Bear Flat: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Rjpwilliams (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
The [[Georgian era|Georgians]] built at either end of Bear Flat at Devonshire Buildings to the south, which comprises some later post war development in a mews style and Beechen Cliff, which includes some mid Victorian building to the north. The main estate of Poets Corner is a late [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian era|Edwardian]] district of large terraced houses and forms a part of the wider City of Bath [[conservation area]]. Poets Corner comprises four avenues (Shakespeare, Milton, Kipling and Longfellow), which all lead directly perpendicular from the Wellsway) with Chaucer Road running through the estate parallel to Wellsway. Other 'Poet' locations include Bruton Avenue, Byron Road, Shelley Road. Other streets include Devonshire Place, Attewell Place and Greenway Court. |
The [[Georgian era|Georgians]] built at either end of Bear Flat at Devonshire Buildings to the south, which comprises some later post war development in a mews style and Beechen Cliff, which includes some mid Victorian building to the north. The main estate of Poets Corner is a late [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian era|Edwardian]] district of large terraced houses and forms a part of the wider City of Bath [[conservation area]]. Poets Corner comprises four avenues (Shakespeare, Milton, Kipling and Longfellow), which all lead directly perpendicular from the Wellsway) with Chaucer Road running through the estate parallel to Wellsway. Other 'Poet' locations include Bruton Avenue, Byron Road, Shelley Road. Other streets include Devonshire Place, Attewell Place and Greenway Court. |
||
During the Second World War Bear Flat was caught up in the 'Baedeker' raids on the city of Bath and some considerable damage was done to the area near the junction of the Wellsway and Holloway[http://www.thejwarrens.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bathblitz/piche1207.htm The Bath blitz and Bear Flat]. Many of the modern shops are in premises that have been rebuilt since the war. |
|||
Bear Flat has range of shops, including a [[The Co-operative Group|Co-operative Food]], another local convenience store which includes a sub post office, Andrews and Mark Naylor estate agents, Rolfeys Antique Shop, [[The Carphone Warehouse]], [[Majestic Wine]], Da Vinci's [[delicatessen]], the Real Meat Company butcher's shop, a chemist, a florist and a charity shop. For people who wish to eat in Bear Flat there is a Pizza take-away, a Bangladeshi restaurant and a bistro wine bar that used to be another deli and two pubs, the Bear (now a gastro-pub) and the Devonshire Arms which also serves food. The Bear pub was formerly a brewery and public house but was severely damaged by a bomb in the [[World War II|Second World War]] and subsequently demolished - the current pub is a post-war building. The Beechen Cliff Methodist Church is located at the bottom of Shakespeare Avenue with Bruton Community Hall and the Bear Flat Pre-school located to the rear in Bruton Avenue. There are a number of Bed and Breakfast businesses benefitting from the close proximity to the city centre along the main road, together with a double glazing showroom and building company located on the east side of the Wellsway. |
Bear Flat has range of shops, including a [[The Co-operative Group|Co-operative Food]], another local convenience store which includes a sub post office, Andrews and Mark Naylor estate agents, Rolfeys Antique Shop, [[The Carphone Warehouse]], [[Majestic Wine]], Da Vinci's [[delicatessen]], the Real Meat Company butcher's shop, a chemist, a florist and a charity shop. For people who wish to eat in Bear Flat there is a Pizza take-away, a Bangladeshi restaurant and a bistro wine bar that used to be another deli and two pubs, the Bear (now a gastro-pub) and the Devonshire Arms which also serves food. The Bear pub was formerly a brewery and public house but was severely damaged by a bomb in the [[World War II|Second World War]] and subsequently demolished - the current pub is a post-war building. The Beechen Cliff Methodist Church is located at the bottom of Shakespeare Avenue with Bruton Community Hall and the Bear Flat Pre-school located to the rear in Bruton Avenue. There are a number of Bed and Breakfast businesses benefitting from the close proximity to the city centre along the main road, together with a double glazing showroom and building company located on the east side of the Wellsway. |
||
Revision as of 09:12, 6 August 2012
Bear Flat is an area of Bath, England, to the south of central Bath, below and to the west of Beechen Cliff. The Wellsway, now the A367 road to Shepton Mallet, runs through Bear Flat. Originally this was the main pilgrimage route from Bath, with its abbey, and Wells with its cathedral.
