Brislington is an area in the south east of the city ofBristol, England. It is on the edge of Bristol and from Bath. The Froome, locally nowadays called the Brislington Brook, runs through the area in the woodlands of Nightingale Valley. Brislington houses the HTV West Studios on Bath Road and this is situated next to the historic Arnos Vale Cemetery which is undergoing restoration after a lengthy public and newspaper campaign.
History
The parish of Brislington was historically part of the KeynshamHundred in Somerset. Brislington is also near to the site of the now demolished chapel of St. Anne's-in-the Wood. After the chapel was demolished following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Thomas Amory built a house called "St. Ann's" at the site in the mid-17th century. During the 18th and 19th century, Brislington contained many country homes due to its reputation as a picturesque country village. It was also a notable centre of the making of brightly coloured English delftware pottery. Brislington House was built as a private lunatic asylum for the insane. When it opened in 1806 it was one of England's first purpose built asylums. The Palladian fronted building was originally seven separate blocks into which patients were allocated depending on their class. The buildings, estate and therapeutic regime designed by Edward Long Fox was based on the principles of moral treatment which was fashionable at the time. Brislington House later influenced the design and construction of other asylums and influenced Act of parliament. The house and ancillary structures are listed buildings which have now been converted into private residences. The original grounds are Grade II* listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England and now include St. Brendan's Sixth Form College, sports pitches and some farmland. They are now included on the Heritage at Risk Register. In 1866 Brislington became a civil parish. By the early 20th century it was encompassed by Bristol, and much urban housing and industry developed. In 1933, the civil parish was abolished and absorbed into Bristol. Churches in Brislington include St Lukes and includes a bell dating from 1766 and made by Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family, St Cuthberts, Carmel Christian Centre, St Christophers and the United Reformed Church. The Bristol and North Somerset Railway had a station at, which linked the city with the towns of the Somerset coalfield. The line opened in 1873 and was closed to passenger traffic in 1959, with freight services withdrawn in the mid 1960s. In the early 21st century, Brislington's paint works was converted to studios, offices and houses, home to arts and media organisations.
