Tag Archives: Penpole Wood

The Keeper’s Cottage recalled

Leave a reply

Deep in Penpole Wood lie the half-forgotten remains of a small cottage. Now just a few fragments of wall and some undulations in the forest floor, this was once the Keeper’s home.

As far as we’ve been able to ascertain, the house was built after 1845, so would have been an addition made by the Miles Family who then owned the Kings Weston estate. It may even have been designed by Philip William Skinner Miles, who considered himself something of an amateur architect and is responsible for much minor work around the parkland.

the south-west corner of the cottage survives as a few courses of stone amongst the forest floor.  

The location at the foot of the Penpole Ridge once enjoyed views northward across open fields of the parkland, but today’s woodland margins have long extended to encompass it. It is assumed that any game shooting would have taken place in these fields with pheasant or other birds bred in the woodland before release. The location of a gamekeeper’s cottage on the boundary between these two areas makes sense in this context.

1884 map with the location of the cottage marked, being sited downhill almost directly north of Penpole Lodge.

The cottage itself was small, but not without some architectural pretention. From early photos we can see it was of two storeys and its main frontage to the north and west were carefully composed with attractively proportioned casement windows and Tudor-style drip-mouldings carried across each. It had a smart hipped roof, slate-covered, and a pair of tall chimneys, again in the Tudor manner. The whole building was finished in rough-cast render, some which still clings to the walls today.  It must have had quite a picturesque effect when viewed from the fields, sitting with a heavily wooded backdrop, with its a small garden and smoke drifting from its prominent chimneys a sign of domestic life within.

Keeper’s Cottage from the west, with the McEwen family and their dog Gyp. 

These two photographs record the Keepers Cottage in 1921 when it was the home of the McEwen family.  Arthur McEwan was head of the family and is seen with his wife Lilian, and their children Winifred and Arthur John, the latter just glimpsed at the door. The dog was Gyp.

Winifred, later Mrs Pople, remembers that in her childhood she carried buckets of water down the steep path from Penpole Lodge where Mrs Turk kept a tank filled with drinking water. Her mother, only 4’ 11”, nearly fell down the well they used, so the water tank was installed by Squire Miles as a safer, if less convenient, source.  

The Keepers Cottage with the McEwen family outside in 1921
A similar angle today, the cottage now rubble under the forest floor. 

The house remained occupied until WWII. By then the district Scout groups owned the land and the cottage and it was referred to as the Lower Lodge. With the outbreak of the war parts of their property were commandeered by the RAF and the Home Guard. The wardens wrote that “We had viewed with some concern the activities of the Home Guard when the took over the Lower (lodge)” and it suffered badly during this time.

A few tiles were damaged by the explosion of a high explosive bomb nearby, but the house survived only to become the target of  “local roughs”. By 1944 it had suffered badly from “wanton destruction” in the absence of regular use and, when the woods were sold to the Council in 1947, it’s unlikely that it was in habitable condition. It’s believed at this time the Council took the place down to prevent it from becoming the focus of more vandalism.  

the north-west corner of the cottage under the greenery. Part of the original render clings on. 

The walls survive to shin-height though sycamores now fight their way through the old floors. In the future it would be a good job for KWAG to clear around these ruins, measure and record them, and make sure there is some preservation before they are lost for all time.   

Working Party update: Jubilee Clearing cleared!  

Leave a reply

Jubilee Clearing has long been a memorable spot for local people from Shirehampton and Sea Mills. After the death of the last squire, Philip Napier Miles, large parts of Penpole Wood and fields beyond were sold to Bristol District Scouts. Between 1937 and 1947 the clearing became the favoured campsite of the district’s scouts.

The view on entering the clearing from Penpole Lane on the south edge.

Since the compulsory purchase of the Scout’s land by the Council, little has been done to protect the character of the woodland clearing – until now. The Snowberry that’s invaded the area is not native, and had obscured the open character of the area. With the recommendation of the wildlife and woodland officers, the restoration of the clearing for both heritage and ecology is a project we’ve been keen to engage with.

