How did the National Trust come to own Frenchay Moor?

In 1941 the Randall family, who owned a timber yard in Fishponds, gave an 8 acre field to the National Trust. They donated it in memory of their daughter who had died in Canada. She had emigrated with her husband and lived on a remote farm. Medical help was unable to reach her in time and she died in childbirth. Her body was brought back to Bristol and she was buried in her tennis dress.

Why is there a dove cote on the green at the entrance of Grange Park?

Grange Park is built on land which was originally part of  Fromeshaw House. Over the years Fromeshaw House was known by various names including  Ketchcold, Costy Lovey and Woodfield House.

 In the 17th century it belonged to the Lords of the Manor of Sturden and when they sold it in 1713 it was described as having “fishponds, a coppice for firewood and 2 rabbit warrens”. Originally the grounds extended down to the river. The pond remains and has given the name to the other half of the now divided house – Lake House.

In the nineteenth century Robert Johnson, a Wesleyan circuit steward, lived in the house and by 1843 Methodist meetings were held in a room over his stables.

The dovecote and an out building at the rear of 1 Grange Park are all that remain of the outbuildings which were part of the Fromeshaw Estate. The dovecote is now an electricity sub-station.

Whatever happened to Belfields Alley?

This cut through between Beckspool Road and Malmains Drive is named after Captain Belfield who lived at Malmains until 1900. He named the house after his first wife’s home.

A few years ago some new houses were built on land which was formerly the garden of Malmains with their entrance in Belfields Alley. The new residents objected to the name and asked South Gloucestershire Council to change it. They wanted to change the name completely but Winterbourne Parish Council managed to have the name Belfield retained and it is now called Belfields Lane.

How did Frenchay School’s pupils help the World War 1 effort?

During the first World War pupils at Frenchay School were urged to help the war effort by collecting conkers. Large baskets were placed on the Common at the front of the school and the conkers were used in the making of cordite.

Why is the pond opposite the Manor House called Beckspool?

The first mentioned owner of the Manor House is recorded as Joseph Beck in 1737. It remained in the Beck family until it was bought by Philip Debell Tuckett in 1800. The pond is fed from the lake at the rear of the Manor House via a pipe which runs under the road.

In recent years there have been reports of terrapins or turtles living in the pond. Can anyone confirm this?

Were there ever any suffragettes in Frenchay?

There was once a house called Begbrook at the end of  Sterncourt Road  next to the Beg, or By, Brook.  The residents were able to go to the large house, Oldbury Court, on the other side of the river by a bridge across the river Frome.  It was bought by Mr Hugh Coles in 1896 and he lived there until 1912. It was then unoccupied for 2 years until it was burned down in 1914. It was rumoured locally the suffragettes had burned it down although the culprits were never caught. Photographs of the burnt out shell are part of the postcard collection in Frenchay Village Museum.

The derelict house was conveyed to Mr Harry Graeme Vassall who built another house. This was later used as a children’s home. It was finally demolished and the present nursing home built in its place.

Is it true that there are still remains of the large house Malmains which was demolished in the 1930s?

Malmains was built by William Perry in the 1770s. He sold it to Edward Harford who used it as a summer residence – his main home was in Queens Square. The Harford family continued to own it until 1857.  John Scandrett Harford entertained William Wilberforce and Hannah More during his ownership.

When it was demolished a row of houses was built in its place including Ilex House, Belsay, Ravensdale and another house called Malmains.

Between Beckspool Road and the row of houses there is a shrubbery which hides the original cellars of Malmains which are still intact.

A photograph of the original Malmains can be seen in Frenchay Village Museum.

What has happened to the oyster stone which is shown in old photographs of the double avenue of elm trees in Beck spool Road?

The stone was described in Matthews Bristol Guide of Bristol 1794 as “a curiosity – a giant mussel”. It was probably placed in the double elm tree avenue by Joseph Beck. It is actually a lump of weathered pennant stone and came out of a quarry in Downend.

When the houses in Riverwood Road were built number 1 was a shop. The stone was moved to the garden and remained there for many years. The last owner of 1 Riverwood Road has recently moved to The Shrubbery at the top of Frenchay Hill and took the stone with him.

Is the stone in the middle of the hilly field really a giant fossilised oyster?

There are many stories about the stone in the middle of the Tuckett field – usually known as the hilly field – and the 5 trees surrounding it.

The stone has been described as a meteorite and the trees around it as a witches’ circle.

It is, in fact, a piece of pennant stone which has eroded into an oyster like shape.

The trees were planted to signify the five Tuckett brothers born in the Manor house. The poor soil has stunted the growth of the trees which were planted early in the nineteenth century.

The area was used as a pets' graveyard and the children’s favourite pony Tom Tit is buried under it. In later life one of the children wrote “he was almost like one of the family....He used to be allowed to come into the house sometimes and I have seen the parlour maid flying before his rush to secure the butter dish she was carrying out”.

The field was originally going to be used to build a house for the Tuckett family. The house was to be built at the top end looking out on to the man made pond at the bottom. The Tuckett family left it to the people of Frenchay for their enjoyment and recreation. It is now managed by Winterbourne Parish Council.

Tulip trees are native to Pennsylvania and the eastern seaboard of the USA. Why are there several tulip trees in Frenchay?

In the 18th century William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania in America. When his 1st wife died he returned to England and married Hannah Callowhill, from a prominent Quaker family. The Callowhill family owned Frenchay Lodge. In 1708 Penn was in dire financial circumstances and asked his parents in law for help. With other Quakers, a loan of £6,800 was raised and the state of Pennsylvania was mortgaged to the Callowhills.

The tulip trees are reputed to have been sent back from idealistic free colonies like Pennsylvania to harassed Dissenters in England as a symbolic gesture. Although there are no records to prove that Frenchay’s tulip trees were sent by William Penn they certainly date from this time so it is likely that they were sent by him to the Quakers of Frenchay.