Bower Ashton

History

Bower Ashton was historically a hamlet in the parish of Long Ashton in Somerset. In medieval times the area was owned by St Augustine's Abbey, but following the dissolution the Smyth estate was established by John Smyth, a merchant from Small Street in the city, in the 16th century. In the 19th century Sir John Henry Greville Smyth rebuilt Ashton Court Mansion along with a now demolished Dower house on the present site of the School of Creative Arts. Maps of that era show a ropewalk, Frayne's Colliery and Ashton Vale Iron works, adjacent to the Portishead railway line.{{cite web |access-date=15 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310084315/http://www.bower-ashton.co.uk/victorian-map.htm |archive-date=10 March 2009 |url-status=dead

From ancient times the Rownham Ferry linked Bower Ashton with Hotwells. In medieval times it was owned by the monks of St Augustine's Abbey and brought them considerable income. |access-date=16 January 2009 There was also a ford downstream but due to the great tidal range |access-date=16 January 2009 this was dangerous. The ferry remained in operation until it closed in the 1930s, after the opening of the Ashton Swing Bridge at Ashton Gate.{{cite web |access-date=15 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311044202/http://www.bower-ashton.co.uk/rownham-ferry.htm |archive-date=11 March 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=16 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517015752/http://www.thesealedknot.org.uk/knowbase/docs/0071_EscapeKing.htm |archive-date=17 May 2008 |access-date=16 January 2009

In 1914, it was the location of the Bristol International Exhibition.

In 1951, the area was transferred from Long Ashton parish to Bristol.

Attractions

Bower Ashton is also the location of the playing grounds of Bedminster Cricket Club (founded in 1847, for whom W.G. Grace played) and has a small part of the River Avon Trail |access-date=15 January 2009 (the old Tow Path) running along the River Avon in Greville Smyth Park, which was developed from land given to the city by Sir Greville Smyth. |access-date=22 September 2017 The park walk gives a classic view of the full span of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge across the Avon Gorge between Leigh Woods in North Somerset and Clifton in Bristol.

Across the River Avon are the lock gate entrances to Bristol Docks and the 'Floating Harbour' (completed in 1809) in Hotwells and the large Samuel Plimsoll Swing Bridge. Within easy walking distance too are: Ashton Court Estate, (where Bristol's famous outdoor festivals take place) and Ashton Gate stadium (home of Bristol City FC).

References

References

1. [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/12342 Vision of Britain: Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)]
2. "Long Ashton". Bristol & Avon Family History Society.
3. [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10418409#tab02 Vision of Britain: Long Ashton CP/AP]