52-599: The Frome / ˈ f r uː m / , historically the Froom , is a river that rises in Dodington Park , South Gloucestershire and flows southwesterly through Bristol to join the river Avon . It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) long, and the mean flow at Frenchay is 60 cubic feet per second (1.7 m/s). The name Frome is shared with several other rivers in South West England and means 'fair, fine, brisk'. The river
104-846: A kayaker was killed after capsizing in the flooded river at Snuff Mills weir in Frenchay during a night-time paddle. The Frome Valley Walkway is a public footpath, 18 miles (29 km) long, that runs almost the entire length of the river from Old Sodbury to Bristol . A guide pamphlet has been published. The walkway was created by a partnership between local authorities, the Environment Agency, wildlife organisations and location action groups, including Avon Biodiversity Partnership, Avon Invasive Weeds Forum, Avon Wildlife Trust, Bristol City Council, Bristol Naturalists' Society and South Gloucestershire Council. Regular events include clearing of invasive species and guided walks. The Frome valley supports
156-450: A narrow-gauge railway had been built on the site to attract visitors by the 1970s. The local council denied planning permission to build a pleasure park in 1982, with the decision costing the immediate loss of 20 staff. In the wake of the decision, Sir Simon Codrington said that "Every generation of Codringtons since the sixteenth century has fought tooth and nail to keep the estate" with Sr Simon and his wife being reduced to occupying only
208-507: A barn to the north of the stables is listed Grade II. The walls, piers, and bridge to the west of St Mary's churchyard entrance are listed Grade II, as are the walls and railings and gates attached to the West of the church. The Summer House to the south of the Dower House is listed Grade II. The Cascade Building at the eastern end of the lake is listed Grade II*. The ornamental pigeon loft to
260-462: A campaign by Felix Farley in his Journal, no action was taken until a shopkeeper on the bridge employed James Bridges to provide designs. The commission accepted the design of James Bridges after many long drawn out disputes which are still unclear. Bridges fled to the West Indies in 1763 leaving Thomas Paty to complete it between 1763 and 1768. The bridge that was completed by 1768 largely resembles
312-485: A flood relief channel. From Damsons Bridge ( Grid Reference ST657794 ) to Snuff Mills ( ST623764 ) the river is navigable, but only by canoe (kayak) though some portaging may be required. It's also possible to start at Moorend Bridge ( ST650794 ) or Frenchay Bridge ( ST644777 ). Some of the Bradley brook has also been kayaked. Between Frenchay and Stapleton the river drops nearly 50 feet (15 m), and as
364-478: A major problem, remedied by the construction of storm drains and diversions. The river's name derives from the British Celtic , meaning 'fair, fine, brisk’. It is not to be confused with other rivers in the south west of England with the same name. The historic spelling, Froom , is still sometimes used and this is how the name of the river is pronounced (as in broom). In the nineteenth and twentieth century,
416-409: A more southwesterly direction the river enters Oldbury Court estate, a city park also known as Vassal's, where it is joined by the first of two Fishponds brooks both on the left. The river then passes Snuff Mills , entering a steep valley at Stapleton , where the second Fishponds brook joins, then passing Eastville park, where it feeds the former boating lake. Due to the steep valley and flood risk,
468-434: A mud dock at Mansfield's point, the latter filled in by 1829. The last shipbuilder closed in 1883. The mean flow as measured at Frampton Cottrell is 60 cubic feet per second (1.7 m/s), with a peak on 30 October 2000 of 788 cubic feet per second (22.3 m/s) and a minimum on 10 August 1990 of 1.0 cubic foot per second (0.028 m/s). The mean flow as measured at Frenchay is 60 cubic feet per second (1.7 m/s), with
520-612: A northwesterly direction through Yate , and is then joined by the Nibley brook at Nibley and the Mayshill brook at Algars Manor near Iron Acton, both on the left. The river turns south towards the next settlement of Frampton Cotterell , where it is met by the Ladden brook on the right bank. Continuing southwards between Yate and Winterbourne , the Frome crosses Winterbourne Down , to Damsons Bridge where
