Architecture and planning student Elliott Sargent has been delving into the history of Broadmead as the area prepares for its latest transformation
BROADMEAD was laid out in the post-war period by the City Architect, JN Meredith, who created the layout and urban masterplan that remains largely untouched to this day.
The area was bombed heavily during the war, and the decision was taken to move the city’s primary shopping district away from Wine Street and what is now Castle Park to a new area, fit for the 20th century.
Various architects were enlisted to design the individual store fronts, many of which are still visible today. Several pre-war buildings, such as the Lower Arcade near the original M&S building, were preserved in the plans.
Some elements of Meredith’s plan didn’t fully materialise, however.
Whilst the area is now pedestrianised, as Meredith had originally planned, this was not always the case, due to budgetary constraints. There was also a plan for several ‘courts’ to be created within what are now service yards.
Now the area is preparing to undergo more radical transformations.
The Debenhams store, one of the first large anchor stores to be built in the new post-war shopping district, will be demolished and replaced with what will be Bristol’s tallest building – despite the efforts of the Twentieth Century Society, who campaigned to preserve the old building. In the meantime, it is occupied by pop-up skate park ‘Shredenhams’, a fantastic example of creative and adaptive reuse.
On the other side of Broadmead, the Galleries shopping centre is entering its final days. After it closes it will be demolished and replaced with a large mixed-use development.
Opened in the 1980s, it took the place of some original post-war buildings and shops such as Woolworths and the Co-op, which had a paternoster lift – the kind with no doors, that never stopped – you just stepped on and off at the floor you wanted.
For many years the Galleries remained Bristol’s largest and busiest shopping centre, with several anchor stores, but it has been in decline since the opening of Cabot Circus in 2008.
When the Galleries closes, the Broadmead area will change significantly again.
Historic England has listed the Baptist church that is above the Tesco on Union Street. The photo above shows the original wooden spire that was removed because of safety concerns.
If you have any memories of Broadmead, and shops past or present, Downend Community History and Art Project (CHAP) would be fascinated to hear them!
To contact us, visit www.downendchap.org or write to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS.