TROOPERS HILL IS A NATURE RESERVE WITH AMAZING VIEWS OF BRISTOL AND THE RIVER AVON. IT ALSO HAS A LONG AND INTERESTING HISTORY THAT COVERS MORE THAN 400 YEARS.

- THE HILL USED TO BE PART OF A BIG ROYAL HUNTING FOREST CALLED KINGSWOOD CHASE. IT WAS CALLED HARRIS HILL ON A MAP OF KINGSWOOD FROM 1610, PERHAPS AFTER A LOCAL LANDOWNER. The land is also shown as Harris Hill on another map from 1672.

- IN 1645, DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THE HILL COULD HAVE BEEN A CAMPING SITE FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY ARMY, LED BY SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX, BEFORE THEY ATTACKED BRISTOL. THE DITCH BETWEEN THE HILL AND THE ALLOTMENTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE AS A DEFENSIVE EARTHWORK THEN. THE NAME TROOPERS HILL MIGHT HAVE COME FROM THIS MILITARY CONNECTION. IT WAS ALSO KNOWN AS TRUEBODY’S HILL SO PERHAPS THE TRUEBODY FAMILY OWNED OR WORKED THE LAND IN THE 17TH OR 18TH CENTURY.

- IN THE LATE 18TH CENTURY, THE HILL WAS A PLACE FOR COPPER SMELTING AND, LATER, COAL AND FIRE CLAY MINING. THE MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE OF THE HILL IS THE GRADE 2 LISTED CHIMNEY, WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE 1790S OR EARLIER, FOR COPPER SMELTING WORKS BY THE RIVER. THE CHIMNEY HAS A CLEAR LEAN TO THE WEST, WHICH IS PART OF THE LOGO OF THE FRIENDS OF TROOPERS HILL. A DUCT OR FLUE WENT UP THE SIDE OF THE HILL TO THE CHIMNEY, WHICH WAS USED BY CHEMICAL WORKERS UNTIL THE FIRST WORLD WAR. THE LOWER CHIMNEY ON THE CORNER OF CREWS HOLE ROAD IS FROM THE EARLY 1800S AND WAS PART OF AN ENGINE HOUSE FOR CREWS HOLE COLLIERY.

- THE COPPER AND BRASS INDUSTRY IN THE AREA WAS LINKED TO THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE, AS MANY OF THE PRODUCTS WERE SENT TO AFRICA TO BE TRADED FOR SLAVES. ABRAHAM ELTON, A FAMOUS BRISTOL MERCHANT AND SLAVE TRADER, SET UP COPPER SMELTING WORKS AT CONHAM IN 1698 AND ALSO BOUGHT TROOPERS HILL IN 1704.

- THE HILL WAS A FILM LOCATION FOR SEVERAL TV SHOWS AND MOVIES, SUCH AS SKINS, THE SPARTICLE MYSTERY, AND THE OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT FILM WISH 143.

- THE HILL BECAME A LOCAL NATURE RESERVE IN 1995, TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS SPECIAL HABITAT AND WILDLIFE. THE ACIDIC SOILS, ROCKY CRAGS, SPOIL HEAPS AND GULLIES SUPPORT A RANGE OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, SOME OF WHICH ARE RARE OR ENDANGERED. THE HILL IS HOME TO REPTILES, DEER, FOXES, BADGERS, BATS, BUTTERFLIES, BEES, AND MANY KINDS OF BIRDS. THE HILL IS LOOKED AFTER BY BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL, WITH THE HELP OF THE FRIENDS OF TROOPERS HILL, A VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT ORGANISES EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND CONSERVATION WORK ON THE HILL.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.TROOPERS-HILL.ORG.UK/HISTORY AND

WWW.TROOPERS-HILL.ORG.UK/MEMORIES