Avonmouth
Avonmouth maps (2 available)
Map of Avon
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
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Avonmouth books (4 available)
- 2 photos on Avonmouth appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Avonmouth
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Avonmouth and Avon
Avonmouth memories
Read and share memories of Avonmouth and Avon inspired by Frith photos
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You can also read memories of nearby places in Avon below.
Avon memories
YMCA Agricultural Training Centre Ham Green Pill
In February 1949, my husband Derek travelled from London to start agricultural training at the YMCA Agricultural Training Centre at Ham Green, Pill, on a scheme known as 'British Boys for British Farms'. He arrived at Temple Meads Station, and caught a small train which in those days ran from Bristol to Portishead. Although born in London, he hated the idea of city life, so chose to study farming. One special memory of his time there is of seeing the Severn Bore. He subsequently obtained work at a farm in North Dorset.
Derek would be interested to hear from any other ex-training centre boys. Tel: 01590 681972
A memory of Pill contributed by Rosemary Bennett
Portishead - our first house
My wife and I bought our first house at Portishead, South Road, it was £2,200, we could only borrow, so the monthly payment was the same as a week's wages, no overtime or my wife's wages taken into consideration. We had three children and some happy times. I worked on the coal boats and then Albright and Wilson phos factory.
John Burge.
A memory of Portishead contributed by First name Last name
Margaret and Wallflowers
Margaret and wallflowers
The year was 1950. I was thirteen years 'old' and walking along this beach with Margaret, her brother John and my brother, Peter. When we arrived at the spot where the man is sitting in the photograph, I looked up and saw wallflowers growing on the cliff face.
I decided to climb up and pick some for Margaret. When I became level with the flowers, about fourteen feet above the beach, (it seemed much higher), I held on with my left hand and picked a few with my right.
As locals will know the rock here is very loose and crumbly, and the piece I was holding onto came away in my hand. I remember ...read more here
A memory of Portishead contributed by Tony Warren
St Peters Church
My father was Rector here from 1947 - 1964
A memory of Portishead contributed by Charles Coombes
Extracts From Avonmouth & Avon books
Avonmouth was used by the Imperial Direct West India Mail Service Co, whose ships sported white hulls and yellow funnels. During 1901 four new cargo liners for the IDWIMS Co entered service at Avonmouth: the ‘Port Royal’, ‘Port Antonio’, ‘Port Maria’ and ‘Port Morant’. The vessel seen here might be either the ‘Port Royal’ or ‘Port Antonio’, both of which were built by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, Middlesbrough.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".
In 1901, Avonmouth was chosen by Elder & Fyffes as the UK port for their fortnightly service to Port Limon, Costa Rica. In 1895 Elder Dempster had introduced an Avonmouth-Quebec-Montreal summer service, with winter sailings calling at Halifax and St John’s, New Brunswick. With larger steamers coming into service, Avonmouth was expanded. In 1902 work began on the King Edward Dock; an 875ft graving dock was added, and an oil tank farm comprising 27 storage tanks was completed in 1911.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".
This is the main road
through the village looking
towards Hutton Hill. The
white cottage on the left
used to be the Post Office,
before it was moved to the
other side of the road in
the 1930s.
An extract from from"Weston-super-Mare Photographic Memories".
This view looks west along Main Road. In the distance a lorry is being loaded with
milk churns from Old Post Office Farm. In 1900 there were twelve farms in the
village, all with dairy herds. Now just three are left.
An extract from from"Weston-super-Mare Photographic Memories".
Another view that clearly shows the 1883 promenade and sea wall. Before this was
built, the beach stretched much further inland and sand dunes often formed as far
as Regent Street. On the sands, donkeys wait for riders, as they have done since
the earliest days of the resort.
An extract from from"Weston-super-Mare Photographic Memories".