Bathurst Basin
Encyclopedia
Bathurst Basin is a small triangular basin adjoining the main harbour
of the city of Bristol
, England
. The basin gets its name from Bristol MP Charles Bathurst
.
The basin was built on an area of an old mill pond, Trin Mills also known as Treen/Trimm/Trim Mills. The pond lost its water supply from the River Malago
as the New Cut
was created. At one time it formed a connection, through two sets of lock
s, between the Floating Harbour and the tidal River Avon in the New Cut
. The connection enabled smaller vessels to bypass the main entrance locks in Cumberland Basin. The area used to be an industrial dock with warehouses, but now has a small marina, with residential quayside properties.
The Bristol Harbour Railway connected to the main line system at Temple Meads
, via a swing bridge over the Northern entrance dock to the basin and a tunnel beneath St Mary Redcliffe
. The tunnel still exists, but is now blocked, and the original railway swing bridge has been replaced with a swing footbridge. This bridge is manually swung by a hydraulic pump action.
Bristol General Hospital
is located on the Eastern quay of the basin. When constructed in 1859 the hospital was built with basement warehouse space to defray its operating costs. The Southern quay has never had any substantial buildings on it and for many years was used by Holms Sand & Gravel Co. as a depot for building materials, brought in by boat and offloaded into road vehicles. A travelling crane
on an overhead gantry was used to handle these.
The lock to the New Cut was blocked at the beginning of the Second World War to ensure that in case of damage by bombing, the waters of the Floating Harbour could not drain into the river. It was shut permanently in 1952.
The basin is the home for Cabot Cruising Club who own the lightship John Sebastian. John Sebastian was commissioned in 1886. It was acquired by the Club in 1954 and opened as the Club's headquarters a few years later in 1959. Facilities at the basin include a toilet and shower block, a water tap and refuse and elsan disposal points.
In the surroundings of the basin:
Bristol Harbour
Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of . It has existed since the 13th century but was developed into its current form in the early 19th century by installing lock gates on a tidal stretch of the River Avon in the centre of the city and...
of the city of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The basin gets its name from Bristol MP Charles Bathurst
Charles Bathurst
Charles Bathurst PC , known as Charles Bragge from 1754 to 1804, was a British politician of the early 19th century.-Background and education:...
.
The basin was built on an area of an old mill pond, Trin Mills also known as Treen/Trimm/Trim Mills. The pond lost its water supply from the River Malago
River Malago
The Malago is a tributary of the Bristol Avon in southwestern England, some long. The river rises in springs on the north side of Dundry Hill on the borders of Somerset and Bristol. The main tributary is the Pigeonhouse stream which also rises on Dundry...
as the New Cut
New Cut (Bristol)
The New Cut is an artificial waterway which was constructed between 1804 and 1809 to divert the tidal river Avon through south and east Bristol, England. This was part of the process of constructing Bristol's Floating Harbour, under the supervision of engineer William Jessop...
was created. At one time it formed a connection, through two sets of lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
s, between the Floating Harbour and the tidal River Avon in the New Cut
New Cut (Bristol)
The New Cut is an artificial waterway which was constructed between 1804 and 1809 to divert the tidal river Avon through south and east Bristol, England. This was part of the process of constructing Bristol's Floating Harbour, under the supervision of engineer William Jessop...
. The connection enabled smaller vessels to bypass the main entrance locks in Cumberland Basin. The area used to be an industrial dock with warehouses, but now has a small marina, with residential quayside properties.
The Bristol Harbour Railway connected to the main line system at Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
, via a swing bridge over the Northern entrance dock to the basin and a tunnel beneath St Mary Redcliffe
St Mary Redcliffe
St. Mary Redcliffe is an Anglican parish church located in the Redcliffe district of the English port city of Bristol, close to the city centre. Constructed from the 12th to the 15th centuries, the church is a Grade 1 listed building, St...
. The tunnel still exists, but is now blocked, and the original railway swing bridge has been replaced with a swing footbridge. This bridge is manually swung by a hydraulic pump action.
Bristol General Hospital
Bristol General Hospital
Bristol General Hospital is a rehabilitation hospital in Guinea Street, Harbourside, Bristol, in the south west of England...
is located on the Eastern quay of the basin. When constructed in 1859 the hospital was built with basement warehouse space to defray its operating costs. The Southern quay has never had any substantial buildings on it and for many years was used by Holms Sand & Gravel Co. as a depot for building materials, brought in by boat and offloaded into road vehicles. A travelling crane
Bulk-handling crane
A bulk-handling crane is one that, instead of a simple hook that can handle a range of slung loads, has an integral grab for lifting bulk cargoes such as coal, mineral ore etc....
on an overhead gantry was used to handle these.
The lock to the New Cut was blocked at the beginning of the Second World War to ensure that in case of damage by bombing, the waters of the Floating Harbour could not drain into the river. It was shut permanently in 1952.
The basin is the home for Cabot Cruising Club who own the lightship John Sebastian. John Sebastian was commissioned in 1886. It was acquired by the Club in 1954 and opened as the Club's headquarters a few years later in 1959. Facilities at the basin include a toilet and shower block, a water tap and refuse and elsan disposal points.
In the surroundings of the basin:
- Bristol Harbour Railway tunnel
- The Ostrich (pub)
- Louisiana (pub and music venue)
- Bristol General HospitalBristol General HospitalBristol General Hospital is a rehabilitation hospital in Guinea Street, Harbourside, Bristol, in the south west of England...
- John Sebastian (lightshipLightvesselA lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
) - Cabot Cruising Club