A bit of an experiment on our web site, but this is the first ever MOVIE we’ve hosted here.

Over the last few years we’ve undertake a lot of research that has changed knowledge about the buildings and landscape around Kings Weston. A hugely important part of testing our theories, and exploring new ideas has been the use of 3D computer modelling. We’ve posted still images of this work before, but now we can share something a little more exciting!

This short movie is an accurate reconstruction of the Elizabethan mansion at Kings Weston based on all available data we have on it. It is, most famously, illustrated in an engraving of 1711, but other information also exists in the form of drawn plans, and descriptions of the interior of the house before it was completely demolished in 1713 to make way for the present building.

This animation shows how prominent the pair of viewing towers were, and the intended castle feel in the inner courtyard, then the main entrance to the building. It is interesting to note that when the same courtyard was redesigned by Sir John Vanbrugh he chose to repeat the idea, and echo ancient castle architecture in his own designs.  The two towers are still evoked by the arcaded chimney when viewed from the rear of the house today.

More info on the early history of the house and its illustrious owners can be found on our dedicated web page.

Kings Weston House is still host to an incredible collection of family portraits of the Southwell family who lived there between 1679 and 1833. But their likenesses can be found elsewhere too. A recent trip to Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, uncovered a little sister portrait to the vast canvas by Sir Godfrey Kneller in the Saloon at Kings Weston. The paintings depict Lady Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Edward Southwell who rebuilt Kings Weston.

The two paintings are shown together here, probably for the first time since they were painted, and the similarities are striking. The Kings Weston Painting is signed by the artist Kneller, but the other, held in the County Down Museum, is not. The latter is likely to have been made as a copy at some point in time though it’s history has not yet been unravelled.
The same museum also has a matching painting of Edward Southwell, identical in detail of the one of him hanging at Kings Weston, but the pose is reversed! This probably shows that it was copied from a contemporary engraving, rather than directly from the original as his wife’s may have been.

An article about the Downpatrick paintings is available to download, though sadly the author appears to have been unaware of the Kings Weston paintings when they were writing it. http://www.kwag.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Downpatrick-museum-paintings-reduced2.pdf

Some of you will have been following the build-up to the restoration of the lost avenue that once led to the front of Kings Weston House, well now its happened! Over two days, the 1st and 2nd of December seventeen trees were replanted in the original locations of the lost originals that had first been planted in about 1700.

The avenue was restored as a memorial project to Tim Denning, co-founder of KWAG who died suddenly in 2012. It has been made possible through generous donations from Tim’s friends and family, as well as Bristol Port Co and many other donors who were keen to see the historic avenue replaced.

Bristol Tree Pips organised the two day event with us and ensured that there was plenty of opportunity for volunteers and local schools to get involved and play their part in a project that will hopefully take many decades to flourish.

You’ll find a full gallery of photos documenting the restoration here. Photos are courtesy of Bob Pitchford.

School children lend Helen Humphries of Bristol Tree Pips a welcome hand

Helen Humphries leading a school group in tree planting

KWAG volunteers post-ramming the protective stakes around trees

The view of the full length of the avenue from the roof of Kings Weston House

Exciting times! Just a few days until the historic avenue is restored!

After two years planning a historic avenue which once led to the front of Grade I Listed Kings Weston House in north Bristol will be replanted as part of National Tree Week. The avenue was first planted at the end of the 1600s, but gradually disappeared between 1760 and the early 20^th Century. KWAG’s project will replant seventeen trees and restore some of the formal context of the historic house.

The group have raised funds from donations in memory of KWAG’s co-founder, Tim Denning who died suddenly in October 2012. Since then they have been working with Bristol City Council’s Tree Pips team to develop the project and see it come to fruition. Now, for the first time in living memory the trees will be return as part of a community tree planting event attended by local schools and volunteers on the 2^nd December.

The seventeen new lime trees will be planted using the exact same locations as the original avenue which were established during a Time Team-style archaeological geophysical survey in January 2012. The trees will once again frame the front of Kings Weston House and complement the remaining avenue which is the oldest in the city. They were first planted by Sir Robert Southwell, President of the Royal Society and Secretary of State for Ireland with advice from the diarist and plantsman John Evelyn and pre-date the present house designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1712.

