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Troopers Hill: A Bristol Landmark Rich in History

Troopers Hill Chimney in Bristol

FYI: This post isn’t about anything to do with branding, web design or web development – it’s just a post about the history of Troopers Hill.

Troopers Hill offers one of Bristol’s most spectacular viewpoints, overlooking the river Avon as it winds a path into the city. On summer evenings, it’s a great place to watch the hot air balloons drift across the city skyline during the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. And in November or on New Years Eve, it’s the perfect spot to catch firework displays lighting up the night sky across Bristol.

I love it up there. It’s a great place to go for a walk or to jog to from my house – but I’ve often wondered what is it’s history? This is what I’ve found out.

From Harris Hill to Troopers Hill

In 1610, Troopers appeared on maps as “Harris Hill” and its current name wouldn’t emerge until 1826. Local legend tells of Parliamentary troops camping here during the 1645 siege of Bristol, possibly giving rise to its modern name – though it might simply be a corruption of “Truebody’s Hill,” after a family who owned land in the area.

An Industrial Past

The hill’s distinctive character was shaped by centuries of industry. Its most iconic feature – the Grade II listed chimney that leans westward against the sky – tells of its copper-smelting past. This chimney, possibly dating from the 18th century, connected to a long flue running down the hillside to serve the smelting works below.

The Elton family, who owned the hill from 1704 to 1758, were deeply involved in Bristol’s brass industry and (inevitably as this is the history of Bristol) the transatlantic slave trade. The brass produced here was often traded for enslaved people as part of the notorious triangular trade, one of the many dark chapters of the city’s history.

A Working Landscape

The hill was a hive of activity throughout the 1800s. Coal miners dug deep beneath its surface, while quarrymen cut pennant sandstone for building. A fireclay mine operated until 1908, and at the hill’s foot, Butler’s tar works processed coal tar from gas works across the region until 1981.

A People’s Place

Despite its industrial character, Troopers Hill was always a gathering place. In 1885, a crowd of 4,000 celebrated the election of Handel Cossham as Bristol East’s first MP with a massive bonfire visible across the city. The hill hosted political rallies, religious meetings, and served as a precious recreation ground for local children.

Nature Reclaims

Today, nature has reclaimed this industrial landscape. In 2020, Radio 4 made a fantastic broadcast about someone who visited it every day during lockdown to listen to all the insects and animals on the hill. It has acidic soils – a legacy of its industrial past – which support rare plants and wildlife and lead to its designation as a Local Nature Reserve in 1995. The Friends of Troopers Hill, formed in 2003, help maintain this unique habitat while preserving its historical features.

A Living Legacy

The leaning chimney still stands watching over Bristol. It’s a perfect example of how nature can heal an industrial landscape, creating something uniquely beautiful from the marks left by human industry. If you haven’t been, it’s worth a visit, especially during balloon season.

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