Hotwells

Hotwells
The western part of Hotwells, with the bank of theRiver Avonand theA4 Hotwell Roadin the foreground and the higher houses of Clifton Village above. TheClifton Suspension Bridgeis just visible on the left.
Hotwells Location withinBristol
Area	0.155 sq mi (0.40 km2)
Population	3,002
•Density	19,368/sq mi (7,478/km2)
OS grid reference	ST572727
Unitary authority	Bristol
Ceremonial county	Bristol
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRISTOL
Postcode district	BS8
Dialling code	0117
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Bristol Central

Hotwellsis a neighbourhood in the English port city ofBristol.It is located to the south of and below the high ground ofClifton,and directly to the north of theFloating Harbour.The southern entrance to theAvon Gorge,which connects the docks to the sea, lies at the western end of Hotwells. The eastern end of the area is at the roundabout where Jacobs Well Road meets Hotwell Road. Hotwells is split between thecity wardsof Clifton, andHotwells and Harbourside.

Location

Hotwells is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) west ofBristol city centrelying just north of the Floating Harbour and theRiver Avon.To the north and some 300 feet (91 m) higher is the suburb of Clifton. Much of the built up area was originallysalt marshknown as Rownham Mead. Nearly half of Rownham Mead was excavated in the early 19th century to construct theCumberland Basin,part of the entrance lock system to the city docks. The west of the area marks the beginning of thePortwayroad which connects Bristol toAvonmouth,passing under theClifton Suspension Bridgewhich lies about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) north of Hotwells.

History

Hotwells takes its name from the hot springs which bubble up through the rocks of the Avon Gorge underneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge.The springs were documented in 1480 byWilliam Worcester,the 15th centurychroniclerandantiquary.He described the waters as being milky and as warm as those atBath.By c.1630 the water of Hotwells was becoming known for its medical properties, both in its original form and when used to brew beer.Thomas Fuller,who had been a student ofDr Samuel Wardin the late 1620s, reported that 'beer brewed thereof is wholesome against the spleen; and Dr. Samuel Ward, afflicted with that malady, and living inSidney College,was prescribed the constant drinking thereof, though it was costly to bring it through theSevernandnarrow seastoLynn,and thence by the river toCambridge.'In 1650Dr Vennerrecommended Hotwells water for those 'who have hot livers, feeble brains, and red pimply faces' and after 1680 the water became well known as cure for diabetes.

Depiction of the Hotwell in James Millerd's 1728 map of Bristol

The physician Alexander Sutherland, published a summary account of the qualities of Hotwells water in 1773, typically known by that time as "Bristol Water".Sutherland says of it that "BRISTOL-WATER received in a glass, appears, to the naked eye, colourless, pellucid, and manifestly impregnated with Air, sparkling and bounding through its substance, in the form of little bubbles, as if the whole had been in a ferment." He says the water tasted "particularly pleasant and soft" was "quite inodorous" and "lukewarm" only, rising from the pump at a constant 76 °F.

In 1692 theSociety of Merchant Venturersleased the springs and a pump room was built. The pump room of 1696 was demolished and replaced by Hotwells House in 1816 which was itself demolished when the river was widened in 1867.In theGeorgian era,Hotwells was developed as aspaincluding the building ofDowry Squarein an attempt to compete with Bath. Many visitors came, including the diaristJohn Evelynand the travel writerCelia Fiennes,who hunted forBristol Diamondsin the gorge. The Somerset historianJohn Collinsoncame to Hotwells in 1793 seeking recovery from an unspecified lingering illness and died there on 27 August 1793.

During the 18th century Hotwells Water was extensively bottled and exported.Daniel Defoenoted in 1724 that there were over 15 glass-houses in Bristol, 'which are more than in London...and vast numbers of bottles are used for sending the water of the Hotwell not only over England but all over the world. "Alexander Popewas another admirer, claiming in 1739 that 'I am satisfied that the water at the Well is different from what it is anywhere else.'Later customers of the water includedAdmiral Horatio Nelson,whose correspondence includes references to his purchase of Bristol water in 1798.Known for his abstemious habits, it was said 'He never exceeded four glasses of wine after dinner, and seldom drank three; and even those were diluted with either common or Bristol water.'

TheJacobs Well Theatre,built in 1729, provided entertainment for visitors and Bristolians, however Hotwells never attained the same status as Bath. In the 1790s 'the celebrated hot mineral spring, denominated the Bristol Hotwell' still featured in tourist guides.However, the spa went into decline during theNapoleonic Warsand by 1816 a local physician said of Hotwells that 'It has the silence of the grave, to which it seems the inlet. Not a carriage to be seen once an hour, and scarcely more frequently does a solitary invalid approach the neglected spring.'A new pump room was built in 1822, but was demolished in 1867 to allow for widening of the River Avon. A new pump was set up in 1877 and continued in use till 1913. However, the pump appears not to have tapped into the original spring. When it became clear that the pump's waters were polluted, the pipe was sealed off. There were trial borings in 1913 and 1925 to relocate the original spring, but these were unsuccessful.

