The Municipal Corporations Act, 1835 introduced the concept of local democracy as we understand it today. This set the boundaries of these new corporations. In Bristol, this involved the addition of 3,706 acres including the parishes of Clifton, part of Westbury-on-Trym (Redland/Cotham), St Paul’s, St James and St Philip’s all formerly in Gloucestershire and Bedminster, formerly part of Somerset.
Bristol’s population increased to 110,000 although the area of the city and county remained just 8 square miles – excluding the 45 sq miles of the water boundary.
See how the communities of St Pauls and St Philip’s Marsh have been working to contribute to the community atlas.