The Chessels
| The Chessels | |
.jpg) The corner of Chessel Street and West Street is home to the former White Horse pub (shown here in 1999) |
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  The Chessels |
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| OS grid reference | ST577712 |
|---|---|
| Civil parish | Bedminster |
| Unitary authority | Bristol |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRISTOL |
| Postcode district | BS3 |
| Dialling code | 0117 |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Bristol South |
Coordinates: 51°26′17″N 2°36′33″W / 51.43798°N 2.60903°W
The Chessels is an area of Bedminster, Bristol that runs from the midsection of Luckwell Rd to the former White Horse pub on West Street. Chessel Street is the main road. The name Chessel is taken from the name of a field, recorded in 1350.[1] As of 2013 The White Horse was being redeveloped as part of a scheme including a cafe and residential properties.[2][3][4]
Chessel Street has a number of streets on either side that are named after gemstones, including Ruby Street, Pearl Street, Beryl Road, Jasper Street and Garnet Street. At the West Street end Chessel Street also turns off into British Road, and at the Luckwell Hill end there is a moderately sized Anglican church, St Aldhelms (built 1906),[5] which is part of the Bedminster Team Ministry.
Until as recently as 1980 there was a shop on every corner of the entire street - over 10 shops. These included a bakery, general store, sweet shop and newsagent, a cooker and electrical shop, and a dry cleaner. There still is one little shop that sells antiques/bric-a-brac. The post office counter (named The Chessels) was closed[6][7] as part of Post Office Ltd's post office closure plan[8] and the Post Office, the last remaining shop on the road, was transformed into the Bristol Green Store in November 2008.[7] The post office was described in June 2008 by Councillor Mark Wright as "a focal point for the local community in the Chessels since before anyone can remember."[9] In April 2008, MP for Bristol South Dawn Primarolo objected to the proposed closure of both The Chessels and Bedminster Road branches, noting their high importance to the local communities.[10]
Initially a project run by a small group of local producers, the Bristol Green Store has now evolved into the Natural Building Store, and the Bristol Green Store project has a section within the shop for local products. The shop also runs a community project called 'The Space', for local use of the shop facilities and website, including a food co-op and Freeshare goods recycling.
References
- ↑ Etheridge, David; Payne, Richard (June 2009). "The Former Baptist Church, No. 177 East Street, Bedminster, Bristol" (PDF). Archaeological Recording and Monitoring. Avon Archaeological Unit. p. 8. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ↑ "White Horse Public House 166 West Street Bedminster Bristol BS3 3NB". Way Out West website. Way Out West. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ↑ "Conversion to apartments and town houses". Bristol Post. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ↑ "Conversion of existing public house (Use Class A4) and self-contained flat (Use Class C3) to residential flats (Use Class C3) and dual use cafe/bar (Use Class A3/A4) and development of townhouses with associated car parking, amenity space, refuse and cycle storage. (Major application)". Planning application ref. 11/05202/F. Bristol City Council. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ↑ "The National Archives – Access to Archives". www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
- ↑ "Save Our Post Offices!". greatbritishlife.co.uk. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- 1 2 "Bedminster's green corner shop". Bristol Evening Post. January 17, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ↑ "Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network - Post Office Ltd announces plans for Bristol and Somerset" (Press release). Royal Mail Group. February 26, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ↑ Wright, Mark (June 2008). "Closure of Bedminster Road and Chessel Street Post Offices" (PDF). Petitions, Statements and Questions - 10 June 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ↑ Primarolo, Dawn (April 18, 2008). "Post Office - Latest news". News from Westminster. mySociety. Retrieved March 22, 2013.