Spike Island, Bristol

Spike Island
Spike Island is located in Bristol
Spike Island
Spike Island
Location within Bristol
OS grid referenceST 587 721
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBRISTOL
Postcode districtBS
Dialling code0117
PoliceAvon and Somerset
FireAvon
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Bristol
51°26′52″N 2°36′31″W / 51.4479°N 2.6087°W / 51.4479; -2.6087
The Chocolate Block Path beside the Avon New Cut, Spike Island
The Harbour Railway, beside the Avon New Cut, Spike Island

Spike Island is an inner city and harbour area of the English port city of Bristol, adjoining the city centre. It comprises the strip of land between the Floating Harbour to the north and the tidal New Cut of the River Avon to the south, from the dock entrance to the west to Bathurst Basin in the east. The island forms part of Cabot ward. The area between the Docks and New cut to the east of Bathurst Basin is in the neighbourhoods of Redcliffe and St Philip's Marsh.[1][2]

Spike Island was created by William Jessop in the early 19th century, when he constructed the New Cut and converted the former course of the River Avon into the Floating Harbour. Until the Second World War, a lock connected Bathurst Basin with the New Cut, and Spike Island was a genuine island surrounded on all sides by water. However, fears that an aerial attack on this lock at low tide could lead to a disastrous dewatering of the docks led to the lock being filled in.

Historically, Spike Island was the site of working quays, shipyards, warehousing and other associated dockside industry. The Bristol Harbour Railway runs the length of the island, and formerly connected these working areas with the railway network. With the redevelopment of the docks, the Island has become an area popular with developers looking to create prime dock side housing such as Baltic Wharf, The Point and Perretts Court. There are also a few restaurants and popular pubs such as The Orchard Inn and The Cottage.

Other formerly dock-related buildings have become cultural venues or museums. These include:

Other historic buildings have been converted into office space, housing small businesses and legal and financial companies such as Creditcall.

The path of the harbour railway across Spike Island is proposed for a £38 million rapid transit bus route from Ashton Vale to the city centre. The existing steam railway would be retained, but buses would gain a congestion-free journey into the city.[4] Subject to planning permission and finances, work could start 2012 with services running 2014.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Cabot Ward Map" (PDF). Bristol City Council. Retrieved 20 June 2006.
  2. ^ Ordnance Survey (2005). OS Explorer Map 155 – Bristol & Bath. ISBN 0-319-23609-9.
  3. ^ "Puppet Place: Rehearsal Studio - Bristol Creatives". 7 November 2022.
  4. ^ "West of England Rapid Transit Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Scheme Summary II – Spring 2010" (PDF). West of England Partnership. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
[edit]

  1. Prince's Wharf, including M Shed, Pyronaut and Mayflower adjoining Prince Street Bridge
  2. Dry docks: SS Great Britain, the Matthew
  3. St Augustine's Reach, Pero's Bridge
  4. Bathurst Basin
  5. Queen Square
  6. Bristol Temple Meads railway station
  7. Castle Park
  8. Redcliffe Quay and Redcliffe Caves
  9. Baltic Wharf marina
  10. Cumberland Basin & Brunel Locks
  11. The New Cut
  12. Netham Lock, entrance to the Feeder Canal
  13. Totterdown Basin
  14. Temple Quay
  15. The Centre
  16. Canons Marsh, including Millennium Square and We The Curious
  17. Underfall Yard
  18. Bristol Bridge and Welsh Back
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