1
Disused and now unnoticed
This small plot of land on St James Street is a former graveyard. It was established as a new ground for the nearby St James church and opened in around 1802 on what used to be the gardens of the old Mangotsfield Workhouse, but was disused by the later nineteenth century and as now largely unrecogniseable. Only a few headstones remain to mark it as a place of rest. Oddly, it has not been reused or built on for well over a century.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.03 miles
2
Ornate but functional
The old Dame School building is now blocked with some unusually ornate bars. The space inside is all but empty and open to the elements; a picnic table suggests this may be used as storage.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.03 miles
3
A few headstones propped up
The old burial ground has not seen a new resident for well over a century. A few stones line the wall but there is otherwise little to suggest its purpose. It has more the feel of a small public park. There is no church in the immediate vicinity, although the ancient St James is just a short distance up the road.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.03 miles
4
Please protect this building
An inevitable regard. This is inside the old building on the disused burial ground.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.03 miles
5
Empty and barred
This building is the entrance to the former Dame School - a place of formal education established in the late 1700s, primarily by a Revd, Caleb Evans - a President of the Baptist Academy and Pastor of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters in Broadmead. The Dame School (also known as also known as the National, Church School House or Charity School) was set up on land that was formerly the gardens of the first Mangotsfield Workhouse in 1770. The school taught local pupils the rudiments and religious teachings until 1872, whereupon the restricted size became a serious problem - serious enough to cause desire for a newer and bigger school to be built.
However, this site seems to have simply been left and now appears more like a public place. However, the building attracted some undesireable attention so is now barred.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.03 miles
6
Patriotic colours
The Red Lion in Mangotsfield has taken up the challenge of arousing national support in the (delayed) Euro football championships. At this point in time, England had finished top of the group and were headed for a showdown with Germany at Wembley in the first knock-out round.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.04 miles
7
Relief on St James Place
A rarity these days - a public convenience, and an open one at that!
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.05 miles
8
A pipe in place of lead
One of the drain grotesques has had its old sheeting replaced by some awkward looking modern pipe.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.05 miles
9
West end door of St James
For many years this door was covered by other masonry, which was removed in 1851. This revealed two figures in niches that have benefited from the protection. They are good examples of early English style and represent the Blount coat of arms. On the door is a notice referring to the latest Covid-19 approach.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jun 2021
0.05 miles
10
St James in sunlight
A cold but crisp day and the thirteenth century St James stands out.
Image: © Neil Owen
Taken: 24 Jan 2023
0.06 miles