Brandon Hill, Bristol facts for kids
Brandon Hill, sometimes called St Brandon's Hill, is a well-known hill in Bristol, England. It sits right near the city centre, between the areas of Clifton and Hotwells.
At the very top of the hill, you'll find the famous Cabot Tower. This tower was built in 1897. It celebrates 400 years since John Cabot sailed from Bristol. He made an amazing journey to Newfoundland in 1497.
The top part of Brandon Hill is a beautiful park called Brandon Hill Park. It has lovely gardens and open grassy areas. There's also a small nature reserve here. This reserve is two hectares big. The Avon Wildlife Trust has looked after it since 1980. Their main office is right next to the park.
The park's wildflower meadow is full of colourful flowers. You can see ox-eye daisies, yellow rattle, and knapweed. A small pond provides a home for frogs, toads, and smooth newts. There's even a special butterfly garden. It grows food for caterpillars and many kinds of butterflies. You might spot birds like jays, bullfinches, and blackcaps. Local trees and bushes have been planted. The meadow is cut for hay every July.
The lower parts of the hill were built up in the 1700s and 1800s. St George's Church is on the eastern side. Berkeley Square is on the northern edge. The school buildings for Queen Elizabeth's Hospital are on the western side.
Brandon Hill's Past
Brandon Hill has a long and interesting history. The Earl of Gloucester gave the hill to the city council in 1174. For many years, it was used for animals to graze. Then, in 1625, it became a public open space. This makes it one of the oldest public parks in the country!
Before the Reformation, a small chapel stood at the top of the hill. It was dedicated to an Irish saint named Brendan. Hermits, who were people living alone for religious reasons, lived there. They stayed between 1314 and 1480. One famous hermit was Lucy de Newchurch.
In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Brandon Hill became a popular spot for meetings. Groups like the Chartists held public gatherings there. These groups wanted to make changes to how the country was run. In 1832, a big event called the Great Reform Dinner happened on the hill. Many people crashed the party!
From 1840 onwards, Brandon Hill was improved. Walls and walking paths were added. On July 7, 1843, a huge crowd gathered on the hill. About 30,000 people watched the launch of the famous ship, SS Great Britain. Even with these improvements, the hill remained a place for protests. In January 1880, 20,000 unemployed workers met there. They were protesting their difficult situation.
Brandon Hill in Pop Culture
Brandon Hill has even appeared in popular culture! In a game called the Rabbit Premier League, there's a team based in Bristol. This team is called The Brandon Hill Perlfees.
A musician named Marcus H, also known as soiled, wrote a song about the hill. It's called "Brandon Hill Tandle Hill." You can find it on his album Splices and Phases.