A good band of volunteers set out to clear the invasive shrub from the area in mid-March. Knowing that bird nesting season was upon us, we were exceptionally careful in approaching the task, though, with the Snowberry yet to leaf, there was little cover to attract birds.

The view east across the historic clearing. Some of the original imported evergreen specimin trees can be seen on the far edge. 

The removal has been surprisingly effective. The transformation now hits you immediately you enter the area, views through and across it restoring the sense of openness. We recognise that the snowberry is a tenacious plant, and will need repeated cutting, but this is a major step in restoring the character. The ground-cover beneath it is largely moss or ivy, the only species able to grow below the dense coverage. This month we hope to try and improve the biodiversity further by preparing the way for seeding of suitable shade-loving grasses and wildflowers.

Looking across Jubilee Clearing from the south, before and after work. 

Working Party update: A decade’s growth restrained  

Leave a reply

It was invigorating to see so many new volunteers join us in January to re-cut cherry laurel regrowth close to The Circle. It was 2016 when we last went through the compartment to fell the forest of laurel that had grown to choke out natural species. Gratifyingly, it’s been slow to try making a comeback, mainly due to the Council following through with poisoning at the time.

Above: Looking into the woods westward from The Circle 

However, the laurel remains a persistent weed and has begun to get going again, so last month’s work helps to knock it back again.

The area sits at the northern, back, side of The Circle, a patch lined on the south with the Avenue to Penpole and the north by the main path to the Point. Most of the work could be done with loppers, but there were a few extra bits that needed the saw taken to them again.

Looking back to The Circle in the direction of the car park from the main path through the woods.

We also took the opportunity to get back on top of some natural spacing, clearing competing saplings around trees that stand a better chance of maturing. This should keep the avenue to Penpole clear and in good shape for a little longer.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped out, and we hope to see you all this month.   

A broad panorama from The Circle looking west towards Penpole

Working Party update: Lanky laurels laid low 

Leave a reply

We focussed on a key spot in Penpole Wood in November 2025, one where the middle path had become heavily overgrown with cherry laurel. The steep hillside along the north edge of the woods results in cherry laurel growing lanky and drooping in much the same direction. The thin soils here see the overgrown shrubs pull out by their roots and fall downhill, often continuing to grow when they have.

Before and after work along the Middle Path in November, looking eastwards. 

The spot we started work on in November had all of these issues and had resulted in low-growing laurels threatening to block the route completely. Our volunteers worked hard in slippery conditions on steep inclines to cut and fell the laurel, using fallen boughs to line the lower edge of the path and reduce erosion; here, it had been undermined by roots pulling-out the ground where trees have fallen downhill.

The results have been transformative, and have ensured the area is safer and more accessible for a few years yet. A surprising change resulted from relatively few volunteer hours, and the results speak for themselves we hope.

en transformative, and have ensured the area is safer and more accessible for a few years yet. A surprising change resulted from relatively few volunteer hours, and the results speak for themselves we hope.

 A view opens up along the path looking towards Penpole Point. 

Working Party update: Back into the woods for cherry laurel clearance 

Leave a reply

In July this year, we made a start on clearing laurel from an area at the foot of the steps down through Penpole Wood, close to the Point. This location is at the far eastern end of the Eighteenth Century pleasure walks through the woods, an important route long-neglected. Last month we returned to continue efforts to stem the tide of this invasive species.

a wide panorama looking up the slope from the Middle Path, before and after volunteer work.  

We were a little depleted in numbers in October, but set ourselves clear targets of two areas either side of the path. The steep slope here proved challenging and sapped energy in requiring a steady footing and the transport of the cut material towards waste piles.

Cherry laurel is pushed back from assailing a beech tree along the Middle Path.  

With just seven volunteers, we managed to achieve most of the task at hand. Unfortunately, by the time everyone’s energy had lapsed, we were left with a mess. Having managed at least to clear the path, it was down to the efforts of one of our volunteers to tidy everything into piles over the following weeks; a huge effort that we’re enormously grateful for.

