Monthly Archives: January 2014

New acquisition

A historic document has just come our way related to Kings Weston. It is a contract between Edward Southwell II of Kings Weston, his Court acquaintance James Vernon, and John Lambert, a builder of Lambeth to complete a building at Spring Gardens In London. Spring Gardens was the London home of the Southwell Family and they sought to develop the land they leased from the Crown from the 1730s onwards. This document from 1754 is an interesting insight into Edward Southwell’s development of the site around his Spring Garden Mansion.

Spring Gardens was located on the south side of Trafalgar Square, where The Mall now joins it. It disappeared under the construction of Admiralty Arch at the start of the Twentieth Century, but you can see where it was on this map. The area shown here was the house and garden of the Southwell’s in 1777 after they had leased much of their surrounding property for development.

The document is particularly interesting for its three wax seals, all bearing the arms of Edward Southwell II surmounted with the armorial goat. Edward’s signature bestrides the best of these seals.

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Kings Weston History and Gallery pages go live

We have now completed work on out history  and galley pages on this website. There will, of course, continue to be material added, but the history pages are now ready to read and you will find both historic images and sets of current photos arranged in our galleries pages. There have also been a lot of additions to our download pages so do swing by and see what there might be there to interest you

We are always keen to get feedback on this website, so if you have any comments, ideas or problems please drop us a line at kwactiongroup@gmail.com to let us know.

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HAPPY 350th BIRTHDAY SIR JOHN VANBRUGH!

Today, January 24th marks the 350th anniversary of the birth of Sir John Vanbrugh, architect of Kings Weston House and many of the estate buildings.

Vanbrugh partying (from a contemporary engraving)

Vanbrugh partying (from a contemporary engraving)

Sir John Vanbrugh is one of Britain’s most important and innovative architects. He is most famous for the design of Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace, but also for a number of other houses across Britain, each imaginative and innovative in design. Vanbrugh was also a playwright whose works are still performed today.

This anniversary has sadly gone largely unnoticed at other Vanbrugh-designed properties, but not at Kings Weston! Unfortunately our campaigning for the event to be suitably marked came to nothing when we began planning in 2011. But here in Bristol we hope to have a series of small events during this year to help mark the event so stay tuned.

Blenheim Palace, perhaps Vanbrugh's most famous work, has strong parallels with his work at Kings Weston

Blenheim Palace, perhaps Vanbrugh’s most famous work, has strong parallels with his work at Kings Weston

Kings Weston House was begun on 16th June 1712 and has not long enjoyed its tercentenary. It’s worth noting that Bristol is the only City in the UK outside London to have any Vanbrugh building, let alone one of the largest collections of individual buildings by him in the world! The House, the Echo, Penpole Lodge, the Loggia, Brewhouse and most likely Kingsweston Inn, and a cottage on Kings Weston Lane can all be attributed to him, remaining a fine and varied example of his work.   Well worth celebrating we hope you’ll agree!

So spread the work and let everyone you know you’re celebrating along with us.

Find out more about Vanbrugh’s contribution to Kings Weston here.

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Kings Weston House enjoyed its tercentenary in 2012

Before and After – First steps at Penpole Point

A series of our now-traditional before-and-after images of what went on on Saturday. A great start made and if you care to visit you will actually be able to see the beginnings of a view taking shape from the   point once more.

Click on each image for a larger view.

Above: looking north east with the ruins of Penpole Lodge visible on the right leading into Penpole Woods. The dial is out of frame to the left.

Above: looking north east with the ruins of Penpole Lodge visible on the right leading into Penpole Woods. The dial is out of frame to the left.

Above: looking from teh site of a bench, once set up t take advantage of teh view! The lodge is in the distance on the far right and Kings Weston House was once visible in the centre of the image.
Above: looking from the site of a bench, once set up to take advantage of the view! The lodge is in the distance on the far right and Kings Weston House was once visible in the centre of the image.

Looking towards the ruins of Penpole Lodge before and after the 10ft high hedge of brambles was removed by KWAG.
Looking towards the ruins of Penpole Lodge before and after the 10ft high hedge of brambles was removed by KWAG.

 

 

 

Working party progress!

Yesterday’s working party saw a great turnout of about a dozen volunteers. The weather was much kinder than it was forecast to be and we made huge progress in opening up the area between Penpole Lodge and the Stone dial further up the Point. We managed to clear the whole of the first  area we had planned to tackle and we are on schedule to complete our project in March as planned.

so far the 8ft ‘hedge’ of brambles has been brought down and dozens of small saplings removed. It is now possible to see the ruins of the estate wall that  connects to the ruins of Penpole Lodge. It’s also now possible to get glimpses of viewws beyond the trees as far as the Severn Crossing!

Thanks to everyone who came along and took part. More photos will be available soon showing just what an impact we have made, but in the meantime just one shot of the team taking a breather at yesterday’s operations.image

Come along and help restore historic views from Penpole Point

We will be out in force next Saturday and you are invited to come along and lend a hand. Following popular request we will be starting 2014 by starting to clear the historic Penpole Point of self-seeded saplings and undergrowth in order to open it up and restore views in the future.

We will be starting at 10am on Sat 18th Jan and be gathering at Penpole Lane, close to Oasis Academey. From there we will be walking the short distance to the working part area where we will be until about 3:30. You can find where we’ll be on this map https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=210919455143110258951.0004efcb6628f06e600a2&msa=0&ll=51.492386,-2.674586&spn=0.001633,0.003009

If you would like to lend a hand in clearing Penpole Point please make sure you come dressed for the weather on the day and make sure you are wearing suitable footwear. Tools should be provided by Bristol City Council, but please come along with your own if you like as well as gloves if you have them. We look forward to seeing you there!