Lodge Hill, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lodge Hill, Bristol |
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 Lodge Hill, Bristol
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| OS grid reference | ST637758 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRISTOL |
| Postcode district | BS |
| Dialling code | 0117 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Lodge Hill is a hill and a place where people live in Bristol, England. It is part of the Hillfields, Bristol area. Lodge Hill sits between the bigger areas of Fishponds and Kingswood.
At the very top of Lodge Hill is Cossham Memorial Hospital. This spot is the highest point in urban Bristol, reaching about 112 meters (369 feet) high. Around 1,722 people live in the Lodge Hill area.
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A Look Back: Lodge Hill's History
Lodge Hill used to have amazing views of the Royal Forest of Kingswood. Kings and queens, even from Saxon times, used this forest for hunting.
King John's Lodge
At the top of the hill, reached by Lodge Causeway, there once stood a building called King John’s Lodge. It was named after King John, who was a famous resident. People think a lodge has been there since the 1200s. We know for sure a two-story building was there before 1610.
Later, in the 1800s, an old iron smelting tower was added to the building. It became known as Kingswood Castle. This was a large building with a roof that looked like a castle. At one point, it was even used as a windmill. In 1928, the cellar still had a very old part of the tower with thick walls. There was also a secret underground passage that led to Hill House. The castle was taken down soon after 1928.
Coal Mining on the Hill
The area around Lodge Hill had many coal mines. In 1793, one mine was reported to be as deep as 183 meters (600 feet). A big coal mine called Kingswood Lodge Coalpit was located on the hill. It was between Cossham Memorial Hospital and Charlton Road.
In 1833, five boys were trapped in this mine for six nights but were thankfully rescued. Six years later, in 1839, a more serious accident happened. Water flooded the mine, and 11 workers sadly died.
Shoe Making in Lodge Hill
In 1900, a shoe company called G.B. Britton & Sons moved to a bigger factory on Lodge Road. In 1914, during the First World War, the factory grew even more to make boots for the army.
Just before the Second World War, the factory was very busy, employing 11,000 people. In 1941, the factory on Lodge Road was used by the government to build parts for airplanes.
After the war in 1945, they started making boots and shoes again. They made a very popular boot called the TUF boot, which was sold all over the world. A second factory was built on Lodge Road in 1959. Shoe making at the factory stopped in 2001.
Fun and Games in Lodge Hill
The G.B. Britton’s Lawn bowling Club is still active on Ingleside Road. There is also a small park next to Lodge Hill. From this park, you can enjoy great views of East Bristol.
