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Bristol is not short of iconic views, but the sight of Totterdown’s colourful houses from Temple Meads station is surely one of the loveliest.
The famous rainbow row of Richmond Street sits atop a hill high above the city centre. Brightly painted homes are Totterdown’s signature, and Richmond Street is the neighbourhood’s striking facade.
For decades, train passengers have enjoyed gazing up at the houses from the station, but now that view is set to be impaired, at least in the view of Historic England.
The body objected to Bristol University’s plans for three 21-storey tower blocks of student accommodation on Temple Island, arguing they would “screen present views of the attractive colourful terraced houses of Totterdown”.
(Image: David Betts Photography)
Despite Historic England’s misgivings over the “sheer unrelieved monoliths”, they were green-lit last month by Bristol City Council.
But how do Richmond Street’s residents feel about the development? And what is life like on the famous row?
‘It reminded me of Grozny’
Richmond Street has more than 70 houses, most of them colourfully painted. The first we visited was a pink home owned by John*.
The 70-year-old does not believe the high-rises will have a negative impact on the view of Totterdown.
Retired builder John said: “The site needs regenerating. The old Royal Mail sorting office wasn’t a good advert as you arrived by train into Bristol.
“It reminded me of Grozny. At least that sorting office eyesore has been demolished. Fair play to the developers – we are not going to stop progress.”
John has only one fear over the development. Accommodation for 953 postgraduate students will be provided across the tower blocks, and John believes this influx could lead to a scramble for parking spaces in the area.
He said: “Even now, we often have to park a couple of streets away from our home to find a space. The council definitely needs to bring in a residents’ parking zone.”
‘It cheers the area up’
John has lived in the pink house with his wife since 1981. He says it was a “hideous mustard colour” before he painted it.
“I think the trend of painting the houses first started in the 1960s or 70s,” he said. “Young people were moving into the area.
“Everyone started doing their houses up and using different colours. You used to see scaffolding up constantly.
“It cheers the area up, and when you look up from Temple Meads you realise how fortunate you are.”
The multicoloured terrace conveys an image of a close-knit neighbourhood, but John thinks the community spirit is not as strong as it once was.
He said: “A lot of people move in here now and you don’t know who they are. Nobody talks to each other anymore.”
Richmond Street builders went bust
John shared some local history, telling us Richmond Street was built in the 1860s as a place for railway workers to live.
“It was the first row of houses in Totterdown,” he added. “The building firm went bust in the process.
“You can see they were cutting costs from the thickness of the rafters. Further up the street they are two inches thick – in our house they’re 1.5 inches.
“My wife already had the house when I came here in 1981. She thought it was finished – it’s still not finished now. It was in a bit of a state then but it’s better now after some rebuilding.”
One of the biggest changes John has seen over the years is the price of houses on the street. He says a neighbouring home was bought for £4,000 in 1976 and is now worth more than £400,000.
The great views from Totterdown come in a package with steep hills, which John says “can be a bind” for the elderly residents.
He added: “Fortunately the buses come here regularly. But if you get snowed in up here, you are marooned.”
‘I love the view’
(Image: David Betts Photography)
Miranda Walker, 49, lives in a pastel blue house on Richmond Street and agrees with Historic England’s objection to the tower blocks.
The business owner said: “I love the view. It is nice to look up from Temple Meads.”
When talking about the new development, she said: “I’m probably more worried about the parking. They say students don’t have cars but some do. It will get even more chock-a-block.
“It’s like Brexit – I am trying to see a good side. There is probably only one positive, and that’s for the university.”
Miranda has lived on the street for 13 years and says neighbours often give their homes a fresh coat of paint.
She does not share John’s view that community spirit has weakened over the years.
“I know my neighbours quite well,” she added. “I would say it is a tight-knit street.”
She pointed to the annual Totterdown Front Room project as an example. This trail will see artists in the area open up their houses on the weekend of November 15 to 17.
People will be able to walk in and enjoy the art on show, while chatting to the artists.
‘The best bit of Bristol’
TV director Fergus Colville, 55, lives in a white house on Richmond Street and can see almost the whole city down below.
Welcoming us onto his balcony to enjoy the view, he said: “The tower blocks will just be another piece of city from up here.
“The only part of Bristol that will be blocked from our view is St Philips, so it doesn’t make too much of a difference.
“People looking up from Temple Meads will still be able to see Totterdown, there will just be a few high-rises to the left.
“My only concern would be the precedent of approving 21-storey buildings.”
Fergus first moved into his house 20 years ago and says the area has not changed much since then.
Asked if he enjoys living in such an iconic spot, he replied: “Of course – it’s the best bit of Bristol.”
What the university says
A University of Bristol spokeswoman said: “We’ve worked with our architects to develop a visualisation to show that the campus development won’t obscure the view of the Totterdown escarpment from Bristol Temple Meads.
“These visualisations were shown at a recent community meeting in Totterdown.”
Bristol City Council was approached for comment.
*John did not wish to give his real name.
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