572-416: A peak on 10 July 1968 of 2,474 cubic feet per second (70.1 m/s) and a minimum on 9 August 1976 of 2.8 cubic feet per second (0.079 m/s). The Environment Agency in 2008 classified the river as Grade A (highest grade) for chemical content, but the biology was assessed at C grade (mid). Measurements were taken over a stretch of river between Bradley brook and Broomhill. Where it passes through Bristol
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#1732897709721624-504: A probable moat along the line of St Stephen's Street (formerly called Fisher Lane and Pylle End) and the old curving section of Baldwin Street (now a continuation of St Stephens's Street) and the natural river or river delta itself actually flowing farther south, all joining the Avon at Welsh Back at or south of Bristol Bridge . The narrow strip of high land rising some 45 feet above high water between
676-450: A range of wildlife and plants, passing through or near to a number of nature reserves and parks, including Goose Green fields, Chill Wood, Cleeve Valley, Oldbury Court park and Eastville Park. Notable species include grey wagtails , wild service trees , dippers and several species of bats. One of the last British populations of the endangered native white-clawed crayfish in the Bristol area
728-406: A result there a number of corn and other mills were established to harness the water power. They were undershot mills with no mill ponds . Today a wheel at Snuff Mills is preserved and the mill buildings of Cleeve Mill survive as a private residence. The Frome originally flowed east of its present-day course from Stone Bridge (now under the paved concourse at the "bow" of Electricity House) with
780-456: A single bedroom and kitchen in the house with an electric fire for heating. The estate was put up for sale in October 1983 by estate agents John D. Wood and had sold by the following February at undisclosed price, with offers over £1 million having been sought previously. The Codrington archives which documented three generations of the family and their relationship with agriculture and slavery in
832-446: A slate roof. Each facade is different, the south front having seven bays separated by Corinthian pilasters. From the north-west corner of the house, a curving conservatory acts as a covered approach to the church, which was also rebuilt by Wyatt. A formal garden was added in 1930. The interior of the house features decorative plasterwork by Francis Bernasconi . The house was listed as being 52,000 square feet (4,800 m ) in size at
884-451: A tip off, and Dyson was forced to retrospectively apply for planning permission, which was granted in October 2016. 51°31′1.5″N 2°21′29″W / 51.517083°N 2.35806°W / 51.517083; -2.35806 Bristol Bridge Bristol Bridge is a bridge over the floating harbour in Bristol , England. The floating harbour was constructed on the original course of
936-532: Is joined underground by Coombe brook on the left and Horfield brook on the right. A brief stretch in St Jude's is uncovered, alongside Riverside Park. The Frome originally joined the Avon somewhere on Welsh Back downstream of Bristol Bridge , and an offshoot formed part of the city defences. In the 13th century, the offshoot was arched over or infilled and the river itself was diverted into St Augustine's Reach (also known as St Augustine's Trench), an artificial branch of
988-481: Is known locally in east Bristol as the Danny . As with many urban rivers , the Frome has suffered from pollution , but several stretches run through parks and reserves that sustain a range of wildlife. The river's power was harnessed by many watermills , and the river mouth area was developed as shipyards by the eighteenth century. As the city of Bristol developed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, flooding became
1040-778: Is otherwise channelled through Mylne's Culvert into the River Avon at a point between Bathurst Basin and Gaol Ferry Bridge. Three further flood relief tunnels- Castle Ditch, Fosseway and Castle Green Tunnel - run under Castle Park in central Bristol to carry excess flows into the Floating Harbour. Major floods have included Mina Road, St Werburghs and Wellington Road in October 1882; Eastville , St Werburghs and Broadmead in 1936 and 1937; Eastville Park and nearby due to melting snow in 1947; 1968 Bristol Rovers F.C. old ground at Eastville. The Broadmead area still remains at risk of flooding in severe weather conditions. In December 2011,
