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The Centre, Bristol

This article is about the public open space and transport interchange. For the central area of Bristol, see Bristol city centre.

The Centre, Bristol
Northern end of The Centre, Bristol, before the removal of statue of slave trader Edward Colston. A paved area with mature trees surrounded by 19th and 20th century buildings.
View of northern end of The Centre, March 2018, before removal of Colston statue
The Centre, Bristol is located in Bristol Central
The Centre, Bristol
Location within Central Bristol
Former name(s)Tramways Centre
Maintained byBristol City Council
LocationBristol, England
Postal codeBS1
Coordinates51°27′14″N 2°35′50″W / 51.4540°N 2.5972°W / 51.4540; -2.5972
NorthLewins Mead, Rupert Street
EastBaldwin Street
SouthAnchor Road
WestCollege Green

The Centre is a public open space in the central area of Bristol, England, created by covering over the River Frome.[1] The northern end of The Centre, known as Magpie Park, is skirted on its western edge by Colston Avenue;[2] the southern end is a larger paved area bounded by St Augustine's Parade to the west, Broad Quay the east, and St Augustine's Reach (part of the Floating Harbour) to the south, and bisected by the 2016 extension of Baldwin Street.[3] The Centre is managed by Bristol City Council.

The name 'The Centre' (or 'The City Centre') appears to have been applied to the area from the mid-twentieth century; before that, from 1893 when the upper part of St Augustine's reach was covered, it was known as the Tramways Centre and Magpie Park.[4][5]

The Centre is not the historic or civic centre of Bristol, nor is it a major shopping area. It is, however, an important local transport interchange and cultural destination.[6] Many local bus services terminate at or pass through here,[7] and it is also served by ferry services to Hotwells and Bristol Temple Meads station,[8] and has busy taxi ranks.

The Centre has been altered on a number of occasions, originally to ease traffic flow[9][10] but latterly to try to strike a balance between its use as both public open space and an important traffic corridor.[11] In 2017, alterations to accommodate the MetroBus bus rapid transit scheme were completed.[12]

  1. ^ Insole & Porter 2016, p. 30-31.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference magpiepark was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Insole & Porter 2016, p. 30.
  4. ^ Appleby 1969, p. 10.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference fascfount was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Insole & Porter 2016, p. 19.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference busmap was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference ferrymap was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Winstone 1980, Plate 15.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1956-59 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1996props was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference bbc-20170402 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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