Restoring A Historic Bristol Farmhouse

A full planning application for Bridge Farm, a farmhouse that dates back to the 1700s, is currently under consideration. The iconic building, which is in a sorry state of repair, will be known to many who use the M32. It is the last building you see to your left as you leave Bristol heading north.

Bridge Farm has a fascinating history. In 1710 the land was purchased by Peter Thomas, a Bristol gunsmith, who changed the name of the field from Well Close to West Close in 1730, indicating the time when the farmhouse was built. The first official record of the farmhouse, however, appears in a tithe survey from 1744. Thomas lived next door to the farmhouse, in a house known as Sunnybank.

Over the centuries the farm was owned by some of the most wealthy and influential people in Bristol, including Thomas Smyth of Ashton Court.

In 1950 a section of the field, known as Long Close, was used to start building Glenfrome Primary School, after the owners, the Withers family, were served with a compulsory purchase order. Work began on a new motorway, the M32, in 1968 which ended in the demolishing of Sunnybank and a small patch of land being bought from Bridge Farm for £5. This was used to facilitate the construction of the motorway flyover.

The last remaining Withers, Jack, died in 2015 and Bridge Farm was bought by Ashley Vale Action Group in 2018.

Ashley Vale Action Group was set up in 2000, bringing together a group of inspirational self-builders, who created an award-winning housing development at the Yard in St Werburghs. The vision for Bridge Farm is a sustainable community-led housing project, which respects the heritage of the farm and protects lots of land for growing. Key to the project is the sensitive restoration and repurposing of the farmhouse and barns.

‘It is an ambitious project, but we are looking forward to achieving our goals with the support of the local community. We are very proud of the proposals and want to thank everyone who contributed their ideas.’ – Ashley Vale Action Group

The plans for the farm buildings include a new community cafe, bakery, shared work space and workshops. It is hoped that the farm will become a valuable hub for this part of Bristol. The plans can be viewed HERE.