Welcome to the BIAS Home Page

Introduction

Welcome to the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society website.

BIAS was founded in 1967 to coordinate the research into, conservation of and preservation of the remains of the industrial, manufacturing and commercial activity in the Bath and Bristol area, i.e. what was the old county of Avon. This site contains information about the society, details of its events, and information about all that we care about in the area.

Since 1968 it has produced an annual journal of research by its members, and a bulletin several times each year. The society also produces booklets, and back copies of its annual journal are available on application. Journals that are over 19 years old are also available online on this website.

We were 50 years old in 2017 and are still going strong.

BIAS encourages research into and recording of industrial sites, it is consulted on planning issues concerning industrial remains, and it is represented on local council consultation bodies. The society holds monthly meetings in the Bath and Bristol area in the winter months, and visits are organised in the summer months.

Why not join us and get a first-class journal, regular bulletins, and the opportunity to attend meetings and visit sites!

Existing members can help too! Introduce a new member to BIAS, and you will receive one year’s free membership.

Click here for membership information

Our search facility has been substantially upgraded … why not give it a try now! It is powered by Google and the standard Google search syntax operators (e.g. “text” AND OR) can be used to help you refine your search.

And we are on Facebook!

Publications

Yearly Research Journal – our archive where you will find older issues available online. Please note that these are for personal use only. If you wish to include extracts in a publication, please ask first. Thank you.
BIAS Histories
Bulletin produced every three months. See an article from the latest edition … for more info, join BIAS!
Local Gazetteer. Free to members (cost £3 to post); non-members £10 + £3 post and packing. More detail.

Events and Conferences, News

BIAS Events contains full details of our fascinating Spring 2024 programme. Our indoor meetings in 2024 are at the Keynsham Masonic Hall, which provides level disabled access and has free car parking. And they are now on Saturday mornings (which we hope will enable more members to attend). More details on the Events page.

Crews Hole Bath House on Troopers Hill - HELP NEEDED!! The Bath House in Crews Hole was built in the mid 1700s by William King and associated with his Glassworks, as such it is one of the few… Read More »Crews Hole Bath House on Troopers Hill
MV Balmoral – A Unique Opportunity - A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE —AND IT’S FREE Do you remember the magnificent and much-loved Bristol pleasure steamer MV Balmoral cruising down the Bristol Channel? Perhaps you were one of the thousands… Read More »MV Balmoral – A Unique Opportunity
50th AIA Conference - Advance notice – the 50th Anniversary National Conference of the Association of Industrial Archaeology will be held at the University of Bath from 2nd to 7th September 2023. Watch this… Read More »50th AIA Conference
Butler’s Tar Works at Crews Hole - Photos from the 1890s that have not been published before as far as we are aware. Details and images of the photographs can be seen on the Troopers Hill website… Read More »Butler’s Tar Works at Crews Hole
Bedminster Smelting Works Uncovered - Read this on Bristol Live Excavation reveals history of Bristol’s most secret industrial site – Bristol Live (bristolpost.co.uk)

News of members

Death of Mike Chapman 2022 December - We are sorry to record the recent death of Mike Chapman, long time BIAS member, BIAS Journal editor, lecturer, landscape interpretation expert, graphic artist, researcher and inspirational local historian. He… Read More »Death of Mike Chapman 2022 December
Death of Jean Grudgings January 2023 - We are sad to record the death of long serving BIAS member Jean Grudgings on January 1st, aged 94. She was well known in the Thornbury area, as in her… Read More »Death of Jean Grudgings January 2023
Margaret J Taylor née Fletcher BEM, BSc, died 1 October 2020 - Heritage Champion for Bristol Maggie Shapland was, to use that well used phrase, a ‘force of nature’, who even in the last few days of her life and despite being very… Read More »Margaret J Taylor née Fletcher BEM, BSc, died 1 October 2020
Professor Angus Buchanan died 17 June 2020 - BIAS Titan BIAS members and all those with an active interest in Industrial Archaeology (IA) wherever it is pursued will be saddened to learn of the passing of Professor R.… Read More »Professor Angus Buchanan died 17 June 2020
Dr Brenda Buchanan died 14 April 2020 - Angus and Brenda with Julia Elton at a BIAS trip to Clevedon CourtAngus on the left, and Brenda next to him. Julia on the right Angus and Brenda were founder… Read More »Dr Brenda Buchanan died 14 April 2020

