The Bearpit, Bristol Explained

The Bearpit, officially St James Barton roundabout, is a roundabout and urban space in Bristol, UK.

History

The roundabout was constructed in the late 1960s and was reported to cost £900,000.^[1] It contained an inner garden with hexagonal flower beds.^[2]

In the 2010s, in response to safety concerns regarding the pedestrian subways, the roadway around the north and west of the roundabout was narrowed by one lane, and a new at-grade pedestrian and cycle route was created.^{[3] [4]}

In June and July 2019, Bristol City Council carried out a £250,000 eviction and cleanup process where squatters and their possessions were removed from the space within the Bearpit.^[5]

Local area

To the immediate west of the roundabout is Avon House, Bristol, now a hotel, and Bristol bus station.

References

1. News: Fluck . Paul . 1968-07-03 . Going down... to a below-ground piazza where you'll shop in comfort . 6 . Bristol Evening Post . 2023-02-11.
2. News: 1969-09-09 . A city honeycomb . 3 . Bristol Evening Post . 2023-02-11.
3. Web site: 2012-06-26 . No need to use subways to cross the Bear Pit . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120629044745/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/need-use-subways-cross-Bear-Pit/story-16450164-detail/story.html . 2012-06-29 . 2023-02-11 . This Is Bristol.
4. News: 2012-01-10 . 'Bearpit' subway in Bristol to receive £1m revamp . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-02-11.
5. Web site: Wilson . Kate . 2019-07-26 . This is how much the Bearpit clean-up has cost . 2023-02-11 . BristolLive . en.