Stoke Park, Bristol
| Stoke Park, Bristol | |
|---|---|
 Stoke Park and The Dower House, viewed from the M32 | |
  Stoke Park  Stoke Park shown within Bristol | |
| Location | Bristol |
| OS grid | ST 61590 77051 |
| Coordinates | 51°29′28″N 2°33′17″W / 51.49109°N 2.55462°W |
| Area | 108 hectares (270 acres) |
Stoke Park is a public open space of 108 hectares (270 acres) in Bristol, England. It occupies a prominent position on the eastern flanks of Purdown, alongside the M32 motorway, together with the landmark Dower House and Purdown transmitter.[1]
Bristol City Council plan to keep a herd of organic Dexter cattle in the park, both as a supply of beef and as an educational resource.[2]
The Dower House
The Dower House is one of Bristol's more prominent landmarks, set on a hill above the M32 motorway on the main approach into the city, and painted bright yellow. The house was built in 1553 by Sir Richard Berkeley. It has also been used as part of Stoke Park Hospital. The house closed as a hospital in 1985, and has since been converted into flats.
Duchess Pond
Within Stoke Park are two small lakes, the largest of which is Duchess Pond. It is used for angling and also supports several species of breeding bird which are scarce elsewhere in Bristol, for example, reed warbler and reed bunting; in addition, an Egyptian goose was seen here in 2006 and a bittern in 2014.[3]
Listed structures
Several aspects of the house and estate are listed. The house is Grade II* listed.[4] The balustraded terrace, the Orangery, the remains of the Obelisk, and the Broomhill Gate are all Grade II listed. The woods contain the Beaufort Memorial, the cold bath, a stone tunnel, and a partially derelict stone tunnel with rusticated entrance arches, all also Grade II listed.[5]
Other facilities
- Hermitage Tunnel
- Purdown BT Tower
- Woodland areas and trees.
- World War II gun emplacements on Purdown
References
- ^ "Stoke Park Estate". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Bristol City Council one step closer to setting up its own beef farm at Stoke Park". Bristol Evening Post. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
- ^ Bland, R. L. and J. Tully (2011) The Breeding Season Atlas of the Birds of Bristol 2000-2008 Bristol Ornithology 30:3-59
- ^ Historic England. "Dower House (Grade II*) (1136240)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Historic England. "Stoke Park (Grade II) (1000129)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
External links
- Stoke Park Estate, Bristol City Council
- The History of Stoke Park, edited by Adrian Kerton, Glenside Museum
- Stoke Park, Bristol Outline Management Plan, Cooper Partnership, September 1999