The Downs, Bristol: Difference between revisions
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[[File:The Downs, Bristol - DSC05706.JPG|right|thumb|300px|On the Downs]] | |||
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'''The Downs''' are an area of limestone downland in [[Bristol]], on the [[Gloucestershire]] side of the city. They consist of [[Durdham Down]] to the northeast, and the generally more picturesque and more visited [[Clifton Down]] to the southwest. Both areas are open to public recreation. | '''The Downs''' are an area of limestone downland in [[Bristol]], on the [[Gloucestershire]] side of the city. They consist of [[Durdham Down]] to the northeast, and the generally more picturesque and more visited [[Clifton Down]] to the southwest. Both areas are open to public recreation. | ||
==Durdham Down== | ==Durdham Down== | ||
[[File:Durdham Down (750px).jpg|righ|thumb|250px|Durdham Down]] | |||
{{main|Durdham Down}} | {{main|Durdham Down}} | ||
Durdham Down is the part of the Downs northeast of Stoke Road, extending to Westbury Park and [[Henleaze]]. It is owned by Bristol City Council. | Durdham Down is the part of the Downs northeast of Stoke Road, extending to Westbury Park and [[Henleaze]]. It is owned by Bristol City Council. | ||
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Clifton Down is the part of the Downs southwest of Stoke Road, between Sneyd Park and [[Clifton, Gloucestershire|Clifton]] and extending to the edge of the [[River Avon, Somerset|Avon Gorge]]. It is owned by the Society of Merchant Venturers. | Clifton Down is the part of the Downs southwest of Stoke Road, between Sneyd Park and [[Clifton, Gloucestershire|Clifton]] and extending to the edge of the [[River Avon, Somerset|Avon Gorge]]. It is owned by the Society of Merchant Venturers. | ||
[[File:Downs ventilation shaft (600px).jpg| | [[File:Downs ventilation shaft (600px).jpg|left|thumb|150px|Ventilation tower on the Downs]] | ||
==Management== | ==Management== | ||
Since an Act of Parliament in 1861, when Bristol Corporation acquired Durdham Down, the Downs have been managed as a single unit by the Downs Committee, a joint committee of the corporation and the Merchant Venturers.<ref>[http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=27818025 Clifton and Durdham Downs: a Landscape History]</ref> | Since an Act of Parliament in 1861, when Bristol Corporation acquired Durdham Down, the Downs have been managed as a single unit by the Downs Committee, a joint committee of the corporation and the Merchant Venturers.<ref>[http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=27818025 Clifton and Durdham Downs: a Landscape History]</ref> | ||
[[File:Bristol MMB S5 The Downs.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Houses by the Downs]] | |||
The Downs are used for leisure, walking, team sports and sightseeing, the latter especially at the cliff edge of the Avon Gorge. There are permanent football pitches here, used by the Bristol Downs Football League (the lowest tier any club has ever joined in order to be promoted to the Premier League). Temporary attractions are erected too on the Downs, such as circuses and the annual Bristol Flower Show. | The Downs are used for leisure, walking, team sports and sightseeing, the latter especially at the cliff edge of the Avon Gorge. There are permanent football pitches here, used by the Bristol Downs Football League (the lowest tier any club has ever joined in order to be promoted to the Premier League). Temporary attractions are erected too on the Downs, such as circuses and the annual Bristol Flower Show. | ||
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==Miscellany== | ==Miscellany== | ||
In 1982, 6,000 people assembled on the Downs, in response of to a local newspaper advertisement placed by the makers of the new breakfast television show TV-am. The 6,000 people were used to make the words 'Good', 'Morning' and 'Britain', used for the opening titles of the TV-am show, of the same name. It took 2 hours to get the volunteers into place, and another 2 hours to shoot. | In 1982, 6,000 people assembled on the Downs, in response of to a local newspaper advertisement placed by the makers of the new breakfast television show TV-am. The 6,000 people were used to make the words 'Good', 'Morning' and 'Britain', used for the opening titles of the TV-am show, of the same name. It took 2 hours to get the volunteers into place, and another 2 hours to shoot. | ||
{{wide image|Bristol Downs panorama.JPG|1000px|Wide view over the downs}} | |||
==Pictures== | ==Pictures== | ||
Latest revision as of 13:39, 28 February 2014
The Downs are an area of limestone downland in Bristol, on the Gloucestershire side of the city. They consist of Durdham Down to the northeast, and the generally more picturesque and more visited Clifton Down to the southwest. Both areas are open to public recreation.
Durdham Down
.jpg)
- Main article: Durdham Down
Durdham Down is the part of the Downs northeast of Stoke Road, extending to Westbury Park and Henleaze. It is owned by Bristol City Council.
Clifton Down
- Main article: Clifton Down
Clifton Down is the part of the Downs southwest of Stoke Road, between Sneyd Park and Clifton and extending to the edge of the Avon Gorge. It is owned by the Society of Merchant Venturers.
.jpg)
Management
Since an Act of Parliament in 1861, when Bristol Corporation acquired Durdham Down, the Downs have been managed as a single unit by the Downs Committee, a joint committee of the corporation and the Merchant Venturers.[1]
The Downs are used for leisure, walking, team sports and sightseeing, the latter especially at the cliff edge of the Avon Gorge. There are permanent football pitches here, used by the Bristol Downs Football League (the lowest tier any club has ever joined in order to be promoted to the Premier League). Temporary attractions are erected too on the Downs, such as circuses and the annual Bristol Flower Show.
A grey concrete water tower of 1954 stands on the Downs near the top of Blackboy Hill, with a long, low, covered reservoir alongside it.
Miscellany
In 1982, 6,000 people assembled on the Downs, in response of to a local newspaper advertisement placed by the makers of the new breakfast television show TV-am. The 6,000 people were used to make the words 'Good', 'Morning' and 'Britain', used for the opening titles of the TV-am show, of the same name. It took 2 hours to get the volunteers into place, and another 2 hours to shoot.
Pictures
-
The Observatory on Clifton Down -
Kites on the Downs in early autumn -
The Avon Gorge from the Downs
.jpg)
Outside links
- Bristol City Council page on the Downs
- Photographs of the Downs air vents
- "Downs Management Plan 2006" (PDF). Bristol City Council. http://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/2006/wa/wa017/0904_3.pdf. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project
- Map of The Downs circa 1900
References
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about The Downs, Bristol) |