St Mary Redcliffe Project 450 Planning Pre-App

2.0 SITE CONTEXT
2.1 LOCATION
Once a separate settlement within the county of Somerset, Redcliffe now
forms a central district of Bristol. An island, bounded by the Floating
Harbour to the north, east and west, and the New Cut to the south,
Redcliffe has a unique and specific relationship with the merchant-trading
history of the city.
St Mary Redcliffe, itself, is located to the south of Redcliffe Way, its
western boundary defined by Redcliff Hill. The church is therefore
encircled by dual carriageways that substantially diminish its setting.
TO THE CITY CENTRE
Furthermore, these roads sever the church from the remaining fragments
of historic context, including the ‘red cliff’ sandstone exposure from which
the area takes it name. As a consequence, the church setting appears
isolated, fragmented and illegible.
Indeed, combined with a challenging 5m level change from Redcliffe Way
to nave level, the noisy and polluting presence of the roads generates a
bleak and brutal approach that impacts directly on St Mary Redcliffe’s
capacity to engage both visitors to the city and its local community.
TO TEMPLE MEADS
Yet, despite these constraints, the church occupies a pivotal position on
the east - west axis of the Brunel Mile, between Temple Meads and the
city. In proximity to the soon-to-be redeveloped Redcliffe Wharf, it also
provides a gateway to the Floating Harbour’s ‘south shore’, suggesting
a potential visitor route engaging with other key heritage destinations,
including Temple Meads, Chatterton House, The Quaker Burial Ground,
Redcliffe Caves, Bathurst Basin, M-Shed, and SS Great Britain.
TO SOUTH BRISTOL
Location Plan
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