'Flat' may be derived from the flatness of the land - most of Bath is very hilly. 'Bear' has nothing to do with the animal but is believed to be a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon name 'Berwick' - 'Ber' meaning Barley and 'Wick' being a settlement - a settlement near a barley field.[1] This was later incorporated into a farm which in the 19th century was called 'Barrack' farm, then demolished to make way for housing.
Location
To reach Bear Flat from the centre of Bath, the original route was up Holloway (Either the 'Holy way' or a way hollowed out as it climbs around the shoulder of Beechen Cliff). This follows the mediaeval pilgrimage route and has a pilgrims church with 'Holy' well (recently restored but without water) opposite. Because of the steepness of Holloway a later road was built which climbs more gently. This is now called Wells Road but is named on some Georgian maps as the Wells-Exeter Road. Holloway is no longer open to traffic at the bottom but vehicles now take the Wells Road road out of Bath towards Radstock - the A367. Pedestrians and cyclists can follow across the river to the South of Bath city centre and then can follow Holloway up the hill.
At the top of the hill to the east of Bear Flat is Alexandra Park which affords stunning views over the city and Beechen Cliff School. To the south is the deep wooded valley of Lyncombe Vale, formerly the route of the Bath branch of the Somerset and Dorset Railway and Combe Down Tunnel which was the longest unventilated rail tunnel in Britain. The tunnel together with the shorter Devonshire Tunnel are to be reopened as part of the Two Tunnels Greenway forming part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network. To the east runs the Widcombe valley with Georgian buildings. Central Bath is to the north.
Buildings and Services
The Georgians built at either end of Bear Flat at Devonshire Buildings to the south, which comprises some later post war development in a mews style and Beechen Cliff, which includes some mid Victorian building to the north. The main estate of Poets Corner is a late Victorian and Edwardian district of large terraced houses and forms a part of the wider City of Bath conservation area. Poets Corner comprises four avenues (Shakespeare, Milton, Kipling and Longfellow), which all lead directly perpendicular from the Wellsway) with Chaucer Road running through the estate parallel to Wellsway. Other 'Poet' locations include Bruton Avenue, Byron Road, Shelley Road. Other streets include Devonshire Place, Attewell Place and Greenway Court.
During the Second World War Bear Flat was caught up in the 'Baedeker' raids on the city of Bath and some considerable damage was done to the area near the junction of the Wellsway and HollowayThe Bath blitz and Bear Flat. Many of the modern shops are in premises that have been rebuilt since the war.
Bear Flat has range of shops, including a Co-operative Food, another local convenience store which includes a sub post office, Andrews and Mark Naylor estate agents, Rolfeys Antique Shop, The Carphone Warehouse, Majestic Wine, Da Vinci's delicatessen, the Real Meat Company butcher's shop, a chemist, a florist and a charity shop. For people who wish to eat in Bear Flat there is a Pizza take-away, a Bangladeshi restaurant and a bistro wine bar that used to be another deli and two pubs, the Bear (now a gastro-pub) and the Devonshire Arms which also serves food. The Bear pub was formerly a brewery and public house but was severely damaged by a bomb in the Second World War and subsequently demolished - the current pub is a post-war building. The Beechen Cliff Methodist Church is located at the bottom of Shakespeare Avenue with Bruton Community Hall and the Bear Flat Pre-school located to the rear in Bruton Avenue. There are a number of Bed and Breakfast businesses benefitting from the close proximity to the city centre along the main road, together with a double glazing showroom and building company located on the east side of the Wellsway.
Artists Living in Bear Flat
A number of artists live in the area, ranging from painters to potters, sculptors, jewellers, photographers, etc. Every year they organise the Bear Flat Open Studios over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, numerous homes are opened and work displayed, much of this work is also for sale - see Bear Flat Artists It has also become home to the Royal Photographic Society who moved up to Bear Flat from their original home in the centre of Bath.
Bear Flat 1911 Census
A study is currently being undertaken of Bear Flat and its inhabitants 100 years ago. For more information see Bear Flat 1911 Census Survey
Bear Flat Community Association
On the 22nd of June 2012 a meeting was held to launch a new Bear Flat Association. For more information contact Bear Flat Association
A study is currently being
References
- ^ Elliott, Kirsten T. (2003). Bath Pubs. Akeman Press. ISBN 978-0-9546138-0-8.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)