Population 40,734 (2011 Census) Unitary authority Country England Dialling code 0117 Post town Bristol | OS grid reference ST649736 Region South West Sovereign state United Kingdom Ceremonial county Gloucestershire UK parliament constituency Kingswood | |
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Weather 12°C, Wind W at 27 km/h, 84% Humidity | ||
Kingswood is an urban area in South Gloucestershire, England, on the eastern border of the City of Bristol.
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Royal Forest
In Saxon and Norman times, Kingswood Forest was a royal hunting estate which surrounded Bristol, extending as far as Filwood in South Bristol. "From early days the Constable of Bristol Castle, the king's officer in the area, was also the Chief Ranger of the Kingswood Forest and the first of these recorded is Ella who died in 920. At the edge of the forest, to the north of the River Froom, lay the little hamlet of Stapleton, the name of which is Saxon in origin, being held to mean 'The farm, homestead or croft – by or near the Stapol, post or pillar'".
Coal mining
The Kingswood area first came into industrial prominence in the late 17th century, because of coal mining. Typical of these were coal fields in the Easton and Coalpit Heath/Yate areas. The coal mining history still affects the town with gardens occasionally opening up. The local MP has petitioned in Parliament for full surveys of the coal mines under the town.