David Martyn, Chairman of KWAG said “Tim Denning was a real driving force behind KWAG when we first started three years ago. When we lost him it was a real blow, but the group has gone from strength to strength largely through the foundations he laid. I know he would have approved of the replanting of the avenue, and this is a fitting tribute to his enthusiasm and commitment to the Kings Weston parkland”. He continued “KWAG are indebted to everyone who has donated funds in Tim’s memory and especially to Bristol Port Co for their support.“

KWAG are inviting anyone who is able to spare the time to come along on Tuesday 2^nd December to help plant the trees with the assistance of Bristol City Council who own the 200 acre public park. The public event will begin from 10am and run until about 3:30 depending on weather and numbers.

Aerial view of the proposed restoration

The restored avenue looking towards the house

An exciting visit yesterday to a property in Orchard Street, Bristol, where one of Kings Weston’s fireplaces ended up just before WWII. The Marble fireplace dates from the 1760s and was designed by Robert Mylne for the Drawing Room at Kings Weston. It was the finest of the chimney pieces ordered from the eminent sculptor John Devall, who had produced similar for a number of the Royal palaces.

The fireplace incorporates an earlier marble relief carving of 1705, carved by an Italian, Joseph Mazza Bonon. It is thought that these may have been one of five marble tablets purchased by Edward Southwell II on His Grand Tour in 1726, and used by his son when he refurbished the house forty years later.

Central carving by Joseph Mazza Bonon, 1705

The chimney piece, along with most of the others in the house, were stripped out in 1938 by Bristol Municipal Charities in the process of conversion of the building as a new home for QEH School. This fireplace was incorporated into the Municipal Charities own new premises where it remains today, though now within a flat.

John Devall marble fire surround, formerly in Kings Weston House, now in Orchard Street, Bristol

John Devall marble fire surround, formerly in Kings Weston House, now in Orchard Street, Bristol

On the 7th and 9th of October this year KWAG ran two outdoor activity days for schools. The free events were staged by our Education Officer Penny Morse and attracted Woodstock School and Victoria Park School to come to the park and take advantage of the woods and fields for education and fun.

Schools were invited to suggest what we could provide to help tie into the curriculum for Key Stage 1 and 2 ability students and KWAG designed days around map making and orienteering, and creating fantastic Celtic and Roman shelters.

Both days were, fortunately, dry and the children had a great time in the tasks, both building and creating their own wayfaring markers creating trails through the grounds. These photos show just a few of the activities they got involved with. Please take a look at the full gallery to see more, and if you were interested in getting your own school involved in future projects please get in touch with us.

The Celtic Shelter built by Woodstock School childern

Woodstock School Pupils get into building historic shelters

The Roman shelter built by the children of Woodstock School

Pupils from Victoria Park School pose for the camera at the Echo

On the 21st October English Heritage ran a Bristol-wide event for schools as part of its Heritage Schools Programme and to commemorate the start of the First World War. Based at the MShed on Bristol’s Harbourside,  where there was a major new exhibition on display, schools were treated to bus tours visiting some of the City’s most important First World War locations. Having operated as an Auxiliary Hospital during the period Kings Weston played its part in the day’s proceedings.

When they arrived school parties were met by KWAG volunteers dressed in period costume and led into the house. They were  treated to an in-the-round performance given by the drama students of Backfield School focussing on ‘John Smith’ and his experiences of the trenches. The performance was adapted from an anonymous poem of the period and described the story of a Tommy  from recruitment to discharge. The thought-provoking piece was rounded off with many questions from school parties.

The unique role that history of the Kings Weston landscape played during the war was highlighted during the visit; not just the use of the house as a hospital, but the many other things happening around it. These included the Remount Depot at Shirehampton that provided war horses to the army, and the Mustard gas factory at Chittening and the enormous activity at Avonmouth Docks. KWAG had produced exhibition boards that were displayed in the Oak room along with a great display by the parishioners of Henbury Church. Posters exhibits and artefacts were all of great interest.
Enormous thanks are due to Michael Gorely of English Heritage, Christopher James and his students from Backwell School, the parishioners of Henbury, Norman Routledge for the use of Kings Weston House for the event, and to all the KWAG volunteers who helped it happen.

You can find a full gallery of photos of the event here,