Clifton and Durdham Downs, Bristol

This chapter presents Clifton and Durdham Downs, Bristol. This is our only case study officially registered as common land under the Commons Registration Act 1965. Originally separated from the city of Bristol by agricultural land, urban expansion since the eighteenth century has brought the city closer to the common, and its proximity to Hotwells spa and fashionable Clifton has determined its shape and character. Since the passing of the Clifton and Durdham Downs (Bristol) Act 1861, the Downs have been managed by a Committee comprising city councillors and Merchant Venturers. The Downs were used for grazing and quarrying until the twentieth century, but recreation is now the dominant use. Debates continue on how to make the Downs accessible to users beyond the wealthy local residents and how to reconcile recreational uses (including paid events that provide financial resource) with the environmental improvement of the site.