IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Curlew Place, BRISTOL, BS20 7EN

As part of the expansion of Portishead after the old docks closed, there were a number of public artworks dotted around. This one is a set of oversized horse nails, created by the collective of artists. The nails recall the products of the (now lost) Mustad's factory; that used to be further towards the old docks before closing in 1987 and occupied the place where Homebase and McDonald's are now.

One of the two sites spanning Phoenix Way is an atrwork by Bristol-based artist Matt Stein. Both are named 'Elemental' and are crafted from stainless steel; this group is named ' Axis, Cascade and Air' and is on the south side of the road. See Image] for the other piece.

Matt Stein was given a £25,000 commission in 2007 by developer Persimmon to create an artwork as the houses were being built. The piece was finally named 'Elemental' and comprises two parts; this 4m high stainless steel work is individually named 'Flare'. See Image] for the other side of the road and the rest of the sculptures.

With Portishead's flat and marshy hinterland now occupied by housing, the estate has a balancing pond to cope with excessive rainfall and flooding. However, it lies next to a children's play area, and has an electricity substation opposite. See Image] for the play space.

Much of the growth of Portishead's population can be attributed to the development of the former docks. The former deep-water dock used to supply coal and goods to the power stations has been fully redeveloped into a modern marina with 250 pontoon berths. The areas on each side of the marina, formerly occupied by the two power stations and chemical plant, have been redeveloped to provide a wide range of housing, from townhouses to social housing to exclusive flats.

As Portishead's old industries were pulled down and the land converted into residential expansion, the houses were separated by a play area. The old paper mill used to be close by near the docks: in the 1920s the Severn Kraft Mill was established to make specialist materials but had technical and legal problems right from the beginning. It lasted until the late 1930s and the site cleared. Developer Taylor Wimpey built the houses and opened this play area in February, 2019. See Image] for the neighbour.

Much of the land to the left (east) of the drainage was untouched for many years, with the water stopping expansion of the old docks. However, it is now part of the large expansion of the town once the old heavy industries departed. A new bridge has brought the homeowners to the marina and also created a popular walking route.

The ecology park was established in 2007 as part of the Port Marine housing development, creating a public open space and a flood storage buffer. Prior to that, the land was primarily grazing marsh and was artificially drained by a series of interconnected drainage ditches. The wetland habitat is made up of ponds, scrapes and marshy grassland. It is home to a range of wildlife species including nesting birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, invertebrates and native wild flowers.