Kingswood, South Gloucestershire

Not to be confused with Kingswood, Stroud District.

Kingswood
Kingswood  Kingswood shown within Gloucestershire
Population	40,734 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	ST649736
Unitary authority	South Gloucestershire
Ceremonial county	Gloucestershire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRISTOL
Postcode district	BS15
Dialling code	0117
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Kingswood
List of places UK England Gloucestershire

Kingswood is an urban area in South Gloucestershire, England, on the eastern border of the City of Bristol.

Royal Forest

In Saxon and Norman times, Kingswood Forest was a royal hunting estate which surrounded Bristol, extending as far as Filwood in South Bristol. "From early days the Constable of Bristol Castle, the king's officer in the area, was also the Chief Ranger of the Kingswood Forest and the first of these recorded is Ella who died in 920. At the edge of the forest, to the north of the River Froom, lay the little hamlet of Stapleton, the name of which is Saxon in origin, being held to mean 'The farm, homestead or croft – by or near the Stapol, post or pillar'".

Coal mining

The Kingswood area first came into industrial prominence in the late 17th century, because of coal mining. Typical of these were coal fields in the Easton and Coalpit Heath/Yate areas. The coal mining history still affects the town with gardens occasionally opening up. The local MP has petitioned in Parliament for full surveys of the coal mines under the town.

File:Kingswoodclocktower.JPG

The clock tower in High Street, Kingswood

File:Kingswood Museum.jpg

Kingswood Heritage Museum

File:Holy trinity kingswood.JPG

Holy Trinity Church

External links

• Kingswood Rugby Club - The Official Home of Kingswood RFC
• Kingswood and Mangotsfield Archaeological Assessment Report 1997
• Photographic Record of Kingswoods Past
• Kingswood Ten Sing – Youth performing arts group
• Audio from a talk entitled The Kingswood Colliers & the Cock Rd. Gang by Steve Mills for Bristol Radical History Group