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The more I research it, the more I find that Hotwells had far better transport links back in Victorian and Edwardian times than it has today. Along with buses that went to more useful places than the City Centre, there were trams, the funicular up to Clifton, the landing stage for paddle steamer services and two railway stations all within easy walking distance of me.

Today I took a day off work as preparation for doing the bookkeeping for my tax return¹, and took a wander along to the site of what would have been my nearest station, Hotwells (or Clifton, as it started out in life), nestled in the shadow of the suspension bridge, the Bristol terminus of the Bristol Port Railway and Pier.

From there I wandered down the Portway, following the original line, until I got to the area around Sneyd Park Junction, where the tunnel from the slightly later Clifton Extension Railway joined up with this originally-isolated BPR line. Then I headed up to Clifton through the "goat gully" at Walcombe Slade, seeing the few above-ground bits of evidence of the tunnel (which is still in regular use) along the way.

It was a lovely day, and a good walk, and it was interesting to daydream of the times when I could have walked a few minutes from my flat down to Dowry Parade, caught a short tram ride to Hotwells Stations, and then headed from there to Avonmouth, perhaps even to board a transatlantic passenger service. The completion of the Clifton Extension Railway that linked the Avonmouth station with Temple Meads made relatively direct transatlantic travel from London via Bristol possible, with passengers travelling up from Paddington to Temple Meads, on to Avonmouth on the Clifton Extension Railway and Port Railway and Pier line, then perhaps catching a Cambpell's paddle steamer—which sometimes acted as tenders for large steamers—to a larger ship that was headed out for Canada, say.

¹ I've learned that the best approach is to take two days off and deliberately do something that's not my bookkeeping on the first day, as otherwise I just inevitably end up procrastinating and feeling guilty on the first day no matter what. I have an odd brain, but at least I'm learning strategies for dealing with its strange ways as I get older...

² Information mostly gleaned from Colin Maggs' The Bristol Port Railway & Pier and the Clifton Extension Railway, The Oakwood Press, 1975.

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Goats

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People know this as the "goat gully" these days, but the official name is Walcombe Slade. (So valleyish they named it twice, perhaps, as both "combe" and "slade" mean "valley".)

Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Goat Gully Gully Walcombe Slade

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Text Recognition Tags: Goats in the Gully A small herd of goats has been introduced into this fenced area known as the Gully. They're here to help restore the flower-rich grasslands by controlling scrub. PLEASE HELP US LOOK AFTER THE GOATS: Do not appoachoteed the goats for their own welfare Keep your dog oead at all times Do not drop litter Do not light fires or barbecues If you see a goat in distres (or being disturbed by people dogs) please call Bristol City Council's24 hour emergency control number: 0117 9222050 WARNING: The fenced area contains open eliff dges and very steep and slippery slopes Looking after the goats: Thu goats are being looed after by the Downs Ranger's team and are checked on a daly basi. The Goats in the Gully A small herd of goats has been introduced into this fenced area known as the Gully. They're here to help restore the flower-rich grasslands by controlling scrub. PLEASE HELP US LOOK AFTER THE GOATS: Do not appoachoteed the goats for their own welfare Keep your dog oead at all times Do not drop litter Do not light fires or barbecues If you see a goat in distres (or being disturbed by people dogs) please call Bristol City Council's24 hour emergency control number: 0117 9222050 WARNING: The fenced area contains open eliff dges and very steep and slippery slopes Looking after the goats: Thu goats are being looed after by the Downs Ranger's team and are checked on a daly basi. The

Tagged: hour

A Long Bristol Port Railway-Inspired Walk from Hotwells Station through Walcombe Slade to Clifton Down

Nipping Up the Zig Zag to the Shops