Perched on the slope and looking westwards, with the Middle Path leading into the distance. 

Working Party update – Hot stuff in the woods!

Leave a reply

It was one of the hottest days of the year when we met in July for volunteer work in Penpole Woods. Not only was it hot, but the chosen location was distant from all of the usual meeting points. The area, deep in Penpole Wood, was at the bottom of the steps we rebuilt about ten years ago. Until last month they deposited the visitor into a thicket of cherry laurel.

Animated transition showing the view from the bottom of the Penpole Wood steps. 

Already, someone had been trying to keep the paths there open, taking out branches overhanging the path, but our ambitions were somewhat greater. Considering the forecast, we had a good turnout, and thank you to all our regulars who made it. We started with the knowledge we’d cut things short to avoid the worst of the heat, but the shady area on the north-facing slope gave us some respite from the worst of it.

The impact of work turned out to be more incredible than expected. A relatively dense cherry laurel gave way quickly, revealing a number of handsome mature trees that hadn’t really been noticeable at the start of work; If we’d have spotted them earlier, we might have been a bit more careful over the location of spoil piles and their visibility.

Animated transition showing the view eastwards along the middle path. 

By the end of the day, the section of the middle path we worked on was unrecognisable. Now, coming off the end of the  steps, the scene opens out into a light clearing with a backdrop of fine trees. The route up from Lawrence Weston has been cleared of a lot of obstacles and joins the middle path at a junction at the stone steps. Hopefully the path remains traceable through the stone rubble.

We had planned to return here this month to continue work, but an urgent matter has cropped up at the Lilypond. September will be Heritage Open Day, and October is usually the Big Bulb Plant, so continuing the work may take longer than planned.   

Looking west along the middle path before and after work clearing cherry laurel
The three stone steps between the middle path and main steps appear from beneath the cherry laurel.

A final re-trim in Penpole Wood

Leave a reply

Worked carried on into July to clear the regrown cherry laurel in Penpole Wood. Most visitors will see little change from the recent work much is hidden well back from the main path through the woods. However, the impact of cherry laurel on the native woodland is severe if it’s let get out hand.

looking west through the wood before and after the re-trimming of the cherry laurel. 

Since we cleared the area in 2016 there has been a lot of regrowth, particularly on the harder to reach area along the top of the former quarry. Because the laurel has historically stunted tree growth in the area an opening had developed in the tree canopy and Brambles had begun to colonise the area aided by the catenary of laurel stems; in short, the area was in a big mess again.

the view east through the working party area. 

A relatively small group of volunteers, a usual state of affairs for the holiday season, set about putting things in order and extending the areas cleared in the last few months. Cherry laurel has been felled again, untangled from the brambles and stacked out of the way. More of the saplings planted in 2016 have also been revealed again in thriving condition.  Whilst there remain some laurel bushes to the periphery of the area, ones we had neither time nor energy to tackle on a hot day, there’s not enough to occupy a full working party.  These will be left for the moment while we focus on new areas.    

looking up slope from the edge of the old quarry and towards the main Penpole Wood path. 


 

Ash Dieback takes its toll 

Leave a reply

For a number of years, the dreaded Ash Dieback has been slow to take hold at Kings Weston. While other areas in the city were quickly decimated by this fungal disease the estate has been less quick in succumbing. We identified early signs it had arrived several years ago, and perhaps it’s the prevailing winds off the Severn have blown spores away and slowed it’s progress. However, it’s now very much caught up with us.

A series of ash trees and large boughs have fallen recently, these across one of the main paths through the woods between The Circle and Mancroft Avenue below. KWAG volunteers have now cleared all but the trunks from here. . 
Even trees on The Circle have become bare and begun dying. These grew up since the 1960s. 

Whilst Ash was not commonly planted in the Kings Weston parkland in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century, it has become established, particularly since WWII and the institutional decline of the historic estate. There are of course some notable exceptions, huge mature trees that have established in Penpole Wood and elsewhere. Most, though, are of middling size and have thrived on neglect.
 
