This site bravely confronts its complex past with the Quakers – old Dissenters – an industrial community village, slave trade, child labour, low wages and garden artistry.

Follow the Methodist founder’s Rev John Wesley (1761) visit, finding this remarkable and rare surviving Grade II designated 18th century garden, hidden behind his brass mill (now Kingswood Heritage Museum) and pin factory (the oldest existing factory in the U.K., the Clocktower).

Discover the giant Statue of Neptune, once towering above a huge lake, and explore the concealed 18th century grotto, a unique remnant of Champion’s pleasure grounds, making your way through the fantastical gaping jaws into candle-lit tunnels past three pools, one fed by a cascade which once flowed from Champion’s brassworks. Or explore the rare ‘snail’ viewing mound and the ‘Echo Pond’. Discover Champion’s ‘summerhouse’ in the woods and house (now both privately) overlooking the garden, with a flight of steps leading down through a HaHa.

Water powered by a series of culverts linking the grotto, lake and pond with Champion’s works, pumped by an early Newcomen ‘fire’ engine (before James Watt’s more efficient improved steam engine in the 1760’s).

Open Days

• Saturday 20 September 11am to 4pm
• Sunday 21 September 11am to 4pm

Pre-booking Not Required.

Location

Warmley House – Carpark, Tower Road North, Warmley, Bristol, Bristol, BS30 8XN

Directions

The Garden Carpark can be reached by driving along to Warmley House, then at the top of the drive turn sharp right. Walk under the arch and down The Lawn to the Echo Pond. Bus stops (from Bristol and Bath) are next to Summerhouse Way, and one closer to the Kingswood Heritage Museum. Walk (flat) along Summerhouse Way, join the gravel path on the left that leads to Elm Walk. (See the Summer House on the right). Walk along through Neptune’s wood (the Statue is on your right), over the bridge, past the Echo Pond, roofless Boat House to Laurel Walk. The entrance to the Grotto is further along, on your left. Bristol to Bath Cycle Path is at Warmley Waiting Room via Station Road. Carpark, public toilets (a Radar key needed for disabled toilet). Next to the Windmill Tower, the Museum has a carpark. There is an uneven path up towards The Garden.

Contact on the Day: Dino Zelenika

Telephone Number: +447792365225

Accessibility details

Access on foot is flat The slope down to the car park, if walking, is steep. Within the garden walking is mainly over grass with a few paths. Beware of the roots of trees crossing the paths. On Elm Walk bridge there are small steps. The path leading down to Neptune Statue is steep for wheelchair users etc. The entrance into the Grotto garden has a step and is narrow for wheelchairs. Better access is through the Chequered Wall Garden (uneven). Accessible Toilets and a cafe are available at Kingswood Heritage Museum beside the garden in Tower Lane.

The Grotto is the most intriguing feature at the industrial village. The entrance to the northern tunnel appears to be the gaping mouth of a monstrous face, maybe the entrance to the underworld! The largest grotto is some fifteen by five metres and now open to the sky, with a rectangular pool and a base of red and green slabs. A deep narrow rectangular pit may have been used as for a water wheel and a pumping engine.

Accessibility

Elm Walk is mostly wheelchair and pushchair accessible through Summer House Way (next to Warmley House). The Grotto is accessible over bumpy grass through the Chequered Walled Garden.

Car Parking

Parking is available below Warmley House, off Tower Road North. The slope between the gardens and the car park is steep, and there are steps on the far side of the turning circle.

Buses

Bus Stops are outside Warmley House (43,19) and by the Kingswood Museum (43).

No 43 comes from the Centre in Bristol, though Lawrence Hill, St George, and Kingswood.

No 19 comes from Bath, through Kelston, Swineford, Oldland Common, and Cadbury Heath

Cafe and Toilets

Refreshments and toilets are available at the Kingswood Heritage Museum.

This is a great chance to see it as it is only open 6 days a year.

Suggested donation £4 children free. Toilets and tea and cake at Museum

This was a fantastic opportunity to find out more about William Champion’s Gardens, a hidden gem behind Kingswood Heritage Museum, that as a green space has its fair share of nature. Amongst the formal aspect of the Gardens there is plenty of room for wildlife to flourish in the less managed areas that support a wide range of plants, insects, birds and mammals. After sharing a bit about what inspires us in nature we were guided by the keen sight and interest of the children present in a hunt for bugs (food if you are a bird!). After continuing our exploration of  the main gardens we walked to Neptune’s Wood and then finishing with a tour of Nick’s private urban garden to discuss wildlife gardening.

11am – 4pm Sunday 26th May and Monday 27th May

11am- 4pm Sunday 25th Aug and Monday 26th Aug