History of Filwood 

1938

Work at Filwood Broadway began in 1938 and it quickly became the focal point for local residents of Filwood Park and the wider Knowle West. Positioned on a rise with views to Dundry Slopes to the south, with generous street layout and with tall buildings designed as a late Art Deco streetscape, the Broadway was designed to stand out.

From 1938 to the late 1950s the importance of the Broadway was reinforced through the number of shops and mix of uses located there. With 20 active shops the Broadway provided more retail than any south Bristol centre other than Bedminster and Broadwalk.

In addition a picture house, then latterly a school and church (1961), swimming pool (1962) and library reinforced the Broadway as the heart of the local area.

1938 Filwood Community Centre

Filwood Social Centre (now referred to as Filwood Community Centre) was built in 1938 and cost £17,000. It remains in use today. During World War Two, Filwood Social Centre is believed to have been used as an evacuation centre.

1938 Filwood Cinema 

The cinema opened on 20 October 1938, seated 1,160 people and was built by local firm R J Hurford; Dennis Hurford and Roy Chamberlain acted as architects. The cinema was also used for bingo, boxing matches and as a concert venue where P J Proby performed in July 1964.  It was re-furbished in 1961, and began part time bingo on several evenings a week. Cinema use ended in 1971 and it became a full time bingo club. It was still operating as a bingo hall until 1991, but was closed soon after. Demolition began in 2023 to make way for a mix of new houses and retail. 

1961 Church of Christ of the King 

On a prominent corner site, the church of Christ the King was built after the war. Before this, in 1938, a school was built in Hartcliffe Road, the school hall doubling as a Mass centre. Sisters of Charity taught at the school, but have now left their convent on Filwood Broadway. 

1962 Filwood Swimming Pool 

Interior and exterior views of the newly finished pool with its distinctive curved roof. A design by City Architect Alfred Clarke.

Art Deco Design 

Buildings north of Hartcliffe Road form an almost complete late Art Deco commercial streetscape that includes the original cinema and brick shop fronts. Other than the 1960s extension to the east side, these buildings have high quality 1930s detailing that is intrinsic to the intended ‘Metroland’ character.