This page shows some of the old photographs that we have collected over the past few years. Many thanks to all who have contributed. Please contact us if you have any photos that we can add to this page. Learn more about the history of Troopers Hill and see more old photographs on our Hill History and Memories of Troopers Hill pages.

One of the most dramatic changes over the past 30 years or so shown in the photographs is the increase in vegetation - trees, shrubs and bracken. This has significantly reduced the area of ecologically important acidic grassland and heathland on the hill. We are working with Bristol Parks to try and reverse this process through the implementation of the Management Plan.
To show how things have changed we have added a Then and Now feature to some of the photos. Clicking on the dates below the photos will display a more up to date view.

Set A - by Vernon
Entrance E - 1984 & 1985

This set of photographs shows the area around Entrance E, which is the second entrance going up Troopers Hill Road.

3 photographs - all Then & Now

Set B
From the Tar Works 1953

These photos were brought to our History Exhibition in Sept 2005. The owner, who used to work at Butlers, very kindly allowed us to scan them.

3 photographs

Set C - from Raymond Holland
The Tar Works 1953

The originals of these photographs belong to Raymond Holland who worked at the Tar Works and wrote a paper on the History of the Tar Works published by the Society of Chemical Industry. Many thanks to Raymond for giving us permission to use them.

7 photographs

Set D - by Raymond Holland
Various Views - 1980s

Further photographs from Raymond Holland's collection give various views of the site and of the hill during the years after the Tar Works closed.

5 photographs - 3 Then & Now

Set E - by Anne
Tar Works Demolition & cleared site.

These photos from Anne show the demolition at an early stage and then panoramic views of the cleared site and the start of the building works. They also show the children's nursery on the site of Stones Rank cottages nearing completion.

7 photographs

Set F
Along the Avon Valley

Various views taken along the Avon Valley close to Troopers Hill, including the Lamb Inn and the Board Mills.

5 photographs 4 Then & Now

Set G - by Roy
New Fences & Paths 1991

These photos show some of the work undertaken in 1991. There is also a photograph of the open day on Troopers Hill Field that was held to celerate the completion of the works.

4 photographs

Set H - by Roy
Troopers Hill - 1984 & 1985

This set was taken by Roy on the same two dates as Vernon's photographs in Set A

2 photographs - both Then & Now

Set I - by Mr B Alvis
Troopers Hill - 1950s

It has been possible to very accurately align this single photograph of the central part of the hill with a 2007 shot.

1 photograph Then & Now

Set J - from Barton Hill History Group
Stafferie House & Factory

The house and ice cream wafer factory that used to stand on the corner of Strawberry Lane and Beaufort Rd, next to the cemetry.

6 photographs - 1 Then & Now & map.

Set K - from Jean
1990s Views from over the River

A set of photographs showing the view from St Annes in the 1990s as the new housing was being built.

4 photographs - 1 Then & Now.