.
1. The Rhubarb Tavern on Queen Ann Road is Barton Hill’s oldest building still standing today. It was built in the 18th century as a farmhouse. The road the tavern is located on is now known as Queen Ann Road but was originally called Pottery Lane, named after Barton Hill Pottery, which once stood next to the pub.
………………………………
is needed now More than ever
Bristol24/7 relies on your support to fund our independent journalism and social impact projects. Become a member and enjoy exclusive perks from just £5 per month.
………………………………
2. When it was built in 1958, Barton House used to be the tallest block of flats outside of London at 15 floors high.
3. Mercury Prize-winning Roni Size featured Barton Hill (and the Cheese Lane shot tower) on the cover of his 2004 album, Return to V.
Image courtesy of V Recordings
4. The Great Western Cotton Factory, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, opened in Barton Hill in 1838 and was the only cotton mill in South West England.
In 1925, the company went into liquidation following a recession, and the building was used by the Western Viscose Silk Company until 1929. In 1968 the main spinning mill was demolished, leaving only the remnants of the weaving sheds in the Barton Hill Trading Estate.
Great Western Cotton Factory – courtesy of Bristol City Council Museum Collections
5. The Wellspring Settlement, formerly known as Barton Hill Settlement, was formed from a collaborative effort by local community figures in 1911.
Hilda Cashmore was an instrumental figure, who used the settlement to give better opportunity to women, children and unemployed people.
The recently renamed Wellspring Settlement. Photo courtesy of Wellspring Settlement
6. Ex-teacher of Barton Hill School, William ER Harris, founded Barton Hill Old Boys Rugby Club, Barton Hill Swimming Club and Barton Hill Water Polo Club in 1908 to provide young men in the area with activities. The rugby club still exists today as Barton Hill RFC.
7. Barton Hill Youth Centre was previously a popular venue for punk and new wave acts to play. Siouxsie and the Banshees and Adam and the Ants were among the acts to play live.
8. St Luke’s Church was built partly thanks to the Great Western Cotton Company, which donated £1,000 to the £2,700 cost of building the place of worship. It has retained an important role among the community, operating not only did as a place of worship but also served as a school, a welfare centre, and was also used as an air raid shelter during World War Two.
St Luke’s Church is an important part of Barton Hill. Photo by Maylis Dudoeut
9. Netham Park, which has a playground, football pitch, green space and a pavilion, was built on the ground of what was once Netham Chemical Works. Although the chemical works has been demolished, the nearby lock keeper’s house still stands.
10. Mentioned in Domesday Book as Bertune apud Bristov, Barton Hill was once a scarcely populated area with lots of rhubarb fields.
11. World-renowned graffiti artist Banksy, whose most recent piece appeared in February on Marsh Lane, earned his painting spurs at Barton Hill Youth Centre.
Banksy in Barton Hill – photo by Martin Booth
Main photo of the Rhubarb Tavern by Emily Spivey
Read more: Banksy confirms Barton Hill artwork is his
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
