Bishopsworth is a suburban neighbourhood and electoral ward of the city of Bristol, England. Bishopsworth contains many council estates.[1]
Bishopsworth electoral ward, which also includes the Bedminster Down neighbourhood, had a population of 12,274 at the 2021 census.[2]
Local facilities include shops and pubs, a public library, community arts centre and an indoor skate park.
History
Bishopsworth was historically the tything of Bishport in the parish of Bedminster in Somerset.[3] The rural southern parts of Bedminster became the civil parish of Bedminster Without from 1894 to 1898, when that parish was abolished and most of it became the new civil parish of Bishopsworth.[4] Large parts of the civil parish were absorbed into Bristol in 1930 and 1933, and the civil parish was abolished on 1 April 1951 and merged with Bristol, parts went to Long Ashton and Dundry.[5] In 1931 the parish had a population of 1,866.[6]
In 1928 the ecclesiastical parish of Bedminster Down was created from the north of Bishopsworth in response to the development of the area. The ecclesiastical parishes of Hartcliffe and Withywood were separated off more recently.
Church
St Peter's Church, Bishopsworth
The first church in Bishopsworth was a small chapel dedicated to St Peter and St Paul built under an arrangement in 1194 between Robert Arthur, lord of the manor, and George de Dunster, prebendary of Bedminster. The agreement provided for a chaplain to visit from Bedminster on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This provision continued until dissolution in 1540. The chapel was converted into three cottages which stood until the Corporation demolished them in 1961 to make way for a swimming pool, which was built in the early 1970s. The pool has since been converted into a skate park, Campus Pool.
Bishopsworth Manor was built around 1720 and is grade II* listed.[9] It was owned in the 1970s and 1980s by the late Denis Bristow who restored much of it to its present state.
Other listed buildings
The School House and attached school rooms in church road were built around 1840 in a Tudor Revival style and is grade II listed.[10] Chestnut Court dates from the early 18th century in an early Georgian style.[11]
The ward was created in 1974, initially represented by three members on Bristol City Council and one member on Avon County Council.[16] Its boundaries were adjusted in 1981, 1999 and 2016.[17][18][19] In the 2016 boundary changes, Withywood transferred from Bishopsworth to the new Hartcliffe and Withywood ward.[19]
