College Green, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids College Green |
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College Green showing Queen Victoria statue, Cathedral and Council House
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| Location | Bristol |
| Area | 1.1ha |
| Created | 12th century |
| Operated by | Dean and Chapter of Bristol Cathedral |
College Green is a lovely open park in Bristol, England. It's shaped a bit like a slice of pie, pointing east, and covers about 1.1 hectares (that's like 2.7 acres). You'll find it bordered by the road called College Green, with the amazing Bristol Cathedral on one side and City Hall (which used to be called the Council House) curving around the other.
The land is owned by the Dean and Chapter of Bristol Cathedral, but Bristol City Council helps look after it.
Contents
History of College Green
Hundreds of years ago, in the 1100s, College Green was a small hill near the River Avon. It became part of St Augustine's Abbey (which is now Bristol Cathedral). Later, when monasteries were closed down, the abbey became a 'collegiate church'. That's why the area around it started being called 'College Green'.
Early Features and Changes
Before the English Reformation (a big change in the church), there was a chapel on the green. It was named after a saint called Jordan. People believed his special items were kept there. After the Reformation, the chapel became a school. It was finally taken down in the early 1700s.
In 1733, the Bristol High Cross was moved to College Green. This tall stone cross used to be in the middle of busy streets in Bristol. People thought it was getting in the way of traffic.
Designing the Park
In 1762, the Green was made flat and turned into a raised park. It had stone walls, wooden fences, and paths that crossed in the middle. The High Cross was moved again, this time to the cathedral. In 1764, it was given to Henry Hoare for his garden at Stourhead, where you can still see it today.
Statues and Trees
The name 'College Green' also referred to the road that went around the park. In 1851, a copy of the High Cross was put up at the eastern tip of the Green. But in 1888, a grand statue of Queen Victoria took its place. The replica High Cross was then moved to the center of the Green.
For about 60 years, College Green was a green, tree-filled space. Double rows of tall trees protected it from the busy roads. Some trees were removed in the late 1800s and early 1900s to make way for wider roads.
Modern Changes
In 1950, a big change happened. The architect for City Hall, Vincent Harris, asked for all the remaining trees, paths, fences, lamps, and statues to be removed. The Green was also lowered by about 4.5 feet (1.4 meters). About 75,000 tons of material were taken away! Harris said this would make his new building look better.
After being stored for a while, the statue of Queen Victoria was brought back to the tip of the Green in 1953. Part of the replica High Cross, which was damaged, is now kept in Berkeley Square.
In 1991, the eastern part of Deanery Road was closed to cars and covered with grass. This reconnected the Cathedral with College Green, just like it was before 1709. New seating areas and old-style streetlights were added as part of these improvements.
Landmarks Around College Green
College Green is surrounded by many important and historic buildings. These include City Hall, the Lord Mayor's Chapel, Bristol Cathedral, and the Abbey Gatehouse.
The statue of Queen Victoria stands at the eastern tip of the Green. In the south-western corner, near the Central Library, you can find a statue of a social reformer named Raja Rammohun Roy.
Events and Gatherings
College Green is a popular spot for young people, especially those who enjoy street sports. Sometimes, this has caused problems, and in 2007, police were given special powers to stop large groups from gathering.
Because it's so close to City Hall, College Green is often where people gather to protest. On October 15, 2011, it became the site for Occupy Bristol. This was a camp set up as part of worldwide protests against unfairness in society and money. After the protesters left, it took almost two months and cost £20,000 to fix the grass. The Green reopened on April 4, 2012.
College Green is also a common place for media events, charity fundraisers, and product launches.
On February 29, 2020, over 30,000 people, including Greta Thunberg, gathered on the Green for a climate protest. The area became very muddy due to the large crowd and wet weather. People quickly donated about £15,000 to help repair the damage. Luckily, only small fixes were needed. Some of the money was used to create a wildflower area near the cathedral in 2021. The rest was given to a local charity to help other parks in the city.
In Popular Culture
College Green has been a filming location for TV shows. Scenes for the E4 drama series Skins (2007–2013) and the BBC Three comedy-drama Being Human (2008) were filmed here.
The Green is also mentioned in the song "Wash Away" by the Bristol-based band Coasts. This song is from their 2016 debut album, 'Coasts'.
Images for kids
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Queen Victoria Statue
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The Great Gatehouse
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Statue of Ram Mohan Roy
