Southville, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southville |
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|---|---|
 Boundaries of the city council ward |
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| Population | 12,543 (2011.Ward) |
| OS grid reference | ST583719 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRISTOL |
| Postcode district | BS3 |
| Dialling code | 0117 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Southville is a lively area in the city of Bristol, England. It sits on the south side of the River Avon, just northwest of Bedminster. Many of the houses here were built a long time ago, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These homes were for people who worked in Bristol's coal mining industry or in the big tobacco factories, like those run by W. D. & H. O. Wills. The main office for Imperial Tobacco, a huge tobacco company, used to be in Southville.
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History of Southville
World War II Impact
During the Second World War, Southville was bombed. Many streets lost houses because of this. The bombs were actually meant for the nearby dock areas, but some missed their target. After the war, new houses were built to replace the damaged ones. You can still see a mix of old and new buildings today.
Changing Times
Since the late 1990s, Southville has changed a lot. This process is called gentrification. It means that an area becomes more popular and wealthier, often leading to higher house prices. Some people even jokingly call it "Lower Clifton", referring to a more well-off part of Bristol.
Community and Fun
Southville is known for its strong community spirit. New places like bars and restaurants have opened up. The Tobacco Factory building, which used to be a factory, is now a popular theatre that brings many visitors to the area.
The Southville Community Centre and Southville School are important places for local people. Many artists live in Southville too. They used to open their homes to the public once a year during an event called the Arts Trail, where they showed and sold their artwork.
Parks and Recreation
Southville has some great parks for everyone to enjoy.
Dame Emily Park
Dame Emily Park is built on the site of an old coal mine. It's famous for its popular skateboard park. The park also features amazing graffiti art, which is regularly updated by different artists.
Greville Smyth Park
Greville Smyth Park is the biggest park in the area. It's a great spot for playing sports, for families to relax, and for dog walkers.
Bristol South Swimming Pool
The Bristol South Swimming Pool is a special building, protected because of its history. It's located near Dame Emily Park. Sometimes, you can even visit the old "Slipper Baths" inside the pool building during special events like Bristol Open Doors.
Southville Community Development Association
The Southville Community Development Association (SCDA) is a local group that helps the community. They run the Southville Centre, which is a busy place. It has a café, a nursery for young children, an after-school club, and a Monday club for older people.
Southville as a Council Ward
Southville is also the name of a council ward. A ward is a local area that elects its own representatives to the city council. This ward includes parts of Bedminster, Ashton Gate, and Bower Ashton.
Politically, Southville has often elected councillors from the Labour Party to the Bristol City Council. However, in 2006, Charlie Bolton became the first Green Councillor in Bristol, winning by a very small number of votes. In 2015, two Green councillors were elected in Southville.
Southville is part of the Bristol South area for the UK Parliament. This area is currently represented by Karin Smyth.
