How lost Bristol city centre streets at Castle Park will look after major development

City centre streets that were decimated during the Bristol Blitz could be restored as part of a major redevelopment. Developer MEPC finally won permission for the work at the derelict bank buildings bordering Castle Park, surrounding the ruined tower of the former St Mary Le Port church, in September last year.

As well as three new buildings with offices, shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars, it is proposing to reinstate four long-lost streets that were bombed during the Second World War.

The old Mary Le Port Street, which was bombed during the Bristol Blitz, would be reinstated to provide a view of the tower from High Street (MEPC/ Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios)

They include St Mary Le Port Street, which was a narrow but bustling thoroughfare lined with shops before the devastation of November 1940.

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MEPC's project website says the street will be rebuilt as a "vibrant pedestrian-only street with new independent retailers, cafes, and restaurants".

St Mary Le Port Street was narrow, crowded, and lined with buildings before it was bombed (Know Your Place Bristol)

It will run from High Street at St Nicholas Market, past the restored church tower, and through to St Peter’s Church and the rest of Castle Park.

How the buildings would look from the east side of Castle Park, looking west (MEPC/ Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios)

Three other smaller streets will be restored:

• Cheese Market – A street between Wine Street and Mary le Port Street, running along the edge of Castle Park and connecting Broadmead Shopping Quarter with the Floating Harbour
• Adam and Eve Lane – A second street between Wine Street and Mary le Port Street
• Buttermarket Passage – A passage linking Mary le Port Street to Bridge Street

A maps showing how the St Mary Le Port development would be arranged and where the four streets lost to the Blitz would be reinstated (MEPC)

'Extended heritage trail'

MEPC's plan states: "With Mary le Port Street restored, the site will become part of the extended heritage trail in the Old City.

"The introduction of these new streets will mean that people will be able to access St Mary le Port Tower, Castle Park, and the new buildings from all directions.

"It will also create a new pedestrian route between St Nicholas Market and Castle Park."

People walking along Wine Street will be able to look down Adam and Eve Lane and see a glimpse of St Mary le Port tower.

From the High Street entrance to St Nicholas Market, people should also be able to look down St Mary le Port Street to see the ruins of St Peter's Church.

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