BRISTOL AS IT WAS - AROUND RUSSELL TOWN AVENUE

RUSSELL TOWN AVENUE WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED DEAN LANE AND LINKED CHURCH ROAD WITH WHITEHALL ROAD. IT WAS A POOR AREA WITH BADLY BUILT HOUSING ON LAND OWNED BY THE CHURCH, HENCE THE CHURCH RELATED STREET NAMES. MOST OF THE PROPERTIES WERE DEMOLISHED IN THE 1960s AND 1970s TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW ST GEORGE SCHOOL WHICH REPLACED THE OLD CARLTON PARK SCHOOL.
LAWRENCE HILL STATION RAN PARALLEL WITH RUSSELL TOWN AVENUE. JOSEPH PUGSLEY OWNED THE IRONWORKS AND SCRAPYARD AND ALSO THE GLOBE CINEMA. SHINERS GARAGE WAS ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE ENTRANCE TO RUSSELL TOWN AVENUE AND WAS THE LAST PETROL STATION IN BRISTOL WHERE YOU WERE SERVED BY AN ATTENDANT.
MY THANKS TO ANDY JONES, DAVE DERRICK, BARTON HILL HISTORY GROUP AND THE CARTER FAMILY FOR MANY OF THE IMAGES INCLUDED IN THIS VIDEO.

[@Stu_Kennedy]

That’s my school. I was there 91-96. Thanks for sharing Dave.

[@historymandave4739]

Glad you enjoyed it. Regards Dave.

[@clivetucker7070]

That's my school, 1974-77, right there - nice one Dave!

[@historymandave4739]

Hello Clive. Glad you enjoyed it. Regards Dave.

[@grahamhunt7488]

Thank you so much for these photos and of the Russell Town Avenue area. I was leader of the Venturers youth club from 1963-69 when contractors demolishing adjoining houses 24,26 and 28 Chapter Street severed a live cable serving the club. I have a number of photos which may interest you. I am on Facebook and Messenger. I really appreciate your time and skills creating these historic videos.

[@historymandave4739]

Hello Graham. My History Group, Barton Hill History Group, would be interested in copies of these photos. We can be contacted via our Website or Facebook page. Regards Dave.

[@grahamhunt7488]

@@historymandave4739 thank you, will arrange during the week.

[@martynpovey943]

Hi Graham, these pics. brought back such great memories of my youth. I was actually at the club when we heard of JFK's death, not that that was a great memory for anyone. I am on Facebook should you wish to catch up we me.

[@grahamhunt7488]

@@martynpovey943 thanks for sharing. I take it you went to Whitehall junior school. We're you in the same year as Martin Bryant, Paul Vigars, Janice Jones and Jenny Andrews? JFKs death was certainly big news, 1966 if I recall correctly.

[@harleydavidson801]

My dad would have loved to see this, he grew up in Lawrence hill and his mum still lived there untill the early nineties. They lived in Brentry Avenue.

[@historymandave4739]

Thanks. Regards Dave.

[@puppy1584]

First…yeah

[@historymandave4739]

Thanks, Regards Dave.

[@wessexman1773]

Living in WhitehallRoad in the 50s early 60swe use to go in to the condemned houses get all the old gas masks air raid wardens helmets & what was ever left from the war great times exploring bombsite & e.pty houses .