These more mature trees are now the victims of die-back, with many now showing advanced signs of ill health. Penpole Wood has recently been littered with fallen ash, or large boughs that have broken away from distressed trees. You’ll notice the ground around ash trees littered with leaves and dead twigs, and their canopies thinning and full of dead twigs and dying branches.
 
There are a series of dead or dying trees alongside the historic Viewing Terrace behind the Echo, a number on the Circle, and many more overhanging paths and public rights of around the estate. There is a genuine risk to the public from these dying trees, so we urge everyone to be aware, particularly during windy weather. We hope to go through the parkland soon with the parks team to discuss the problem and identify which trees may need to be dealt with and brought down before they fall.

Ash trees at the top of the slope above Shirehampton Road, immediately over the Georgian Viewing Terrace and the public right of way are now heavily impacted, with some already dead. 


Yet MORE missed Laurels get a trim

Leave a reply

Our gradual passage back through Penpole Wood continued last month, retracing our steps with removing cherry laurel. Having built-up momentum on this job since April we’ve continued westwards through the woodland, tracking along the top edge of the former quarry.

Animated image showing the same area before and after work. This view looks back towards Kings Weston house, with the main path just out of sight behind the trees on the right. 

The sunnier Summer months are best spent labouring in the relative shade, the heat usually tiring our team of volunteers quicker. Despite the warm conditions, we tackled a large portion of the laurel that had regrown to considerable height in some areas. Over the last eight or nine years, the laurel had bushed-out with some areas with very dense coverage.

Looking south, upslope from the edge of the historic quarry. Many of the liberated saplings can be identified. 

The are was planted with saplings following our original work, and we’re glad to say that there were many left, albeit somewhat overshadowed by their more established and overpowering neighbours. This work will help protect the progress we made and allow these saplings to bring greater biodiversity into this part of the woods.

The flat area adjacent to the main path through Penpole Woods was less choked than the top of the quarry. The path can be seen passing in the background after volunteers removed the invasive laurel. 

Missed laurels get a trim

Leave a reply

As working parties draw to a close on a Saturday afternoon, sometimes we’ve not managed to complete what we might have hoped; bits get left behind as we move on to other parts of the estate. Last month’s volunteer work tackled three such areas at the very heart of the parkland close to The Circle.

We’ve had several working parties along the north edge of the ancient lime Avenue, mainly around 2016-17. These focussed on natural spacing and the chore of removing over-mature laurels. The areas left included some dense and challenging laurels, not reason for us to have neglected them the first time, but enough to keep us occupied for a full working party this time around.

With the cherry laurel removed, the woodland opens out onto the ancient lime avenue beyond. 

One area was just to the north of the ancient Lime Avenue, and work here gave us the added opportunity to reinforce the line of the path through trimming snowberry bushes. The second area included a concrete base to a WWII Nissen hut, one that was joined formerly by many others hidden in the trees. The final area bordered the Quarry garden on its eastern end and a forest of mock orange bushes, part of historic planting, to the east. An added challenge in the last area was tidying a fallen tree that had blocked one of the well used paths in this area.

The central of three locations tackled last month, directly on the main path into the woods. The WWII base appears from below the invasive cherry laurel. 

Split into three adjacent groups, a good turnout of volunteers saw work progress quickly from east to west. We usually lose people in the afternoons as they get tired or need to get onto other things but still managed to extend the area tackled westwards and begin trimming of laurel regrowth that has begun to regain a foothold above the quarry. By about 2pm we had achieved everything on our agenda and more!

It was interesting to uncover the base of the WWII Nissen Hut and its features, more of that later. The historic area of Mock Orange is now more visible, framed by the less invasive Portuguese laurels we’ve left in place. For the intrepid, there’s the opportunity to try and trace the line of the lost Victorian path that once ran through the back of this area, now freed from the choking embrace of cherry laurels.

The third location, close to the east end of the quarry garden, and looking up-slope towards the main path through the woods.