The Kingswood History Society

William gave a comprehensive and engaging talk explaining how Kingswood Chase was divided into areas where associated names survive to this day. He started by giving some background on the Forest of Kingswood which was administered from Bristol Castle with charges for digging coal. In 1228 it became disforested and became Kings Chase. Anyone digging coal or clay had to obtain a licence from the Crown. Between 1610 and 1750 mining rights were claimed in the coalfield and the land…

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A great day had by all. Coach to Bishops Lydeard to pick up the steam train to Minehead. We were then picked up and taken to Dunster and its castle. We were then returned home by coach from Dunster.

Andy gave an entertaining and captivating talk of his various experiences as an Auctioneer. Each exhibit having its own historical significance. The auction house is now called the Bristol and Bath Auctioneers (Auctioneum) formerly East Bristol Auctioneers and can be found on Memorial Road in Hanham. It is probably the busiest salesroom in the country with more than 5000 items per month. Over 2000 bidding online. The showroom regularly has themed auctions, quite popular is British Comedy. Some of the…

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Another nautical talk by one of our regular speakers Paul. As always very entertaining and informative, following many years of research. The focus was next to the north pier of the entrance to Sharpness Canal into the Severn Estuary. A colourful character Tyke Langford, a well-known Sharpness shipwright was mentioned many times. At one time the area was a Victorian Pleasure Ground, with a sandy beach. A tearoom and various dwellings for a holiday were in the vicinity. However, this…

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Terry started by giving background to his career in the space industry. Indeed, he graduated in the same month that man first walked on the moon. He then went on to give a history of the various satellite programmes entered by BAC. All this taking place in a lone building on Golf Course Lane. Insights were quite detailed and BAC would be contributing to only parts of programmes. Albeit sometimes being the primary lead. However, the first rocket was built…

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It never ceases to amaze me as to what fantastic industries we had in our local area. William J Bence was born in Willsbridge close to the former Queens Head pub. He moved to Kingsfield House (still there at junction of Bath Road and Marsham Way) when he married. Started out as a Carrier, Bill started his bus company in 1920, with a route covering Hanham, Kingswood, Staple Hill, Downend and Keynsham. No bus stops and Ford vehicles. The same…

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An hilarious presentation by Tim as he morphed his way during the presentation into a Pantomime Dame. Great audience participation and a good laugh had by all. Tim (from the Warmley Players) started by outlining a few rules that normally govern each pantomime. Not a dame in every pantomime, good v bad, possible enchanted forest, Principal Boy is usually a girl. Includes romance and comedy. The Dame (normally a man) is the mother of the hero, Chris Biggins being Tim’s…

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Mike gave a great presentation about what some would consider, the Bristol buses being the best in the world. A timeline from 1900 was shown and discussed; the key years of interest maybe; 1900 – The first Bristol bus being a Daimler Wagonette. 1908 – First Bristol bus build. 1919 – Bence Motor Services based in Hanham and Longwell Green founded. 1921 – Greyhound Motors formed in Bristol 1945 – Change of colour to Tilling Green from Blue and White….

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A great turnout for the KHS’s first talk of the year at the Park Centre. David introduced his self as someone heavily involved in film production in his career. Hence, he was able to present a collage of film covering the history of Bristol edited by his good hand. His incentive was the 650 year anniversary of the Bristol Charter granted by Edward the Third, as following the much celebrated 600 year anniversary in 1973. The film started with a…

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