Horfield BS7

Horfield is a suburb of the city of Bristol, in southwest England. It lies on Bristol's northern edge, its border with Filton marking part of the boundary between Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Bishopston lies directly to the south. Monks Park and Golden Hill are to the west. Lockleaze and Ashley Down are on the eastern fringe. The Gloucester Road (A38) runs north/south through the suburb.

Historically, the area had a reputation as a lawless place because Horfield Wood was the haunt of thieves and vagrants.

The name 'Horfield' is Anglo-Saxon in origin, meaning 'Filthy open land' (Old English 'horu' and 'feld')

There was a large Army barracks in Horfield from 1845, which was for a time headquarters of the South Gloucestershire Regiment. By the 1940s the buildings were too old to be used and the depot was closed, and most of the buildings apart from the Chapel were demolished in 1966.

There are several war graves in churches in Horfield. A Territorial Army building remains, but most of the site was converted to a General Post Office (later British Telecom) engineering works, which in turn was redeveloped as housing since 2000.

Much 1920s (originally local authority) housing in Upper Horfield is currently in the process of being redeveloped due to structural problems caused by concrete cancer. The new development is of higher density than the original housing.

Horfield is home to the Memorial Stadium: a sports stadium built in 1921 for Bristol Rugby Club in memory of the rugby union players of the city who died in World War I, and rededicated to also commemorate the dead of World War II. In 1996, the ground also became home to Bristol Rovers Football Club who now own it.

Near the Stadium is The Wellington, CAMRA Bristol & District joint winner of Pub of the Year for 2005. The 2006 Pub of the Year is also in Horfield, The Inn on the Green (on the Gloucester Road)

Horfield has a leisure centre that was updated to have a 25 metre swimming pool in 2005.

Famous sons of Horfield include Hollywood actor Cary Grant, who was born at 15 Hughenden Road, in 1904, and composer Ray Steadman-Allen was born at 64 Muller Road, in 1922.

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items are from between 18 Nov 2007 & 18 Jul 2009.