Crews Hole takes its name from Cruses Cottages, which once stood on the opposite side of the river. The Cruse family practically owned most of the land there. From Cruse came Screws Hole, and finally Crews Hole. However, there is another theory that the area took its name from the crews of old Sailing ships who sheltered here from the dreaded press gangs.
It is also to Crews Hole that persecuted Baptists fled from Bristol. It is said that they cut steps or terraces into the hillside in 1682 to serve as a gallery for their congregation. Lookouts were posted at the top of the hill to watch for the sheriff or a mob.
Although the mining of mineral deposits - primarily coal, sandstone and lead - had been carried out in the area from at least the Middle Ages, the Bristol Brass Company brought new industry to the area in 1710, and by 1724 there were twenty-four furnaces operating in Crews Hole. This rose to forty-nine and production continued until 1828, when the derelict mills were sold.
A copper works stood nearby at Conham, built in around 1696. It was later sold to the Bristol Brass Company. Much later the site was used as a council rubbish tip. Parts of these old works can still be seen in the woods.
Slag blocks made at Crews Hole still survive throughout Bristol, incorporated into many walls and houses. The Black Castle at Brislington is the best example of a building made with these blocks.
Between 1766 and 1803 there were three glasshouses here, two of which produced soap. Also here was the Bristol Fire Clay Co., producing almost unbreakable bricks. The company operated from the 1800s until the early 1900s. The Crown Clay Co. was another firm making firebricks, but they also produced sanitary pipes and terracotta were from about the same date.
In Victorian times, Crews Hole was compared to the north Devon village of Clovelly, as both were steep, with ranks of cottages that tumble down lanes and narrow roads to the waterfront. In contrast with this idyllic scene was the intense concentration of industry making it the Avonmouth of its day. Employment attracted workers, and short terraces of dwellings were built amongst the scattering of earlier cottages. A relatively secluded and independent community grew, its distinct character reflecting the area's setting development and history.
The Feeder changed the River Avon, which had been a tidal river up to this point. At low tide the ferry was turned into a floating badge, parked m the middle with planks to the bank on each side.
Another force for change in the village was the tar works. In 1843, William Butler was the manager of this tar works owned by Roberts and Daines. He had previously worked with Brunel on the Great Western Railway.. Brunel needed products to protect the wooden sleepers under the railway tracks. We are sure Brunel had some connection with this plant, if only in an advisory capacity.
In 1803 a fire broke out, nearly destroying the plant. The owners, fearful of the fire risks, soldout to William Butler, who then gave his name to the factory. Another fire broke out in 1897, killing one of his workforce. It was described at the time as one of the greatest spectacles ever seen the burning oil from that fire spread all across the river and was seen for many miles. There was no way of putting it out, so It had to just be left to burn itself out.
Even serious flooding from the River Avon in 1894 didn't close the plant
A very important company during both wars, their products were needed for the war effort, and they even had then own fire-watchers. It ended its days being owned by the British Steel Corporation.
Today, original cottages from the industrial days of the 18th and 19th centuries co-exist with the 'Quayside Village', built on the old tar works site Although the heavy industry has long gone with many of its old buildings, the countryside character and narrow lanes of Crews Hole remain. It is an area rich in industrial and social history.
1783 - In this year, Thomas Palmer of Kingswood became engine minder of the world’s first compound steam engine at Radstock, Somerset.
John Armitstead, a relative of the Burchill family and well known as a coal adventurer — a colliery proprietor had a pit between Church Road and Whitehall Road, St George where he installed a pumping engine for raising coal. Power was generated from water by means of a fire and ergo the device was called a Fire-engine. It stood on Colt’s or Boulter’s Ground but the land came to be known as the Engine Ground. To this day, a pub in the area is called the Fire Engine.
1782 - Last Saturday morning the body of Edward Williams was taken out of the river near Crew’s Hole. In his pockets were found his discharge from a Man of War and his copy of the Freedom of Bristol in a tin box with 15 shillings in cash. He came from London to vote for Mr Daubeny at the late election, went out in the morning (about three weeks since) for that purpose and has been missing since.'
1757 - 12th July - A boat with men, women and children, in all eighteen persons, was overset at Crew’s Hole. One was saved by catching hold of a dog’s collar, the dog swimming in shore with her but she unfortunately lost the child from her breast which another woman saved by laying hold of it taking it for the stump of a tree.
The river being narrow and the people being speedy in assisting them, they were all taken out alive and by the kind treatment of the neighbours are all preserved.
Road Names Crew's Hole BS5
Crew's Hole Road BS5 The orgin of the name is Scruizehole a family who occupied the land many years ago. It was the Victorians who invented the legend of the hole in which men hid to avoid the press gangs.
Troopers Hill BS5 Once known as Harris's Hill it was renamed after a battle between the Royalists and the Roundheads in 1643. It was also known to locals as Donkey Island.
Bull Lane BS5 Named after the public House The Bull Inn.
Niblett's Hill BS5 This led to a dwelling of someone wth this name.
Corker's Hill BS5 This led to a dwelling of someone wth this name.
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