The following is a short description of the parish of Stapleton from Pigot's 1830 directory. Please note in those days Fishponds was included in the parish. The walks and scenery are still there around the river Frome there but the area is built up these days with many houses. 1830 STAPLETON two miles north east of Bristol, is chiefly the residence of retired families, and is remarkable for the beauties of its scenery and the delightful walks with which it is intersected and surrounded. Bernice

On Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:03:23 -0000, <Bernpeg@aol.com> wrote: > Pigot's 1830 directory. > STAPLETON two miles north east of Bristol, is chiefly the residence of > retired families, and is remarkable for the beauties of its scenery and > the delightful walks with which it is intersected and surrounded. To add to Bernice's information about Stapleton, I am resending some information, which I first sent to the list in 2005, which may be of interest to new listers with research interests in Stapleton, Downend, Mangotsfield and Fishponds. Here's an excursion taken from Chilcott's Descriptive History of Bristol (1844): There are many pleasant villages to the east of Bristol; and to those who enjoy a rich variety of rural scenery, studded with genteel houses surrounded by lawns, parks, and shrubberies, a ride to those villages will be highly gratifying. Proceed then from the central part of the city through Wine Street, Dolphin Street, Peter Street, Castle and the Old Market Streets, to the end of West Street; pass between TRINITY CHURCH and MRS. HANNAH MORE'S SCHOOLS, down the New Road,-on the left of which is the GLOUCESTER COUNTY PRISON -into Stapleton Road; go on for about a quarter of a mile, and a large enclosed square building appears on the left, called THE ARMOURY, and which we understand the Roman Catholics have purchased. Visit, if agreeable or necessary, the extensive NURSERY GARDENS of MR. MAULE, near the BLACKBIRDS' INN. About a mile beyond these gardens, on a hill to the left, is STAPLETON HOUSE, the occasional residence of SIR JOHN SMITH, Bart., of Ashton Court; and a little further on is the pretty village of STAPLETON , in which, near the church, stands A PALACE OF THE LORD BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER AND BRISTOL. A short distance in the advance from Stapleton is STOKE HOUSE, formerly the residence of the late DOWAGER DUCHESS OF BEAUFORT. In 1760 the greater part of it was rebuilt, in consequence of its being so much damaged in the civil wars. The woods and grounds belonging to the mansion are very extensive, and beautifully interspersed with statues, temples, and monuments. Further on is the handsome village of FRENCHAY. Returning from FRENCHAY to DOWNEND, there are three noble residences, surrounded with grounds of park-like appearance, called CLEEVE WOOD, CLEEVE VALE, and CLEEVE LODGE. We next arrive at MANGOTSFIELD, where there is a handsome house and lawn, known as HILL HOUSE ; from thence we proceed to the FISHPONDS, where is an establishment for those who are labouring under an aberration of intellect, under the care of DR. BOMPAS. From the Fishponds we return again to Bristol. -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com