Bransholme

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 53.78297
longitude= -0.32451
official_name= Bransholme
civil_parish= Sutton
population = 31,626
unitary_england= Kingston upon Hull
lieutenancy_england= East Riding of Yorkshire
region= Yorkshire and the Humber
constituency_westminster= Kingston upon Hull North
post_town= HULL
postcode_district = HU7
postcode_area= HU
dial_code= 01482
os_grid_reference= TA105335

Bransholme is an area or housing estate situated on the north-eastern side of Kingston upon Hull, England. The name Bransholme comes from an old Scandinavian word meaning Brand's water meadow ("brand" or "brandt" meant 'wild boar').

It is largely accepted that Bransholme includes the residential and retail areas stretching from the River Hull to the west, to Sutton Road in the south and the political constituency of East Hull to the east. Although there is some dispute whether the new housing estate of Kingswood in the north should be included, generally it is accepted that it should. This means that it is a largely self sufficient residential community including a number of schools, churches, leisure facilities and retail areas.fact|date=May 2007

There are two high, or secondary schools, Winifred Holtby and Kingswood, within the environs of Bransholme, both of which achieve exam results well below the national average. These are fed by a number of primary schools, amongst which are some of the highest achieving of all those within Kingston upon Hull.

There are two major retail centres available within the area. These are Northpoint Shopping Centre, formerly and still locally known as Bransholme Centre, a location where a number of smaller shops can be found as well as a covered market, and Kingswood Retail Park, which is the site of a number of large major stores as well as an entertainment area including a multiscreen cinema, bowling alley and restaurants.

History

Bransholme history goes at least as far back as the Domesday Book of 1086 where Bransholme is marked as a little hill surrounded by water. At this time the settlement known as Sudtone (now Sutton) occupied a strip of high ground forming a connecting link between Wagene (later Waghen then Wawne) . An ancient highway ran through Wagene across Sudtone and through to Bilton.

Some time in the last half of the second century a Romano-British farming settlement stood on the site of the former Gibraltar Farm near where the new bridge crosses the River Hull. Also a medieval stone dwelling house and two timber buildings existed where Foredyke drain met the River Hull.

A Roman camp was established to the north of Waghen. When the Angles and Saxons invaded they farmed land on the high ridge that ran from the village to Sutton. The ridge was surrounded by waters and marshland which at high tide separated Waghen from Sudtone. Later the monks and the Lords of the Manor drained the land with a series of drains and dikes.

After the Second World War, when large areas of Hull lay devastated due to enemy bombing, it was clearly necessary to re-house on a massive scale. Urban renewal prompted the City Council to enforce the Acquisition of Land Act of 1946. The City Council already owned large areas in Bransholme. By January 1948 it had obtained four more farms. The intention of the Council at the time was to provide a new town at Bransholme rather than a large estate, but government approval was not forthcoming.

The Bransholme Estate was originally planned to have a population of 26,000 but now has a population of over 30,000. It was built mainly in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Bransholme Housing Estate was originally known as 'north of Sutton Road' or 'The Wawne Estate' until the current name was chosen in 1966 from a list including Soffham, Meaux, Marvelton and Midmere Dales. The first houses were officially opened on 1 May 1967 by Lord Mayor Alderman RW Buckle. The very first Bransholme tenants were housed in Dulverton Close.

In 1968 Noddle Hill Farm was demolished to make way for the building of Bransholme Estate. The houses in Midmere Avenue and Dorchester Road were built between 1971 and 1976. Kestrel Avenue was built in about 1981.

The early years were not easy. Some newcomers loved living in Bransholme, but as early as 1971, condensation was causing severe problems in over 1000 houses, and Securicor had to be employed to combat vandalism. Two years later, it was trouble with the maisonettes, and the growing realisation that there weren't enough schools.

Thirty years on, schools and churches offer much in terms of education and social and spiritual welfare. Winifred Holtby high school (formerly Bransholme High), named after the novelist and journalist, has won technology status. The very latest in technology, libraries, medical and community services are in existence, and numerous adult learning and leisure centres are available.

Trivia

Bransholme is widely, but mistakenly, believed to be largest council estate in Europe, a title more likely to be held by Becontree in Dagenham.

The confusion has been partly caused by the name of Bransholme being attached to a greater area than it actually should by non-residents, taking in neighbouring estates, most notably Longhill, Sutton Park and Orchard Park, and partly due to the reality that although homes on Bransholme are still largely owned by the local council, Hull City Council, there has been a substantial selling off of these to private buyers meaning that large areas are now solely privately owned.

There is often debate over whether the largest council estate outside of London is Wythenshawe (in Manchester) or Bransholme. Bransholme is the largest council estate in Yorkshire, with Seacroft in East Leeds coming close.

External links

* [http://www.winifred-holtby.hull.sch.uk/ Winifred Holtby High School website]
* [http://w2.kingswoodhigh.com/ Kingswood High School website]
* [http://www.northpointshoppingcentre.co.uk/ Northpoint Shopping Centre website]