IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
St. Matthias Park, BRISTOL, BS2 9DP

The Seven Ways public house, now closed having seen better days.

The name Seven Ways is thought to originate from the convergence of seven ancient routes that once went on to Bristol, Gloucester and London. However, the pub was failing to stay afloat and became a community asset in recent years. Sadly, that too did not survive and the site was sold off in 2012 to be converted into flats. It was pretty much gutted and rebuilt from a shell. In the beginning it was a pub called the Swan, being built as the area was being developed in the nineteenth century.

A former pub, now converted to housing. Looking better for it, too.

Disused pub in a shady spot on Redcross Street.

In the past Pubs called The Volunteer would be the mustering points for a call to arms. The sign to this particular pub is just plain, but in the past could have displayed the uniform to the local regiment of which the gathered troops would serve. There are a large number of pubs in this square.

The pub has survived the many changes in the street. Originally there was a long terrace here, of which few other remain. It proudly claims to be the first pub in Bristol to become a Living Wage employer.

It looks like this building is now used as a hostel rather than a mission church.

Another view of the tree-lined road shown in Image], with an entrance to the park with the same name as the street. Beyond are three levels of buildings: St Matthias House (flats), Phoenix Court (student accommodation), and then Castlemead, Bristol's tallest building.

A fine Early Georgian house (the birthplace of painter Thomas Lawrence in 1769) is incongruously sandwiched between 2 chunks of Lego-Brutalism, a bizarre sight in a part of Bristol very short of fine architecture. The architects in 1974 were Elsom, Pack and Roberts. To think that it took 3 people to come up with this.

The school occupies the Old School Building between St Matthias Park and Redcross Street.