It's a great place to live, at least that's what we think.
Totterdown is a district of Bristol just to the south of the city centre. It's a hilly district and has what might be the steepest residential street in the world, well maybe not the world, but Vale Street is pretty darn steep. Most of the housing appeared here in at the end of the 19th century. The famous 'Three Lamps' (pictured left) were nearly lost forever along with many houses and businesses after a devastating planning decision in the 1970's.
This part of the site gives an overview of Totterdown for anyone new to the place and provides some useful contacts for established residents. If you've got things you'd like to see added then drop a line to the web-editor to have them included.
History of Totterdown
Maps of Totterdown from the early 17th century show it as an agricultural area with the Bath Road, Wells Road and St. John's Lane running through it. In the early 1700s, turnpikes (tollbooths) were erected at the junction of Wells Road and Bath Road (by what is now the 'Thunderbolt' - and formely the ''Turnpike' pub) and at the junction with the Wells Road and St. John's Lane. The toll charges proved unpopular and rioters destroyed the tollgates in 1749. The steep slope of Pylle Hill caused a nuisance for stagecoaches and in 1833 a new wider road was built with the top of the hill removed to reduce the gradient.
Until the mid nineteenth century Totterdown remained a rural area. Two windmills one on Windmill Hill and another in the School Road area, were probably used to mill cattle feed. The slopes of Totterdown were built on from the mid-nineteenth century onwards, with a rapid increase in house building during the 1860s and 1870s to accommodate workers from the newly built Temple Meads railway station and for other industries in the central Bristol area.
By the end of the 19th century most of the greenfield sites were built on. Local churches served the local population; there was a public house or off licence on almost every corner; a wide range of shops developed along the Wells Road; and trams ran regularly between Bristol Bridge and Totterdown.
The proximity of Totterdown to the railway lines and Bristol's main station made it a target for bombers during the Second World War. Many properties, homes, businesses, churches, and other public buildings were damaged and there were some fatalities.
During the 1970s a road scheme was proposed and many houses were demolished. However, the road scheme was never implemented, and later new houses were built on much of the land. An area of land was left next door to the new Bush pub - which was known as Zone A and was designated for community use. The much missed Kate Pollard wrote a full account of the fight against the road plans and the impact that the demolition had on Totterdown in her book 'Totterdown Rising'.
More local history can be found at the About Bristol website or at the site of local pub The Shakespeare.
The Ward
Totterdown is part of the Windmill Hill ward.
If you're feeling curious about the area, you can find out more on the Up My Street website.
The ward is served by two councillors:
Alf Havvock and Mark Bailey. Both are Liberal Democrats.
Other Organisations around Totterdown
Totterdown Children's Community Workshop
The Totterdown Children's Community Workshop has been providing happy, safe, reliable and low cost childcare for over 30 years. The Afterschool Club collects from Hillcrest Primary School during term time and the Holiday Playscheme welcomes children aged 4 to 12 years from all over Bristol.
Their focus is to provide a wide range of stimulating and creative activities in a safe, fun, imaginative and caring environment. The children are involved in choosing what they would like to do, ranging from free play, arts & craft, softball, cookery and board games. When the weather is good we visit the local parks for outdoor play. In the holidays TCCW have regular cinema visits and day trips.
Visit their website to find out more...
Victoria Park Action Group (VPAG)
VPAG is a voluntary group that acts to improve Victoria Park. They raise funds for park improvements and look into issues like the use of the park lodge.
Northern Slopes Initiative
Northern Slopes Initiative is a group of people seeking to maintain, conserve and enhance their local open space resource known and grouped collectively as the Northern Slopes. The Slopes are three areas of public open space situated 3 kilometres to the south of the centre of Bristol known as Novers Common, Glyn Vale/Kingswear and Wedmore Vale (The Bommie).
Community of Perrett's Park (COPP)
COPP is a voluntary group that acts to improve Perrett's Park. They organise events and activities to bring life into the park.
Arnos Vale Friends
The cemetary is being restored following a successful fundraising effort by the Friend of Arnos Vale. During all of the renovation work, walks exploring the natural world and history contained within this Victorian cemetary are still taking place. For more information see www.arnosvalefriends.org.uk