BEGBROOK HOUSE FRENCHAY Nr Bristol.

Begbrook House, which was at the end of Stearncourt Rd was burnt down in 1913 by the suffragette movement.

It lay derelict until the late 1950's when it was brought by Bristol City Council, they built a house on the site of the derelict house which was used as a nursery home for babies. A year or so later another more modern house was built opposite the older house.

The older house was called Begbrook house (A) and the other house (B)!

I lived in (B) house from 1964 until 1968. It was my 6 star hotel ! The matron in charge at the time i was there was called Miss Peggy Collett who lived in (B) house and the deputy matron, Miss Cath Hodgson lived in (A) house.

They both use to work in Downend Babies Home until it was shut down.

Sister Collett, as we called her then, was and still is,a warm caring lady. Peggy now lives with her friend Mary Nr Cirencester.

If it was not for Peggy's hard work and total devotion to her work i dread to think what may have become of me. She is my hero and will forever be grateful to her.

Old Pictures of Snuff Mills

When i was a child (about 150 years ago)! i loved walking along the banks of the river frome, i use to live in Stearncourt Rd, Frenchay and i remember looking over the steep bank from Stearncourt Rd and even at that age (7) being amazed how lovely it looked.

Now sadly it is all overgrown, i would imagine for saftey reasons!.

Here is a collection of postcards i've collected over the years of Snuff Mills. There is also a few of Frenchay Village.