1092-542: The Register of Historic Parks and Gardens . The dower house , orangery , and St Mary's Church which all adjoin the house are also each individually Grade I listed, as is the Bath lodge at the southern part of the estate. The wall, railings and gate piers near the Bath lodge are listed Grade II. Chippenham Lodge and its terrace walls and the northern gateway to Dodington Park are listed Grade II*. The gates and walls surrounding
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#17328977097211144-456: The River Avon , and there has been a bridge on the site since long before the harbour was created by impounding the river in 1809. The current bridge was completed in 1768 and is a Grade II listed building . Bristol Bridge is the furthest downstream of the fixed bridges across the harbour, and marks the limit of navigation for any vessel that is unable to pass beneath its arches. Downstream from
1196-519: The British West Indies (see History of the British West Indies ) and expanded and developed the estate. The grounds of 240 ha were laid out around 1764 by Capability Brown and were modified in 1793 by William Emes and John Webb . The main house was built by James Wyatt between 1798 and 1816 for Christopher Bethell Codrington . It is built in the Roman classical style from Bath stone and has
1248-582: The Codrington family until 1980; it is now owned by the British businessman James Dyson . The estate comprises some 300 acres (120 ha) of landscaped park with woods, lakes, lodges, a dower house, an orangery, a church, and a walled kitchen garden. Formal gardens adjoin the main house. The house is Grade I listed on the National Heritage List for England and the landscaped park is Grade II* listed on
1300-604: The Folly brook tributary merges on the left bank. The Bradley brook joins on the right bank at Hambrook just before the river passes underneath the M4 motorway and, also on the right, the Stoke brook (or Hambrook) joins at Bromley Heath. After passing under the A4174 the Frome enters a more urban environment, passing between Frenchay on the right and Bromley Heath and Downend on the left. Turning in
1352-457: The Frome was open along its whole length, and both arms crossed by some 13 bridges. During the mid nineteenth century, a succession of culverts were built, eventually from Wade Street Bridge in St Jude's to Stone Bridge, covering this stretch completely: Rupert Street, Fairfax Street and Broad Weir now run over the remaining culverted section. St Augustine's Trench from Stone Bridge to the location of
1404-676: The River Frome became known in East Bristol as the Danny . The derivation of this name is uncertain, some suggest a nickname, taken from the Blue Danube Waltz , others that it was derived from the Australian slang word dunny . 20 miles (32 km) long, the River Frome rises in the grounds of Dodington Park in the Cotswolds of South Gloucestershire , flows through Chipping Sodbury in
1456-543: The Saxon Brycgstow or 'Brigstowe', meaning the 'place of the bridge'. However, it is unclear when the first bridge over the Avon was built. The Avon has a high tidal range , so the river could have been forded twice a day. The name may therefore refer to the many smaller bridges over the Avon's tributary, the River Frome , constructed in the marshy surrounding area, which is now largely built over. The first stone bridge
1508-561: The Second World War, Bristol Bridge was an important transport hub. It was the terminus of tram routes to Knowle , Bedminster and Ashton Gate , and other trams also stopped here. It lost importance when Temple Way was built further upstream in the 1930s, and when the tram system closed in 1941. Bristol Bridge was closed to private motor cars and goods vehicles under 7.5 tonnes in 2020 as part of Bristol City Council's initiative to improve air quality, accelerated in response to
1560-489: The West Indies for two centuries were sold in the late 1970s. Dodington Park was the subject of the final episode of the 1981 BBC 2 series Arthur Negus Enjoys in which Arthur Negus and architectural historian John Martin Robinson visited the house. Dodington Park was sold in 1993 to Michael Percival Kent, a Bath based residential homes and commercial developer, for a negotiated price believed to be around £800,000. It
1612-460: The bridge the harbour is lined by wharves and warehouses, with Welsh Back to the west and Redcliffe Back to the east. Upstream, the land to the west is occupied by Castle Park , created on an area destroyed by bombing during the Second World War , whilst the opposite bank is occupied by the former Georges Bristol Brewery , now redeveloped as Finzels Reach . Bristol's name is derived from
