Bishopston, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bishopston |
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|---|---|
 Boundaries of the Council Ward, shown within Bristol. |
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| Population | 13,871 (2011.Ward) |
| OS grid reference | ST586755 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode district | BS7 |
| Dialling code | 0117 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Bishopston is a lively area in the city of Bristol, located in the south west of England. It's built around Gloucester Road, which is a main road heading north out of the city. Bishopston is also near Bishop Road.
The name Bishopston comes from a local bishop. In the early 1800s, this bishop sold off church land to people who wanted to build on it. This sale was even talked about in the House of Commons, which is part of the UK government. The area officially became a parish in 1862. Back then, about 1,300 people lived there. By 1901, the population had grown to over 9,000! Today, Bishopston is part of Bristol's larger built-up area. It blends right into nearby places like Redland, Ashley Down, Horfield, and Henleaze.
Many students live in Bishopston. About 21% of people over 16 in Bishopston are studying. This is much higher than the average for Bristol (8.4%) or England and Wales (5.1%).
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Famous People from Bishopston
Bishopston has been home to some very famous people, including scientists and actors!
Nobel Prize Winners
Two scientists who won the Nobel Prize in Physics lived in Bishopston.
- In 1933, Paul Dirac won the Nobel Prize for his important work on quantum mechanics. This is a complex area of physics that studies how tiny particles behave. Paul Dirac went to Bishop Road Primary School, which was very close to his home.
- In 1950, Cecil Frank Powell also won the Nobel Prize in Physics. He was recognized for developing a special photography method to study nuclear processes. He also made discoveries about tiny particles called mesons using this method.
Actors and Presenters
- The famous film star Cary Grant (whose real name was Archibald Alexander Leach) went to Bishop Road School in Bishopston. As a child, he lived nearby on Hughenden Road. You can find a blue plaque there that remembers him.
- Television presenter Adam Hart-Davis also lived in Bishopston.
- Psychologist Susan Blackmore was another notable resident.
Filming Locations
Some scenes for the popular BBC comedy show The Young Ones were filmed in Bishopston. For example, the outside shots for a famous "bank-robbing" scene were filmed outside the old Bristol North Swimming Baths on Gloucester Road. This building is now closed.
Schools in Bishopston
Bishopston has two primary schools that have served the community for many years.
This school has traditionally served the large Catholic community in the area. This includes families with Italian, Irish, and South American backgrounds.
Bishop Road Primary School
This school opened in 1900. It is the largest primary school in Bristol. It was a secondary school until the mid-1980s. It has served children from the Anglican faith and also welcomed children from the Asian and Jamaican communities in nearby St Paul's and Montpellier. As mentioned, famous people like Cary Grant and Paul Dirac attended this school.
Gloucester Road: A Hub for Shops
Gloucester Road is the main street running through Bishopston. It's known for its many unique, independently owned shops. You can find places like Scoopaway, La Ruca, Gardener's Patch, and Harvest.
In recent years, some larger supermarket chains have also opened stores here. There are also many cafes, restaurants, and pubs. Because of the wide range of local and fairly traded goods available, Gloucester Road is very popular with shoppers who care about the environment and supporting local businesses.
Sports in Bishopston
Bishopston is home to Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. Their cricket ground is located off Nevil Road. The ground has been made bigger so it can host international cricket matches. This means people can watch exciting games between teams from different countries right here in Bishopston!
Images for kids
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Bristol North swimming baths and The Bristol Flyer Pub
