Staple Hill, Bristol

Infobox UK place
official_name= Staple Hill
unitary_england= South Gloucestershire
region= South West England
lieutenancy_england= Gloucestershire
country= England
population= 6,823 (census 2001)
constituency_westminster= Kingswood
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_area= BS
postcode_district= BS16
dial_code= 0117
os_grid_reference=
latitude= 51.479755
longitude= -2.502025
civil_parish1 = Soundwell
civil_parish = Downend

Staple Hill is often considered to be a suburb of Bristol, but is actually located in South Gloucestershire, England. It is situated to the north-east of Bristol near Fishponds and Downend.

The strange name "Staple Hill" may derive from the old English word "steap" meaning "steep," but it is more likely to have described a long-lost pillar, post or standing stone – known as "stay pole, shortened to "stapol" or "staple." [ [http://www.bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk/map3.shtml Map3] Bristol & Bath railway path]

Staple Hill lies on the path of the old Midland Railway line, one of the original reasons for its growth. Today Staple Hill has a thriving high street, and an attractive park in "Page Park."

Politics

Staple Hill is in the Staple Hill ward of South Gloucestershire. The councillors representing Staple Hill are:

* Geoff King (Labour)
* Shirley Potts (Labour)

Schools

Primary Schools

* Staple Hill Primary School

econdary Schools

Transport

Railway & Cycle path

Staple Hill was served by its own station, on the Bristol branch of the Bristol and Gloucester Railway. [ [http://www.bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk/thestations.shtml The Stations] Bristol Railway Path] However, the line was part of Dr Beeching's railway closures in the 1960s. Stopping services on the Bristol to Gloucester line ceased along with general goods traffic on 17 May 1965, and the station then closed to all goods traffic on 31 December 1965. But trains continued between Bristol St Philips and Bath Green Park until 7 March 1966. The signal box remained open until 12 April 1968, when most of the station buildings where demolished. The line through the station was due to close on 3 January 1970, but a landslip led to its closure a week early.

The railway line and the station site is now part of the Bristol & Bath Railway cycle route, one of the Sustrans National Cycle routes. Staple Hill tunnel is a well recognised part of this route.

Bus

First Group operate bus travel around Bristol. The following services serve Staple Hill:

* 5: Bristol Centre - Staple Hill via Stapleton, Fishponds, Oldbury Court, Downend, Mangotsfield
* 7: Bristol Centre - Staple Hill
* 49: Bristol Centre - Emersons Green via Eastville, Fishponds, Staple Hill, Blackhorse
* 318: Keynsham - Cribbs Causeway via Kingswood, Staple Hill, Downend, Parkway
* 319: Bath - Cribbs Causeway via Bitton, Kingswood, Staple Hill, Downend, Parkway

References

External links

* [http://www.staplehill.co.uk Staple Hill Shopping Centre]