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1664-437: The docks constructed through marshland belonging to St Augustine's Abbey (now Bristol Cathedral) as part of major port improvement works. From the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries the lower mile of the river was gradually culverted , so the river now runs underneath Broad Weir, Fairfax Street and Rupert Street. To reduce sewage pollution and silting in the harbour, a new culvert was constructed in 1825 to redirect much of
1716-417: The east of the cascade building is listed Grade II. In the formal gardens to the east of the house, a pair of pedestals and urns are listed Grade II, as are an urn and pedestal to the west of the house. The garden ornaments on the south of the house are listed Grade II as is the balustrade to the west. Betteshanger School moved to Dodington Park for the duration of the Second World War. Dodington Park
1768-529: The flow from the Frome into the New Cut of the River Avon. Known as Mylne's Culvert, this runs from the site of the former Stone Bridge, near the junction of Rupert Street and Christmas Street, and follows the course of Marsh Street, Prince Street and Wapping Road, passing below the Floating Harbour in an iron siphon pipe. It discharges into the New Cut close to Gaol Ferry Bridge. The original culverted section between Stone Bridge and St Augustine's Reach remains in use as
1820-456: The former Draw Bridge (near the western end of Baldwin Street) was covered over between May 1892 and February 1893 and the section between that point and the foot of College Green was covered over in 1938. Shipbuilding on the River Frome may have been carried out for centuries, with docks on the northern part of Narrow Quay (St Clement's Dock and Aldworth's Dock) being archaeologically excavated. By
1872-536: The house is listed Grade I. The Fishing Lodge, listed Grade II, is to the north west of the house. The bridges to the south and the north of the lodge are both Grade II listed, as are the wall and piers to the west of the Fishing Lodge. The walls on the bridge and tunnel entries to the north west of the house are listed Grade II. The lodge to the north west of the house is listed Grade II, as are its gate piers and their gates. The stables are listed Grade I, and
1924-587: The kitchen garden toward the north of the park are listed Grade II, as is the Garden Cottage. Dodington Park is in the parish of Dodington in South Gloucestershire in South West England . The village of Dodington adjoins the western entrance of the estate, which is set on the western edge of the southern Cotswolds . The eastern boundary of the estate is the A46 road , which connects Bath to Stroud , with
1976-545: The land immediately alongside the river between Frenchay and Eastville Park has not been developed, and is largely managed as public parkland, with the Frome Valley Greenway cycling and walking path following the river through a woodland landscape. The river then flows under the M32 motorway and parallels its course for a while before disappearing into an underground culvert at Eastville Sluices, upstream of Baptist Mills . It
2028-463: The mid-thirteenth century the harbour, probably today's Welsh Back had become so busy that it was decided to divert the Frome into a new course through the marsh belonging to St Augustine's Abbey into a "Deep Ditch" that was dug from around a line opposite the Hippodrome of today to join the Avon opposite the present MShed. The section of meandering river back to the site of today's culverted Stonebridge
2080-564: The northern boundaries bordered by the A432 road from Chippenham to Sodbury. A lane connecting Dodington village to the A46 forms the southern boundary of the estate. The Codrington family acquired the Dodington estate in the late 16th century, when it was home to a large gabled Elizabethan house and adjoining church. In the 18th century the family became extremely wealthy from their sugar plantations in
2132-466: The present structure. Resentment at the tolls exacted to cross the new bridge occasioned the Bristol Bridge Riot of 1793. The toll houses were turned into shops before they were removed. In the 19th century, the roadway was again congested, so walkways were added on either side, the supporting columns disguising the classical Georgian design. The current metal railings date from the 1960s. Before
River Frome, Bristol - Misplaced Pages Continue
2184-489: The river was prone to flooding, but the Northern Stormwater Interceptor , running from Eastville Sluices to the River Avon downstream of Clifton Suspension Bridge, has since been constructed to control this. At Wade Street, St Judes, the river enters an underground culvert , emerging at what Bristolians call The Centre (formerly the 'Tramways Centre'), but only when there is a risk of flooding. The river
