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Our area

About Stoke Bishop

A leafy suburb and ecclesiastical parish in north-west Bristol, with Roman roots, a village heart and a strong community spirit.

Where we are

Stoke Bishop is bordered by The Downs, the River Avon and the River Trym, lying between Westbury-on-Trym and Sea Mills. Sneyd Park is part of the parish. The Stoke Bishop electoral ward also takes in much of The Downs and the Avon Gorge, and since 2016 most of Sea Mills, and elects two councillors to Bristol City Council.

The heart of the community is the village hall and the parade of shops at the bottom of Druid Hill, with a second parade at Trymwood Parade on Shirehampton Road.

Postcode district

BS9 · Dialling code 0117 · Bristol North West constituency

History

Two thousand years in a few streets

From a Roman harbour town to Bristol’s finest 1930s homes, Stoke Bishop’s story is written in its roads, paths and houses.

Interested in local history? The village hall hosts meetings of a local history group, and A Pictorial History of Stoke Bishop and Sneyd Park is a lovely read. Members are welcome to share old photos and memories on the community board.
Roman timesA harbour, Portus Abonae, stood at the tidal mouth of the River Trym, with a civilian town on the Stoke Bishop side. A Roman road from Bath crossed The Downs, following what is still the right of way known as Mariners’ Path. Foundations of a small Roman building can still be seen at the Portway entrance to Roman Way.
790sKing Offa of Mercia granted the land to the Bishop of Worcester – hence “Bishop’s Stoke”. It remained church land until Henry VIII confiscated it at the Reformation.
1669Stoke House was built for Sir Robert Cann, MP, Mayor of Bristol and Merchant Venturer. Now Grade II* listed, it is home to Trinity College, a theological college.
1811Remains of a megalithic burial chamber were found off what is now Druid Hill – the origin of the area’s Druid names.
1860–1885A separate parish was created and the parish church consecrated in 1860, with the church and village hall completed in 1885, as wealthy Bristolians built large villas here.
1904Previously in Gloucestershire, the area was absorbed into the City of Bristol.
1930sFarmland gave way to new streets and the shops on Druid Hill and Trymwood Parade. Builders Jared and Jethro Stride began their famous one-off ‘Stride houses’, each unique.
1944The Holmes on Stoke Park Road was used by US Army generals planning the Normandy landings. Since 2005 it has been home to the University of Bristol Botanic Garden.
TodayStoke Lodge, a Grade II listed house of 1836 held as educational land since 1947, remains a much-loved local landmark, and its playing fields continue to matter deeply to residents.
Who lives here

Our community today

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Families & long-time residents

A settled, mostly residential area of 1920s–30s homes, Victorian villas and newer infill housing on former playing fields, popular with families and people who have lived here for decades.

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Students

The population rises sharply in term time thanks to the University of Bristol halls – Wills, Churchill, Badock and Hiatt Baker – near The Downs. Welcome, neighbours!

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Older residents

Many older neighbours call Stoke Bishop home. Our Good Neighbour scheme and community board help make sure nobody is isolated.

Notable former residents

Hymn writer Elizabeth Ayton Godwin; tobacco manufacturer Sir Edward Payson Wills; Portuguese novelist Eça de Queirós, consul in Bristol 1879–1888; and Sir George White, founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, whose Sneed Park estate later became Nazareth House.