News / Trees
Dismay at tree felling behind hidden 17th century house
Trees are being cut down, allegedly without the correct permission, behind a historic house close to Brandon Hill that was most recently a pub.
Residents living nearby the former Pineapple pub on St George’s Road were horrified when they saw a tree being cut down by builders.
Permission has been granted to turn the pub back into flats but it appears that no permission has been granted for the felling of any trees within the Conservation Area.
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As a workman climbed a tree to the rear of the property on Friday and turned on a chainsaw, a neighbour filmed him, saying that what he was doing was “illegal” and that the police had been called.
A planning application to fell four sycamore trees at the property was received by Bristol City Council in April but has yet to be approved.
One neighbour has alleged that after she confronted the builders, they became “threatening” towards her, allegedly followed her to her house, and allegedly shouted and banged on her door and windows.
A local resident told Bristol24/7 that the builders “just decided to yolo it”.
“They send a guy up with a chainsaw, no protective gear, and have him cut it down. At one point he’s halfway up the tree, chainsawing at his level, while his friends on the ground are pulling the tree above him down.
“I was watching it and I was 60 per cent sure I was about to witness this guy die.”
Tree felling in progress behind the 17th century property – photo: Bristol24/7
A Bristol City Council spokesperson confirmed that the council’s planning enforcement team have received the reports and concerns raised, and are investigating.
Bristol24/7 has attempted to contact the owners of the building.
The remains of the tree in the small courtyard behind the former Pineapple – photo: Martin Booth
Despite the Pineapple on St George’s Road having a date of 1907 on its facade, the building behind it dates from as early as 1665.
A heritage assessment of the building says that the house “was formerly known as West Hayes, situated on part of a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the foot of Brandon Hill on the west and the Bishop’s Park to its east.
“Dividing West Hayes from the park was a public thoroughfare known as Cow Lane, later renamed Limekiln Lane, before adopting the present name of St George’s Road in the Nineteenth Century.”
Some 17th century features survived within the interior of the pub, with planning officers recommending the planning application for the creation of six flats, saying that “the low degree of harm posed to the significance of heritage assets by the development is considered to be outweighed by its public benefits”.
The chimneys of the 17th century house can be glimpsed behind the former Pineapple – photo: Martin Booth
A glimpse inside the historic house from Brandon Steps – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Historic pub to be turned into luxury flats
- Pub of the Week: The Pineapple
- 10 Questions: Carla Denyer – ‘Much as I’d love to, we can’t protect every tree in Bristol’
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