2236-561: The river. Its population was also perceived to be strongly parliamentarian. During the Civil War in 1647, the bridge was struck by fire, with 24 houses being burnt. In 1760 a bill to replace the bridge was carried through parliament by the Bristol MP Sir Jarrit Smyth . By the early 18th century, increase in traffic and the encroachment of shops on the roadway made the bridge fatally dangerous for many pedestrians, but despite
2288-409: The seventeenth century, Francis Baylie built warships on the east bank at Narrow Quay . Tombs' Dock (later known as Green's Dock) was built opposite at Dean's Marsh in 1760, on the west bank of the Frome and was later lengthened to 435 feet (133 m), the builders including FW Green , and two additional docks were built by at Teast 's Docks in 1790; a dry dock later known as Albert Dock and
2340-414: The tides meant that it was now becoming a health hazard and in 1828 it was again diverted, with a mitre floodgate at StoneBridge, channelling the main flow through Mylne's Culvert, under the quays and under the bed of the floating harbour at Prince Street Bridge to the emerge in the tidal Avon New Cut, to the east of what is now Gaol Ferry Bridge, locally known as God's Garden in the 21st century. Up to 1857
2392-484: The time of its 2003 sale. A curved orangery with a black and white stone floor adjoins the west of the house, to which it is directly accessed by glass doors. The 1999 Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds edition of the Pevsner Architectural Guides , described the placing of the curved orangery in relation to St Mary's church as a "perfect example of Regency picturesque". The church of St Mary adjoining
2444-461: The two rivers was a naturally strategic place for the Saxon settlement which became the town of Brigstowe, later the walled centre of the city, to develop. When Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester , rebuilt Bristol Castle , from around 1110, an arm of the Frome was taken off the natural river (at present-day Broad Weir) to form the castle moat, so that the town and castle were entirely surrounded by water. In
2496-412: Was also widened out as part of the new ocean going Frome harbour. This has been the line of the mouth of the river Frome ever since, known as St Augustine's Trench or Reach. The Floating Harbour was constructed in 1809, isolating the Avon and Frome from tides between Cumberland Basin and Totterdown Lock. The increasing use of the Frome as an open sewer combined with the loss of the scouring action of
2548-521: Was built in 1247, and houses with shopfronts were built on it. A 17th-century illustration shows that these bridge houses were five stories high, including the attic rooms, and that they overhung the river much as Tudor houses would overhang the street. The bridge was regarded as a place where the wealthy would live, hosting a community of goldsmiths . Houses on the bridge were attractive and charged high rents as they had so much passing traffic, and had plenty of fresh air while waste could be dropped into
2600-578: Was found in the river, but became extinct in 2008. Dodington Park Dodington Park is a country house and estate in Dodington , South Gloucestershire , England . The house was built by James Wyatt for Christopher Bethell Codrington (of the Codrington baronets ). The family had made their fortune from sugar plantations in the Caribbean and were significant owners of slaves. It remained in
2652-457: Was opened to the public in the 1950s due to the increasing financial pressures on the Codrington family of maintaining the estate. The Times listed the house as open from 1 May to 30 September in the summer of 1955 with entry costing 2 s and 6 d . The house received financial grants for maintenance from the Ministry of Works in 1955. An adventure playground for children, a carriage museum and
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#17328977097212704-418: Was subsequently bought in 2003 by the British inventor and businessman James Dyson for a price believed to be £20 million. The estate was believed to be 300 acres at the time of the 2003 sale. Dyson constructed an underground swimming pool underneath the orangery without planning permission in 2011. The existence of the pool was subsequently revealed to South Gloucestershire planning officers in 2015 after
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