Living in Cornwallis Crescent East

A BRIEF OVERVIEW FOR RESIDENTS, BY ROS BENNET

The idea of Cornwallis Crescent was thought to have been created by a Harry Elderton in 1791. It was an ambitious project to erect a terrace of 40 houses on steep, south facing meadows and fields below Clifton. In the event it was still not

finished in 1827, this was partly due the Napoleonic war and also bankruptcy. The

crescent ended up being divided in two by the presence of the Polygon Lane, the people of Hotwells must have been a feisty bunch to cause this magnificent crescent to be rent asunder and for six houses to completely disappear from the plans.

Cornwallis Crescent East consists of eleven houses but number 40, although attached is not part of the garden or the terrace. Numbers 37/38 have been joined together into spacious flats across the two houses. Essentially, that means there are really only nine houses. These nine houses are divided into 32 households and provide homes to about 73 people including children. It is a mixed community comprising young professionals, students in transit, long term tenants, house owners, flat owners, families with children of varying ages and

some retired folk.

Below the buildings and the terrace there is well over an acre of a south facing walled garden and woodlands. There are two lawns and a long herbaceous border. The woodland is home to a large badger set, a fox or two, bats and a good

variety of birds. We aim to be chemical free, so no slug pellets.

When the crescent was first built the gardens were known as “pleasure gardens”. We have a lovely gardener called Deb who works mainly on the herbaceous border for six hours per month. The rest of the work is undertaken by

the residents who mow the lawn, keep the woodland paths open, turn uncooked

kitchen waste into compost, look after the walls and the badger fence.

The residents are not the owners of the gardens but stewards or guardians who do what they can to keep the area cared for and to preserve it for future generations. With this in mind we run garden working parties on the first Sunday

of each month from 10am to 12md. No skill is required, just enthusiasm. Half way through we stop for refreshments and it is a good time to get to know neighbours.

In addition to this we join in the Clifton Open Garden scheme. This year the event the event takes place on of the 7th and 8th June 2025 from 10.30am to 5pm on both days. Our residents volunteer to look after the gate, to run the tea stalls and to make cakes. Last year we had over 900 very appreciative visitors.