Planning

Redcliffe Tunnel - More detailsAugust 2019: One of Charles Richardson’s admirable achievements as chief engineer for Brunel on a number of railway lines was the construction of the costly and technical harbourside railway,… Read More »Redcliffe Tunnel
Kingsweston Footbridge - March 2019: 19/01368/LA | Proposed removal and reinstatement of Kingsweston Footbridge, (replaced with increased headroom). | Footway Bridge Over Kings Weston Road Bristol.Expiry Date 10 May? Grade II listed John… Read More »Kingsweston Footbridge
Harbourside Plans (Cumberland Basin aka Western Harbour) - Everyone should be aware of is that this is a very early stage in the thinking around developing in the area. It is estimated that the whole process of planning… Read More »Harbourside Plans (Cumberland Basin aka Western Harbour)
Brooks Dye Works - 17/06049/M Approval of Reserved Matters sought for appearance, layout, scale and landscaping following the grant of Outline planning permission ref 17/03213/X and 15/06475 relating to the redevelopment of former commercial… Read More »Brooks Dye Works
Counterslip Tramways Generator Building - to get new lease of life. It originally housed the generator of the very first tram system. The original 1890s arched-front entrance on Counterslip is currently sealed off and will… Read More »Counterslip Tramways Generator Building

Photo gallery

Bristol Floods January 2014 - Water, water everywhere! (taken by Norman Date) Nearly up to the Ashton Bridge deck
Strachan and Henshaw Equipment - In 1879 – Robert Strachan and George Henshaw formed their partnership in Victoria Street, Bristol, to make the first ever automatic paper bag-making machine. They gained widespread recognition for their… Read More »Strachan and Henshaw Equipment
Stothert and Pitt Cranes in Guernsey - A weeks holiday at Easter in Guernsey gave the opportunity to photograph the dock cranes at St Peter Port. Guernsey is heavily dependent on imports and these are received at… Read More »Stothert and Pitt Cranes in Guernsey
MV Balmoral Return to Bristol June 2014 - Bristol’s last big commercially registered ship returns home after receiving her 5 year Maritime Coastal Inspection certificate at Sharpness.
Bedminster Industrial Mural 2013 - March 2013. Site of Red Cow, 113 West Street Bedminster Bristol BS3 3PD. Nice industrial mural. Tragedy about the demolition of this historic pub, but it is a lovely mural.… Read More »Bedminster Industrial Mural 2013

Projects

Vale of Berkeley Railway - In the summer of 2013 a small group, all with significant experience of heritage railway preservation, became aware of the potential to create a heritage railway along the existing Sharpness… Read More »Vale of Berkeley Railway
Brandy Bottom Colliery - The whole group of buildings form a rare example of the surface layout of a 19th century colliery, minus the removable fittings. All the main buildings now on site can… Read More »Brandy Bottom Colliery
Clifton Suspension Bridge - Jan 2016: The new Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre is just over one year old. The Visitor Centre relies on a team of fantastic volunteers to welcome visitors, lead guided… Read More »Clifton Suspension Bridge
Combe Down Stone Mines Updated 2023 Nov - A large sum of money for the in-filling of the Combe Down stone mine is being granted, although its actual disbursement is subject to all the usual hurdles scattered along… Read More »Combe Down Stone Mines Updated 2023 Nov
Museum of Bath at Work - The Museum of Bath at Work is concerned with the commercial development of Bath and its immediate surroundings since Roman times and has operated since 1978. With only one member… Read More »Museum of Bath at Work