Meadows to Meaders Memories

Throughout the Meadows to Meaders project we collected many stories about Southmead. Here you can watch films about some important aspects of Southmead’s history that were made by Calling the Shots and pupils from Orchard Secondary School.

You can also listen to the oral histories collected by Tot Foster many of which informed the Meadows to Meaders soap opera story.

Families from all over Bristol were rehoused in Southmead from across the city and beyond

Bristol Corporation (later Bristol City Council) wanted new residents to feel welcome, but instructed them to disinfect their possessions and themselves first.

Many residents still remember what the new houses were like in the 30’s and 40’s.

There were no cheques and cards in the 40’s so residents paid their rent in cash.

As a teenager Joyce tricked the wartime air raid wardens, and took on a man’s job in Filton.

Memories of terrifying, yet fascinating, bombing raids.

As Southmead building continued and the Welfare State was born, a group of school boys created a vision of a perfect place to live.

Edna dishes the dirt on local gossip as she heard it all working at a laundry on Southmead Road for 30 years.

In the 1950’s the Southmead Teddy Boys were notorious.

A Christmas tragedy was narrowly avoided.

As a child Mike suffered abuse and deprivation. Now he runs the Southmead Project caring for those affected by drugs, violence, and poverty through counselling and support.

Memories of a Southmead celebrity - Dave Prowse, aka the man inside Darth Vader.

Greenway boys school pioneered ‘Rural Studies’ but some boys got more out of it than they bargained for.

In the 1980’s Southmead Writing Group was formed and became part of the Federation of Worker Writers and Community Publishers.

View audio transcriptions (pdf)

Back to the Meadows to Meaders project page

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