College Green, Bristol
Encyclopedia
College Green is a public open space in Bristol
, England
. The Green takes the form of a segment of a circle with its apex pointing east, and covers 1.1 hectares (2.7 acre). The road named College Green forms the north-eastern boundary of the Green, the Cathedral marks the south side, and the Council House closes the Green in an arc to the north-west.
College Green is owned by the Dean and Chapter of Bristol Cathedral, and managed by Bristol City Council.
separated from Brandon Hill
to the north west by a narrow gully, College Green was enclosed to form the precincts of St Augustine's Abbey (now Bristol Cathedral) in the 12th century. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries
, the abbey became a collegiate church
and its precincts thenceforth became known as 'College Green'.
The Bristol High Cross was moved here from its original location at the junction of High St, Wine St, Broad St and Corn St, where it had been considered a traffic hazard, in 1733. In 1762 the Green was levelled and laid out as a raised park with stone boundary walls, railings and formal promenades crossing at its centre. The High Cross was relegated to a corner of the Green, and in 1768 it was given to Henry Hoare
for use as a garden ornament at Stourhead
, where it can still be seen.
The name 'College Green' also applied to the road which passed on either side of the Green. The southern leg of this formed part of the main route out of Bristol heading to the south-west and separated the Green from the Cathedral, whilst the north-eastern leg led towards Clifton. In 1850 a replica of the High Cross was erected and placed at the apex of the Green. This remained here until a statue of Queen Victoria took its place in 1888, at which time the Cross was moved to the centre of the Green, at the intersection of the formal promenades. For the next sixty years the Green remained a leafy oasis, insulated from the busy roads on either side by tall trees, though slightly diminished by the removal of the outer row of trees on the north-eastern side for road-widening in 1926.
In 1950 at the request of Vincent Harris
, controversial architect of the Council House, all remaining trees, the formal promenades, statue and High Cross were removed and the Green lowered to street level. Harris stated that this "would 'make' my building", and considered the removal of the statue and High Cross "a minor detail". Wide new promenades were laid out running parallel to the sides of the Green, with low Portland stone borders.
After a period of storage at Redcliffe Wharf during which other locations were considered, and following a campaign for its return, the statue of Queen Victoria was returned to the apex on the Green in 1953. Part of the replica High Cross, vandalised in storage, is now preserved in Berkeley Square
.
In 1991 the southern perimeter road was closed to through traffic and grassed over for much of its length, uniting the Cathedral with its Green. The eastern end was retained to give access to buildings to the east of the Cathedral, re-laid with reclaimed setts
. As part of this enhancement scheme, a circular seating area was laid out near the apex and reclaimed cast-iron lamp posts were installed.
, the Lord Mayor's Chapel
, the Cathedral
and the Abbey Gatehouse
.
Queen Victoria's statue stands at the apex of the Green, and in the south-western corner near the Central Library
is a statue of social reformer Raja Rammohun Roy.
enthusiasts. This has led to tensions, and in 2007 a Group Dispersal Order was served on the area to allow the police to prevent groups of young people congregating.
With its proximity to the Council House, College Green is often the focus of protests against local or national government policy. On 15 October 2011, it became the site for Occupy Bristol, a camp established as part of the worldwide "Occupy" protests against social and economic inequality.
College Green is a regular venue for media launches, press calls, charity fundraisers and product launches
There are plans to place a 50m high observation wheel on College Green in summer 2011.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Green takes the form of a segment of a circle with its apex pointing east, and covers 1.1 hectares (2.7 acre). The road named College Green forms the north-eastern boundary of the Green, the Cathedral marks the south side, and the Council House closes the Green in an arc to the north-west.
College Green is owned by the Dean and Chapter of Bristol Cathedral, and managed by Bristol City Council.
History
Originally a small hill north of the River AvonRiver Avon, Bristol
The River Avon is an English river in the south west of the country. To distinguish it from a number of other River Avons in Britain, this river is often also known as the Lower Avon or Bristol Avon...
separated from Brandon Hill
Brandon Hill, Bristol
Brandon Hill, also known as St Brandon's Hill, is a hill close to Bristol city centre, between the districts of Clifton and Hotwells, in south west England....
to the north west by a narrow gully, College Green was enclosed to form the precincts of St Augustine's Abbey (now Bristol Cathedral) in the 12th century. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, the abbey became a collegiate church
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
and its precincts thenceforth became known as 'College Green'.
