Stokes Croft
| Stokes Croft | |
Stokes Croft in 2009 at night
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 Shown within Bristol
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| Part of | A38 |
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| Length | 0.2 mi (0.3 km) |
| Coordinates | 51°27′43″N 2°35′24″W / 51.462°N 2.59°WCoordinates: 51°27′43″N 2°35′24″W / 51.462°N 2.59°W |
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Stokes Croft is the name of a road and area in Bristol, England. It is part of the A38, a main road north of the city centre.
The road became a centre of industry during the mid-19th century, including the Carriage Works. After large-scale bombing in World War II, the area rebuilt itself as a centre of art, music and counter-cultural lifestyle. Banksy's mural The Mild Mild West is on Stokes Croft, and riots broke out after the controversial decision to open a Tesco Express in the local area.
The road is around 0.2 miles (0.32 km) long and begins as a continuation of North Street, immediately north of Bristol city centre. At the junction with Ashley Road, it then becomes Cheltenham Road, followed by Gloucester Road. The road forms part of the A38, which was once a main road north of Bristol, though long-distance traffic now takes other routes.
Stokes Croft forms the boundary between the districts of Kingsdown and St Paul's and comes under the BS1 postcode.
The road takes its name from John Stokes, mayor of Bristol in the late 14th century. His will recorded the area as "Berewykse Croft in Redeland", while the will of Nicholas Excestre, who died in 1434, named it "formerly John Stoke's close (ibid.)". It runs through the historic manor of Barton, which was recorded in the Domesday Book and part of the City of Bristol since 1373.
Stokes Croft was predominantly rural until around 1700, being mainly used for market gardening. Urban development was first logged in the parish records of 1678, while St James Square, to the west of Stokes Croft, was laid out by around 1710.John Roque's map of Bristol 1750 shows the area built up and running north of a central courtyard between Stokes Croft, North Street and Wilder Street. Though industries were established on Stokes Croft during the 18th century, the road was not fully developed and built-up until around 1850. Construction of the Carriage Works at No. 104 began in 1859, while the City Road Baptist Church was built in 1861.
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Wikipedia