In 2015, the Eastville Workhouse Memorial Group unveiled a memorial for the 4,084 paupers buried in a mass grave at Rosemary Green. We follow them and the Bristol Radical History Group’s efforts to correct this historical wrong, and to bring light upon the ever-continuing assault on working people’s conditions.
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wendy bull
Excellent. A fitting memorial to my ancestors.
Colin Sprague
I worked in 100 Fishponds road as an Plumbers Apprentice to Mr Arthur ( art)
Pollard in 1956 / 57 the workshops were in the small stable type buildings close to the burial grounds it also had Carpenters and Electrician in the shared building.there was also an Engineer located by the big laundry ,Water Tank also a very tall chimney .
It was then used for elderly homeless and by gatehouse to the right hand side was housed mother and baby’s ( similar to the Downend M& B houses where I also worked for Bristol Corporation City Estates Dept.
The conditions even in the 1950s were very poor and the smell of the elderly not very pleasent.
I hope this gives a little more knowledge to those interested .
Richard Wilks
my grand father was Master of the workhouse his surname was wilks . in the 1950s my other grandfather who was a cooper by trade James Albert Jarrett worked at 100 fishponds road in the 1950s, as a handyman , he lived at 612 stapleton road by Eastville park now gone to make way for the motorway
Linda
Why are you not ashamed to admit that?
As a child I lived there when it was a poor house in the early 1960s. It was horrendous then. I can’t even imagine what evils the people forced to live there before endured.
margaret parker
I was wondering if any 1 can help me some of my family have 100 fishponds road down as where they where born quite a few have
Martin
Hello Margaret,
I’m sorry I can’t remember you but Myself Martin, Dave and Sue along with my mother lived there in the Mid 60s.
Diane Brooks
I have just found out my Dad was born here and I know something of it but not a lot. Where can I buy a book please///
Lyn Broderick
I have found out recently that my Dad was born here in 1907
Roger
Diane, You can buy a book online here: https://www.brh.org.uk/site/pamphleteer/100-fishponds-rd/
Dave
I see my brother Martin has added that we lived there in the mid 60s myself Dave brother Martin and my sister Sue and mum. I still remember it. It was absolutely horrible. All because of our violent drunken father
Susan garrett
I lived in the work house in the 60s with my mum and my little brother. It wasn’t a nice place to live. There was a stigma about living there
Sandra Ireland
My great Aunt Rosina Caines was in 100 Fishponds Rd, she had lost 13 children nearly all died young or in child birth but one lived to nearly 1 year. She was therefore childless and because of this was mentally disturbed. I was always told it was an asylum. Was this not true, she had her own house so although they were poor they were not homeless.
patricia gough
My mum and dad lived there with me and my bother i was only a baby. they were for about 2 years.
Julie
I lived there in the 60’s with my mum and six brother and sisters. I remember Nurse Sims and Nurse Hooper.
Cochroches, mice and the nursery with the boiler pumping out poisonous fumes are my memories.