The Bristol High Cross was moved here from its original location at the junction of High St, Wine St, Broad St and Corn St, where it had been considered a traffic hazard, in 1733. In 1762 the Green was levelled and laid out as a raised park with stone boundary walls, railings and formal promenades crossing at its centre. The High Cross was relegated to a corner of the Green, and in 1768 it was given to Henry Hoare
Henry Hoare
Henry Hoare II , known as Henry the Magnificent, was an English banker and garden owner-designer.-Career:Born the son of Henry Hoare I and educated at Westminster School, Henry Hoare dominated the Hoare family through his wealth and personal charisma. Henry was a partner for nearly 60 years in C...
for use as a garden ornament at Stourhead
Stourhead
Stourhead is a 2,650 acre estate at the source of the River Stour near Mere, Wiltshire, England. The estate includes a Palladian mansion, the village of Stourton, gardens, farmland, and woodland...
, where it can still be seen.
The name 'College Green' also applied to the road which passed on either side of the Green. The southern leg of this formed part of the main route out of Bristol heading to the south-west and separated the Green from the Cathedral, whilst the north-eastern leg led towards Clifton. In 1850 a replica of the High Cross was erected and placed at the apex of the Green. This remained here until a statue of Queen Victoria took its place in 1888, at which time the Cross was moved to the centre of the Green, at the intersection of the formal promenades. For the next sixty years the Green remained a leafy oasis, insulated from the busy roads on either side by tall trees, though slightly diminished by the removal of the outer row of trees on the north-eastern side for road-widening in 1926.
In 1950 at the request of Vincent Harris
Vincent Harris
Emanuel Vincent Harris OBE, RA was an English architect who designed several important public buildings.He was born in Devonport, Devon and educated at Kingsbridge Grammar School. He was articled to the Plymouth architect James Harvey in 1893; in 1897 he moved to London where he assisted E. Keynes...
, controversial architect of the Council House, all remaining trees, the formal promenades, statue and High Cross were removed and the Green lowered to street level. Harris stated that this "would 'make' my building", and considered the removal of the statue and High Cross "a minor detail". Wide new promenades were laid out running parallel to the sides of the Green, with low Portland stone borders.
After a period of storage at Redcliffe Wharf during which other locations were considered, and following a campaign for its return, the statue of Queen Victoria was returned to the apex on the Green in 1953. Part of the replica High Cross, vandalised in storage, is now preserved in Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square, Bristol
Berkeley Square is close to Park Street in the Clifton area of Bristol.It was laid out around 1790 in Georgian style with a central grass area behind railings, by Thomas and William Paty....
.
In 1991 the southern perimeter road was closed to through traffic and grassed over for much of its length, uniting the Cathedral with its Green. The eastern end was retained to give access to buildings to the east of the Cathedral, re-laid with reclaimed setts
Sett (paving)
A sett, usually the plural setts and in some places called a Belgian block, often incorrectly called "cobblestone", is a broadly rectangular quarried stone used originally for paving roads, today a decorative stone paving used in landscape architecture...
. As part of this enhancement scheme, a circular seating area was laid out near the apex and reclaimed cast-iron lamp posts were installed.
Sites of Interest
College Green is surrounded by a number of historic and important public buildings, including the Council HouseCouncil House, Bristol
The Council House has been the seat of local government in Bristol, England since 1956. It is situated on College Green, opposite the Cathedral and at the foot of Park Street in Bristol city centre . Throughout its history it has been home to Bristol city council.It was designed in the 1930s but...
, the Lord Mayor's Chapel
St Mark's Church, Bristol
St Mark's Church is an ancient small church on the north-east side of College Green, Bristol, England, built c. 1230. Better known to mediaeval and Tudor historians as the Gaunt's Chapel, it has also been known within Bristol since 1722 as the Mayor's Chapel. It is the only church in England...
, the Cathedral
Bristol Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
and the Abbey Gatehouse
The Great Gatehouse
-External links:**...
.
Queen Victoria's statue stands at the apex of the Green, and in the south-western corner near the Central Library
Bristol Central Library
Bristol Central Library is a historic building on the south side of College Green, Bristol, England. It contains the main collections of Bristol's public library....
is a statue of social reformer Raja Rammohun Roy.
Events
College Green is a popular meeting place for young people, particularly street sportsStreet sports
Street sports is a used to describe a number of sports held in urban environments. Other key characteristics attributable include their non-commercial and non-professional nature. Street sports are an expression of the spontaneous, improvisational and creative origins of sport adapted by human...
enthusiasts. This has led to tensions, and in 2007 a Group Dispersal Order was served on the area to allow the police to prevent groups of young people congregating.
With its proximity to the Council House, College Green is often the focus of protests against local or national government policy. On 15 October 2011, it became the site for Occupy Bristol, a camp established as part of the worldwide "Occupy" protests against social and economic inequality.
College Green is a regular venue for media launches, press calls, charity fundraisers and product launches
There are plans to place a 50m high observation wheel on College Green in summer 2011.