In 1799, the physicianThomas Beddoesopened thePneumatic Institutionin Dowry Square. Free treatment was advertised for those suffering from consumption, asthma, dropsy, "obstinate Venereal Complaints" and scrophula. The laboratory superintendent wasHumphry Davy,who investigatednitrous oxide,also known as laughing gas, using equipment designed byJames Watt.Under Davy's supervision laughing gas parties were held, attended by guests such asRobert Southey,Thomas WedgwoodandSamuel Taylor Coleridge.

In the 20th century much of the housing in Hotwells was in a poor state of repair, but since the 1970s there has been refurbishment of the older Georgian properties and new housing built on derelict dockside wharves and along the Hotwell Road.

Architecture

Grenville Chapel, aMethodistchurch, was opened in 1839 in an Early English Style building. For many years it was used as a garage and is nowhousing associationmanaged flats.

Clifton and Hotwells, looking down the River Avon, 1833

Hotwells has several ofBristol's Grade II* listed buildings,including theChurch of Holy Trinity,designed by Cockrell, and Albemarle Row, a Georgian terrace. Also listed is thePump House,formerly the power plant forBristol Harbour's bridges and other machinery, now apublic house.

Cultural references

Hotwells features in two 18th century novels.The Expedition of Humphry Clinker,byTobias Smolletthas scenes set at the spa.Fanny Burney'sEvelinais partly set in Hotwells, as the eponymous heroine visits Bristol during its spa-town years.

Demographics

The2001 United Kingdom censusrecorded Hotwells as twoSuper Output Area Lower Layers,034A, the western part of Hotwellsand 034C in the east. The latter layer included parts ofCliftonwood.The figures recorded in the two areas were broadly similar with 034A recording a population of 1,485, with about 58% being described as economically active, 17% students and 7% retired. 42% of homes were owner occupied. 50% of residents had university degrees or equivalent. 50% described themselves as Christian and 44% as having no religion.In 034C the figures were a population of 1,522 with about 66% being described as economically active, 12% students and 6.5% retired; 65% of homes were owner occupied; 55% of residents had university degrees or equivalent; 50% described themselves as Christian and 46% as having no religion;and 1,438 persons in 034A were described as white, with 28 of mixed race, 19 Asian, 17 black and 18 Chinese.In 034C 1,374 were described as white, 33 of mixed race, 24 Asian, 24 black and 29 Chinese.

Education

The area is served by two schools, Hotwells Primary Schooland St George C of E Primary School.The latter has been under threat of closure byBristol City Council,but is now to be re-evaluated in 2013.The nearest secondary schools areAshton Park School,Cotham SchoolandBristol Cathedral Choir School.

Transport

Crossing the Avon to Hotwells in 1797, byJohn Hassell

Towards the end of the 19th century, the western end of the district was the location of a terminus of aBristol Tramwaysroute,Hotwells railway stationwas the city terminus of theBristol Port Railway and Pierline toAvonmouth,the lower terminus of theClifton Rocks Railway,the Rownham Ferry which crossed the River Avon toBower Ashton,the locks giving access to the Floating Harbour, and the landing stages used by passenger steamers. In the 1920s, theA4 Portway Roadwas driven through the Avon Gorge to provide better access from the city toAvonmouth Docks,in the process removing all signs of the Bristol Port Railway and Pier's station. Since the 1960s, the western end of Hotwells has been dominated by a flyover complex, which enables traffic from the city centre and the A4 Portway to cross the river and harbour entrance locks to access the south west of the city.

Public transport links include buses servingWeston-super-Mare,ClevedonandPortisheadwhich pass through the area.There is a ferry service to the city centre andTemple Meads railway station.

Politics

For elections toBristol City Council,Hotwells is divided between electoral wards. Areas to the north of Hotwells Road are inCliftonward; areas south of Hotwells road, and some buildings fronting directly onto the north side of the road, are inHotwells and Harbourside.

For elections to theParliament of the United Kingdom,both electoral wards are in theBristol Central constituency.

Community

Hotwells and Cliftonwood Community Association (HCCA),is a registered charity run by volunteers to improve the quality of life for those who live and work locally. For many years HCCA ran the Hope Centre in the listed GeorgianHope Chapel,which provided a base for community groups and offered a programme of arts events. The Hope Centre closed in 2001 following a loss of funding and the lease was surrendered to the owners, theCongregational Federation.Since 1981 the Hotwells Pantomime group has performed in Hope Chapel every year. The cast and crew are all local and give their time to raise money for local charities and have a great time too.

External links

• Local organisations listed at HCCA
• Map of Hotwells circa 1900