The Bearpit, officially St James Barton roundabout, is a roundabout and urban space in Bristol, UK.

The Bearpit in 2018
The Bearpit in 2023

History

edit

The roundabout was constructed in the late 1960s and was reported to cost £900,000.[1] It contained an inner garden with hexagonal flower beds.[2]

In the 2010s, in response to safety concerns regarding the pedestrian subways, the roadway around the north and west of the roundabout was narrowed by one lane, and a new at-grade pedestrian and cycle route was created.[3][4]

In June and July 2019, Bristol City Council carried out a £250,000 eviction and cleanup process where squatters and their possessions were removed from the space within the Bearpit.[5]

Local area

edit

To the immediate west of the roundabout is Avon House, Bristol, now a hotel, and Bristol bus station.

References

edit
  1. ^ Fluck, Paul (1968-07-03). "Going down... to a below-ground piazza where you'll shop in comfort". Bristol Evening Post. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  2. ^ "A city honeycomb". Bristol Evening Post. 1969-09-09. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  3. ^ "No need to use subways to cross the Bear Pit". This Is Bristol. 2012-06-26. Archived from the original on 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  4. ^ "'Bearpit' subway in Bristol to receive £1m revamp". BBC News. 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  5. ^ Wilson, Kate (2019-07-26). "This is how much the Bearpit clean-up has cost". BristolLive. Retrieved 2023-02-11.

51°27′33.99″N 2°35′26.67″W / 51.4594417°N 2.5907417°W / 51.4594417; -2.5907417