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Brislington building reminder of when Bristol’s tram network was envy of UK
The Architecture the Railways Built returns to Bristol on Monday, but maybe not to where you might have been expecting.
The hour-long episode on Yesterday visits the former Brislington tram depot, which was once one of seven Bristol Tram Company depots across the city but the only one remaining close to its original form.
According to its Grade II-listing citation, it is “a rare example of a complete tram depot, with architectural attention given to the tramsheds as well as the showpiece entrance”.
is needed now More than ever
Bristol’s first tram ran on August 9 1875 along a short track of less than a mile and a half, between the newly formed Perry Road and Blackboy Hill.
The network swiftly expanded, with construction work beginning on Brislington depot in 1899 – the same year as the power station on Counterslip opposite what is now Castle Park.
Brislington tram depot’s “showpiece entrance” today – photo: Martin Booth
What is now Bristol City Council’s Sandy Park Depot, overlooking Bloomfield Road – photo: Martin Booth
A reminder of when the site was owned by the Bristol Omnibus Company – photo: Martin Booth
The Brislington depot “was designed to be the focus of the Tramways operation, providing maintenance, erecting, fitting, and fabrication workshops for the whole company as well as a running shed to accommodate 100 electric tramcars”, according to a comprehensive history of the site.
“Bristol was the first major electric tramway in the UK. The Bristol Tramways Co depot was, therefore, the first major purpose-built depot for this new form of traction, though the London United Tramways was close behind.
“These are uniquely early buildings designed and built for this purpose, and the ambitious scale, and integration of facilities on a single site, add significantly to its importance.”
Following expansion in the 1900s, Bristol’s tram network stretched from Clifton to Kingswood, from Knowle to Horfield.
Plan of the Bristol tramways network following its expansion in the 1900s – courtesy of Bristol Archives
Main photo: Martin Booth
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