In collaboration with performers and historians from south of the river, Bristol Radical History Group (BRHG) are putting on a series of events over the autumn of 2023 uncovering hidden histories of south Bristol.
The Bedminster-Southville history festival in October features history talks, a walk and an exhibition exploring the radical face of Bedminster before and after WW1, hidden histories of Ashton Court Estate and West Street, the storming of the New Gaol in 1831, women prisoners from Bedminster transported to Australia and strikes by British Army units at the White City.
In November we move further south to investigate the Knowle Wester who tried to kill fascist leader Oswald Mosely, launch Paul Smith’s book Hartcliffe Betrayed on the design of the estate and explore the history of some of its activists.
All the events are free as our libraries, the Tobacco factory, St Paul’s Church, United Reform Church, and community centres are offering their spaces for no cost. BRHG is not funded by political parties, universities, business or local government. We rely on our members giving their labour for free and sales of our publications to break even.
Venues
Bedminster Library: 4 Bedminster Parade, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4AQ
Tobacco Factory: Raleigh Rd, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1TF
St Paul’s Church: 2 Southville Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1AS
United Reformed Church Hall: 48 Stanley Street South (off West Street), Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 3PG
Programme
The following programme of events will be updated regularly – check back soon!
Download a summary flyer here
Films (drag left/right):
| Date | Time | Title | With | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marge Evans: The Radcliffe Radical – film screening with director David Parker | David Parker | Bedminster Library |
Talks (drag left/right):
| Date | Time | Title | With | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haunting Ashton Court LIVE: A Creative Handbook for Collective History-Making | Elinor Lower, Jack Young |
Tobacco Factory | ||
| The Dean Lane Pit disaster of 1886 and its repercussions | Tony Dyer | Tobacco Factory | ||
| Trouble on the trams | Rob Whitfield | Bedminster Library | ||
| Trouble at the White City – strikes in the British armed forces in 1919 | Roger Ball | Tobacco Factory | ||
| acta’s historical plays | Ingrid Jones | Bedminster Library | ||
| The rise and fall of Edward Colston – the real story | Christine Townsend, Mark Steeds, Roger Ball |
Tobacco Factory | ||
| From Bedminster to Van Diemen’s Land | Sheila Hannon | Bedminster Library | ||
| The 1831 Bristol reform riot – a view from the southbank | Steve Poole, Roger Ball |
St Paul's Church |
Walks (drag left/right):
| Date | Time | Title | With | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The radical face of Bedminster in the early 20th Century | Trevor Houghton | Ropewalk, Bedminster Parade |
Exhibitions (drag left/right):
| Date | Time | Title | With | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Street Stories | United Reform Church Hall |
Oral history (drag left/right):
| Date | Time | Title | With | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soup and Stories | United Reformed Church Hall |