Oldland Common ( California House )

[double-trouble]

California House on another website is mentioned being the old Colliers Arms on Cowhorn Hill . It had a licence to sell beer and wines until 1921 . The last landlord was a Sidney Jones and then became a family house .
I have a picture of the house but wondered if anyone could tell me : -

Where on / near the hill it was ? From Warmley and going up the hill towards Bitton was it on the right or left ?

Why was it called California House  ? I know from when younger and living in Bristol there was a California Farm on the destinationblinds of buses . Is this the same place  ?

Possibly was a family home ( branch ) of the Bush family which I know there were many in the area .

Thankyou for any help on this matter.

[hanes teulu]

double-trouble,
On a google map Cowhorn Hill links West St and Tower Rd Sth.

I have been looking at an on line 1890 Ordnance Survey map of the area. There is an area marked Cowhorn Hill  - where North St meets West St, near the Bullhall Colliery. On a modern map it's the area bounded by Cowhorn Hill, Cheviot Way, Pennine Rd and the top stretch of North St. .

Only one PH is marked in this area and this is where the present Crown and Horseshoe stands.

I've followed the old road from Cowhorn Hill north to The Batch/Cadbury Heath area and can't spot another PH on the route.

Is this the area you're looking at? If you want I can provide a link to the Ordnance Survey map - check it out yourself.

regards   

[double-trouble]

Thanks for your reply .
Since last nights topic post I have arranged to meet up with a distant family member who used to live at California House , so at 96 years of age I am hoping he will be able to view todays map of Oldland and be able to point out where he believes it was .
Appreciate the map ref . though so I can point to him where I think it may have been .
Thanks for your time .
Anyone else with info . I would be grateful .

[SarahT]

Hi Double Trouble,

if you search for California Road, longwell green, on a map website there is a  road that leads off of there named long beach road. In the mid 80's, this road and all the estate on that side were built on what used to be California Farm  (well thats what it was called when I was a little girl). Part of it was also known locally as the Chicken Dumps?? no idea why!!
Thats where the buses were going with the destination California Farm.
If you pan out on the map you will see that California Road and Cowhorn Hill are not too far away from each other.

SarahT

[double-trouble]

SarahT , thanks very much . The map from late 1800s I've now found is totally different from the one of now ( I'm sure many are ) although there are the main roads identified as the same on both .
The Colliers Arms which became California House has been elusive in tracking down .
Thanks for your reply , I will spend some time again on the map of today against the older one .

[double-trouble]

Hi all ,
I have just this morning looked at this info again after a few years . California House ( sometimes known as Point Cottage..pos within the family ) from speaking to an elderly family member from Longwell Green , was demolished at some stage in the 1970s for a new housing estate . I did visit some years ago from the north west where I live but could'nt work out the exact location . It now seems that it was at the base of Cowhorn Hill and to the right slightly set back . On an old family photo , it shows a wall in front and pos a small lane leading to it from Cowhorn Hill . Looking at maps from the late 1800s and early 1900s , it seems to be sited where the end of Cheviot Way now has grassland leading down to the base of Cowhorn Hill .

The George family were known to be there from early 1920s when leaving the Portway A4 to at least mid 1940s . The written info . regarding the Colliers Arms post public house use within local books and websites is sadly incorrect as family members lived there and I have pictures . The photos from the sites are very much welcome though as the only photo known from that era .
Is there a chance of a local walking their dog or generally exercising , taking a few shots of the grassland at the base of Cowhorn Hill from Oldland to Warmley looking to the right and posting in a P.M to me . The Google view I have is poor in quality and loses clarity when printed .
Anyone with further info of the George family inc . known son William ( his wife Edith ) who played cricket locally and their children Harold and sister Francis , I would be pleased to know .
They had an extension built to the side of the house for an enlarged family..they also had a long term lodger named Archie .
Prolonged post I know but hopefully helps..thankyou

[hanes teulu]

"Walking" the 1911 Census it reads -

West Street
Cowhorn Hill - 9 Private Houses; Colliers Arms Public House (Mrs Clarke); Grocer's Shop (Mrs Brown)
North Street - 4 Private Houses; Stable (?); 1 Private House; Crown and Horseshoe Public House (Mrs Drake); 4 Private Houses
Gipsy Lane (which is now Cloverlea Road)

[hanes teulu]

Somerset Guardian & Radstock Observer, 13 Mar 1953
ADVERT
OLDLAND COMMON, BRISTOL
Sale of attractive freehold residence known as "California House"
Attractively situated in almost level ground and comprising -
Detached residence with Bungalow annex and containing -
Ground Floor - Sitting Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Back Kitchen
First Floor - Two large bedrooms, bathroom
Bungalow - Sitting room, Bedroom
Main electricity & power, main water, main drainage
Good garage, Outbuildings
Garden and Orchard, in all about 1 acre

Auction to be held at the Crown and Horseshoe Inn, Mar 17th 1953

[double-trouble]

I have not seen the advert you have posted here of the sale from that paper but from another within my files . Whether George George purchased the house post leaving the new Portway build or rented it , I am unsure . What is known is as I said that he moved to Bitton and the home of his daughter .
How he came to move to Oldland in the first place is still a mystery as it seems so far of a difference than Bristol..there is a view pos . that the quarry owners who he worked previously for had an interest..who knows .
Pity really there is not more information ( at the moment ) as it was'nt that long ago .
Thankyou for your reply