Category Archives: 03 Roman

03 Roman

Henbury

Roman resources

Henbury is one of the most historic places in Bristol, probably originating in Saxon times. However, even before the Saxons, the Roman road to Gloucester passed through this area. Before new buildings at Henbury Secondary School were constructed, archaeologists found evidence of the people who lived by this road in Roman times.

Year 7 pupils from Henbury Secondary School at the mock dig in 2007
Year 7 pupils from Henbury Secondary School at the mock dig in 2007

In 2006, Local Learning secured Heritage Lottery funding to recreate part of this archaeological excavation for Year 7 pupils from Henbury Secondary School. Over a two week period every Year 7 student had the opportunity to become archaeologists for the day; excavating, planning and interpreting the evidence of Roman life found beneath their school playing field.

02 Iron Age, 03 Roman, 08 Victorian

The Downs

In 1861, Parliament passed the Clifton and Durdham Down (Bristol) Act securing

“both the same Downs to be open and largely resorted to as Places of Recreation for the Inhabitants of Bristol and its Neighbourhood for time immemorial.”

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of this Act of Parliament, Bristol City Council funded Local Learning together with storyteller, Martin Maudsley to explore the Downs with two schools, Burnbush School in Stockwood and Christ Church School in Clifton. The students produced board games based on the area’s natural and historic environment.

Year 5 from Burnbush Primary School on their Downs Local Learning story trail
Year 5 from Burnbush Primary School on their Downs Local Learning story trail

Media producer, Tot Foster has collected memories and knowledge from over twenty people about Clifton Down and Durdham Down, on a diverse variety of subjects from the discovery of Bristol’s own dinosaur, the maiden flight of the Boxkite to escaping goats and peregrine watching.

www.thedowns150.org.uk