Welcome to BIAS Home Page

Introduction

Welcome to the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society website. BIAS was founded in 1967 to coordinate the research, conservation and preservation of the remains of the industrial and commercial activity in the Bath and Bristol area. 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 three times each year. The society produces booklets, trail leaflets and back copies of its annual journal are available on application.

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

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

Why not join us and get a first-class journal, quarterly bulletins, and the opportunity to attend meetings and site visits! You can help us too!

Click here for membership information

We are now on Facebook!

News

Remembering Bristol Trams - Click on this link https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-bristol-59325189 for a brief glimpse of the heyday of Bristol trams, with thanks to BBC News.
Blagdon Pumping Station 2021 November - Update from Bristol Water … “The visitor centre is still currently closed due to fire safety concerns. We have put some measures in place to reduce the fire risks at… Read More »Blagdon Pumping Station 2021 November
BIAS Blue Plaque Unveiled 2021 September - A few months after Maggie Shapland’s sad and untimely death, her husband (and fellow BIAS stalwart) Mike Taylor, approached the BIAS committee to ask if it would be OK to… Read More »BIAS Blue Plaque Unveiled 2021 September
Death of Andy King 2021 July - BIAS members will be saddened to learn of the death of Andy King who had recently retired from his post as curator at Bristol’s M Shed Museum, having fought an… Read More »Death of Andy King 2021 July
Protecting Bristol’s Industrial Heritage 2021 July - Local Listing and a New Conservation Area The past year has seen a number of threats to Bristol’s industrial heritage but also some significant progress in its protection. The final… Read More »Protecting Bristol’s Industrial Heritage 2021 July

News of members

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
Joan Day died 29 April 2019 - Joan was another founder member of BIAS. She and her husband Roy (who died a few years back) also edited the Journal, and Joan also organised the events for some… Read More »Joan Day died 29 April 2019
Owen Ward died 16 April 2019 - Owen Ward died at the weekend, in hospital of pneumonia. You will all be aware of Owen’s contribution to BIAS both on the committee and in the society over many… Read More »Owen Ward died 16 April 2019

Events and Conferences

BIAS Events
Our meeting programme has restarted at the Royal British Legion, Keynsham.

But please note that, as a result of the escalating Covid Omicron cases, meetings may be postponed or on Zoom instead. See Calendar for latest changes.

Conferences and events of interest to BIAS members.

Publications

Yearly Research Journal
BIAS Histories
Bulletin produced every four months. See the front page of the latest edition … for more info, join BIAS!
How and why did a Bristol Fighter get sent to Peru in 1962? … find out in the December 2021 Bulletin!
Local Gazetteer. Free to subscribed members (but will cost £3 to post). £9.95+ £3 post and packing. More detail.

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) - A new web page was been created by the Council: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/western-harbour Everyone should be aware of is that this is a very early stage in the thinking around developing in… 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 - 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
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