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Post by The Concept on Feb 2, 2021 19:24:45 GMT
I did ask Mike on a different thread some time ago. Wondered if perhaps he didn't see the notification at the time. Thought I'd try again, having been able to look up the wider area on KYP - a couple of years back they had fewer map options, with the older maps just focused on central Bristol. It was originally hosted on the Bristol City Council website, but now extended for more of the west, with Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Devon added. Were the pitches you mention now what is called Lockleaze Sports Centre, which the Community Trust use and the Gas Girls train and play at? There were more pitches there not long ago. Dings Crusaders played there, before moving to Frenchay, and Bishopston RFC still use a pitch. Some of the playing fields were sold and have now been built on; part of an expanded Cheswick Village into Lockleaze. When digging the foundations for the new houses, remains of a Roman Villa were found. Most of the land you are referring to was farmland. Stanley Farm and Wallscourt Farm. The old Wallscourt Farm House is still there and within the Hewlett Packard premises. Stanley Farm was closer to Lockleaze near to what we called The Stoney Bridge off Kipling Road. The Purdown pitches were/are by the Telecom Tower that you see from most areas of Bristol. Yes, going back a bit further, it's amazing how many farms were around the area. The farmhouse at Wallscourt Farm is a lovely building, Grade II listed. Last time I looked there was a sign outside saying it housed the UWE Vice-Chancellors offices. Has a football pitch right out the front, and a large tree-shaded pond on the south side - would have been a great spot to turn into a pub and gardens, if the UWE Stadium had gone ahead! I see your Stoney Bridge crosses the railway line, right at where the end of the MOD car park is now. A little bit further south and you come to Bonnington Walk Bridge, and I've only just found out, having looked around the old Know Your Place maps, that it was the site of Horfield Station. Not far really from where Filton Abbeywood Station now is. The Dings pitches, between Hogarth Walk and Stanley Farm, are shown on the 1947 map as 'Sports Ground', and marks just north of the county boundary.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2021 20:00:44 GMT
Most of the land you are referring to was farmland. Stanley Farm and Wallscourt Farm. The old Wallscourt Farm House is still there and within the Hewlett Packard premises. Stanley Farm was closer to Lockleaze near to what we called The Stoney Bridge off Kipling Road. The Purdown pitches were/are by the Telecom Tower that you see from most areas of Bristol. Yes, going back a bit further, it's amazing how many farms were around the area. The farmhouse at Wallscourt Farm is a lovely building, Grade II listed. Last time I looked there was a sign outside saying it housed the UWE Vice-Chancellors offices. Has a football pitch right out the front, and a large tree-shaded pond on the south side - would have been a great spot to turn into a pub and gardens, if the UWE Stadium had gone ahead! I see your Stoney Bridge crosses the railway line, right at where the end of the MOD car park is now. A little bit further south and you come to Bonnington Walk Bridge, and I've only just found out, having looked around the old Know Your Place maps, that it was the site of Horfield Station. Not far really from where Filton Abbeywood Station now is. The Dings pitches, between Hogarth Walk and Stanley Farm, are shown on the 1947 map as 'Sports Ground', and marks just north of the county boundary. The Horfield Station platforms were still visible a decade ago, not sure now as I don't live in the area. I used to go to school with a lad who lived in a caravan on Wallscourt Farm, I think his Dad was a farm worker. One of the properties was derelict and very scary to a youngster. They had dogs there which badly mauled a young girl called Helen Jones who lived next to the old Beeches Club on Conygre Road Filton. I remember The Dings and Shaftesbury Crusaders pitches.
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Feb 3, 2021 13:32:37 GMT
The Glos cup used to be a very well attended game. I used to look forward to that game each season. Always lively on and off of the pitch. I don’t know how it came to pass that it became devalued and both club putting their youngsters out. I imagine it was a decent money maker for both clubs. I miss it and I don’t see us playing them for a very long time, if at all It was more of a money maker for the GFA than the clubs and most managers hated the fixture hence its demise. Thanks for the information although I’d have thought the clubs would have wanted to make the fans happy. I find myself telling stories about Glo cup matches and the younger lot find it hard to believe
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Feb 3, 2021 16:08:16 GMT
Yes, going back a bit further, it's amazing how many farms were around the area. The farmhouse at Wallscourt Farm is a lovely building, Grade II listed. Last time I looked there was a sign outside saying it housed the UWE Vice-Chancellors offices. Has a football pitch right out the front, and a large tree-shaded pond on the south side - would have been a great spot to turn into a pub and gardens, if the UWE Stadium had gone ahead! I see your Stoney Bridge crosses the railway line, right at where the end of the MOD car park is now. A little bit further south and you come to Bonnington Walk Bridge, and I've only just found out, having looked around the old Know Your Place maps, that it was the site of Horfield Station. Not far really from where Filton Abbeywood Station now is. The Dings pitches, between Hogarth Walk and Stanley Farm, are shown on the 1947 map as 'Sports Ground', and marks just north of the county boundary. The Horfield Station platforms were still visible a decade ago, not sure now as I don't live in the area. I used to go to school with a lad who lived in a caravan on Wallscourt Farm, I think his Dad was a farm worker. One of the properties was derelict and very scary to a youngster. They had dogs there which badly mauled a young girl called Helen Jones who lived next to the old Beeches Club on Conygre Road Filton. I remember The Dings and Shaftesbury Crusaders pitches. I remember dogs wandering around in groups, back in the 70’s. It could be very scary if confronted by them. My brother was surrounded by such a group and I just happened to come across him and I just started growling for all all I was worth and it broke them up. Probably more luck than judgment but a dog could very very intimidating in those days.
