historic wrought iron

Bishops Knoll, historic Bristol deer park restored

Historic Bristol deer park at Bishops Knoll restored
The park land was once owned by the Bishops of Worcester

A terraced garden in Bristol which was once a medieval deer park has undergone a £13,000 improvement scheme.

Bishops Knoll, tucked between Sneyd Park and the Avon Gorge, was a wooded deer park in the 13th Century, and was once owned by the Bishops of Worcester.

In the 19th Century it was the site of an estate house, The Knoll, surrounded by lawned terraces with beautifully-crafted wrought iron features.

The Woodland Trust, which manages the site, has overseen the restoration.

Steps at Bishops Knoll
Stone walls and steps have been repaired at the site

The trust says the project has three main elements:

* More than 200 metres of 100-year-old stone wall has been rescued and repaired
* Stone steps linking the remains of the terraced lawns have been restored, allowing access to the terraces
* Paths through the knoll have been improved by volunteers

“Bishops Knoll is a well-used and valuable amenity to the local community and also attracts many visitors from further afield,” said Michelle Byrne from the Woodland Trust.

“We hope that this project will give visitors the chance to visualise the knoll’s grand past through the restoration of these fantastic original features.”

In the 19th Century, the seven-acre site featured a sloping arboretum, orchards, lawns, paddocks and paths.

The mansion was demolished in the 1970s and flats were built where it stood.

In 1986 the Woodland Trust acquired the site and planted the paddock with mixed broadleaves.

Bishops Knoll is accessible from the point where Bramble Drive meets Bramble Lane in Stoke Bishop. It is free and open to the public all year round.

from news.bbc.co.uk