Cotham, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cotham |
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|---|---|
 Boundaries of the city council ward. |
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| Population | 12,554 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST583742 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRISTOL |
| Postcode district | BS6 |
| Dialling code | 0117 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Cotham is a lively area in Bristol, England. It's about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the city centre. This area is known for its green spaces and nice houses. It sits between Gloucester Road to the east and Hampton Road to the west.
Cotham is very close to the Redland area. The railway line often marks where Cotham ends and Redland begins. To the north, you'll find Bishopston and Westbury Park. Durdham Down is to the west. Cotham and Redland together form a special conservation area. This means their unique character is protected. Cotham is also the name of a council ward in Bristol. This ward includes other nearby areas too.
Exploring Cotham's Streets
Cotham has many unique streets. They are filled with beautiful old buildings, mostly from the Victorian era. These buildings are often large and grand. The area also has lots of green spaces and big gardens. This makes Cotham feel open and leafy, which is unusual for a city area.
The land in Cotham is quite hilly. This means you can often find amazing views and panoramas. Many buildings use local stones like Pennant and Brandon Hill stone. You'll also see limestone, like Bath stone. Brick and render are used too. The hilly landscape makes the roofs, bay windows, and chimneys of the Victorian villas stand out. You'll also see many natural stone walls.
Cotham is a diverse residential area. Many large old houses have been turned into hotels or bed and breakfast places. Others are divided into flats. You can also find a selection of small, independent shops. The area is home to Cotham School, which is a comprehensive school (a school for all abilities).
The top of Saint Michael's Hill in Cotham was once a boundary of Bristol. It was also a historical site for public punishments. Between 1555 and 1557, three people were executed here for their religious beliefs. The gallows (a structure used for hangings) are part of the badge for the local Rugby club.
Cotham Church was built a long time ago, in 1842–43. It was designed by William Butterfield in a Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old medieval churches. It was first a chapel for a different church group. Later, in 1863, more parts were added. Since 1975, it has been an Anglican church.
Who Lives in Cotham?
In 2019, about 11,693 people lived in the Cotham ward. In 2011, the population was 12,554.
Looking at the ages of people in 2019:
- About 9% were very young children (0–5 years).
- A large group, about 33%, were young adults (16–24 years).
- Another big group, about 31%, were adults (25–39 years).
- About 12% were middle-aged (40–54 years).
- About 6% were older adults (55–64 years).
- About 8% were seniors (65 years or older).
In 2011, most residents (81.5%) identified as White British. About 10.5% of residents were from a Black or Minority Ethnic group. Most people (85.1%) were born in the UK. Other common birthplaces included China, Germany, and other European Union countries.
When it came to religious beliefs in 2011, the largest group (51.8%) said they had no religion. About 35.2% were Christian. Other religions like Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jewish were also present.
Cotham's Electoral Ward
The Cotham ward is a specific area used for local elections. It includes Cotham itself, plus Kingsdown, and a big part of Redland. These boundaries changed in 2016 to include more areas.
Learning in Cotham
Cotham School is a secondary school for students aged 11 to 16. It can teach up to 1480 students. Cotham School works closely with Redland Green School nearby. Together, these two schools feed into the North Bristol Post 16 Centre. This is a sixth form centre for older students, also located in Cotham. Cotham School has had different names over the years. It was once the Trade and Mines School and then the Merchant Venturers' School.
Cotham School has a very special history. Two of its former students went on to win the Nobel Prize. These are huge awards for amazing discoveries!
One Nobel Prize winner was Paul Dirac. He studied at the school and graduated in 1918. Dirac made huge contributions to our understanding of how tiny particles work. This field is called quantum mechanics. He also helped develop quantum electrodynamics, which combines quantum mechanics with special relativity. He created the Dirac equation, which describes how particles called fermions behave. He even predicted the existence of antimatter! Paul Dirac shared the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics.
The other Nobel Prize winner was Peter Higgs. He was a student at the school in 1946. Higgs is famous for discovering a way to explain why subatomic particles have mass. This is called the Higgs mechanism. His theory predicted a new particle, the Higgs boson. Scientists later found this particle using the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. After this discovery, Peter Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics. Interestingly, Higgs was inspired by Paul Dirac's work when he was at the school. Cotham School has a science centre named the Dirac Higgs science centre in their honour. Peter Higgs himself opened it in 2012.
Cotham Gardens Primary School is a primary school for children aged 5 to 11 years.
While Cotham doesn't have its own public library, there are libraries nearby. You can find Redland Library to the west, Bishopston Library to the east, and Bristol Central Library in the city centre.