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Post by The Concept on Apr 10, 2021 16:34:39 GMT
A quote from the excellent book Bristol Rovers the Definitive history published Amberley in 2014
"By the summer of 1895, Eastville Rovers were based at the Star Inn on Fishponds Road, a public house built around 1860 and named after the Duke of Beaufort’s coal mine, Star Pit, and played all their home matches at the Ridgeway Ground in a kit of buff and green."
Suspect there may be a photo out there ?
Hi Mike, Has there been any more investigation as to where Rovers (Black Arabs) first home ground was? In the book Bristol Rovers Football Club - The Definitive History 1883-2003 it says: "A pitch was found among those of local rugby sides, at Purdown, a mile north of the future Eastville stadium. The first ground could well have been on the site of the current playing fields at the junction of Sir John's Lane and Lindsay Road." I've been looking on the brilliant ' Know You Place' website, but can't see any mention on playing fields in that area (fields around 'Heath House') on any of the old maps: www.kypwest.org.uk/Purdown Farm would have been a bit further up the hill (now Haydon Gardens) off Romney Avenue, close to 'Purdown Percy' HHA Battery. Another suggestions I've seen has been Bell Hill, Stapleton. Once you get to the top of the hill there used to be 'Stapleton Park' off to the left, which is now 'Baileys Mead Road' - could that have been the site? The next field on is then called 'Beaufort Nursey' (now 'The Chine'), and the next on from that is Stapleton Cricket Club. If you look at the old maps 'Purdown' is signaled as being the area to the right of Purdown Farm (mostly slopes), and is only just north of where Stapleton Park was. Looking for level ground for playing fields, you'd either be at the foot of the slopes (Stapleton), or on the top (Purdown Percy area) which isn't too far from the current Lockleaze Training site, and only a short 15 minute walk on to Wallscourt Farm where the UWE Stadium was proposed. The M32 might cloud the modern mind, and cut once seamless land off - more difficult to picture in the mind now, that Stapleton is at the base of Purdown. Eric from the BRFC History Group has posted a cutting from the Bristol Observer, Saturday Aril 16th 1898, on the BRFC Appreciation facebook page. It's titled: " Eastville Rovers Football Club: Retrospective and Prospective Details", with a sketch of a match in progress, which the group believe is the earliest illustration of Eastville. It also mentions the club was formed at a meeting in Collin's Restaurant. On the subject of the first ground Rovers played at, the article states: " Purdown was their hunting-ground, and splendid turf it was in those days, although the ground was, of course, too much on the slope." It also gives an idea of the location of the ground they had just moved from to arrive at Stapleton Road, Eastville: "... up to last season had been occupying a field at Rudgway, half-way between the Eastville Tram Terminus and Fishponds." p.s. I know there is a 'Rudgeway' between Almondsbury and Thornbury (rather than 'Rudgway'), and that area between Eastville and Fishponds does have a 'Ridgeway Park'. But not familiar with the name 'Rudgeway' or 'Rudgway' around there.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 16:42:31 GMT
I understand darloGas was able to verify it's authenticity because his younger brother played in the team. Only because I coached him, swiss . . . I coulda' been a contender. Dave, where have you gone now? Just saw your post about Zuckerberg and hoped you'd stay on here!
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,416
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Post by harrybuckle on Apr 11, 2021 8:02:16 GMT
Ridgeway in Fishponds was another early playing venue the players changed in the Star pub 539 Fishponds Road and walked across the road to the pitch. We found a Reserve team photo taken by the pub from late 1889. Being an amateur club this was the nature of football clubs of that era rugby was a more established sport in Bristol at the time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2021 9:08:23 GMT
Ridgeway in Fishponds was another early playing venue the players changed in the Star pub 539 Fishponds Road and walked across the road to the pitch. We found a Reserve team photo taken by the pub from late 1889. Being an amateur club this was the nature of football clubs of that era rugby was a more established sport in Bristol at the time. Are you bidding on any lots Harry? Gordon Bennett's Programmes
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
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Post by harrybuckle on Apr 11, 2021 16:42:59 GMT
Ridgeway in Fishponds was another early playing venue the players changed in the Star pub 539 Fishponds Road and walked across the road to the pitch. We found a Reserve team photo taken by the pub from late 1889. Being an amateur club this was the nature of football clubs of that era rugby was a more established sport in Bristol at the time. Are you bidding on any lots Harry? Gordon Bennett's Programmes[b Yes I will I have a spare £500k after my euro millions win last month.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2021 16:53:11 GMT
[b Yes I will I have a spare £500k after my euro millions win last month. Sorry I mentioned it.
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