William Champions Gardens

04/09/2025

Come and see the only Industrial Grotto in the U.K. with 6 Grotesque Faces on the walls. Heritage Open Days 20th and 21st September 11-4

13/08/2025

Open Grotto Days - Free Entry
Sunday 24th August and Monday 25th August 11am - 4pm
Discover the world's only grotto with a microclimate pool ringed by six Grotesque Faces carved into the walls, built from recycled waste from one of the first large-scale industrial brassworks - an important milestone in the Industrial Revolution.

07/10/2024

Visit to Bristol Museum, top floor, to see the pottery of Richard Champion's (1st cousin once removed of William) and others.

Also see the video 'The Life of Richard Champion, 18th century Bristol merchant' as told by Nick Panes, Blagdon Local History Society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUUBqVdNzVs

27/09/2024

The Mound - volunteers are restoring the rare 300 year old 'snail' viewing mound platform. A spiral path or possibly a maze, edged with shrubs lead the way to the ten metre summit, where you can see Toghill, Lansdown, Kelston and Sundry.

19/09/2024

"There is also in the garden at a small distance from Mr. Champion's house a very surprising Echo. Standing about ten or twelve yards from the person who speaks, their voice seems to be repeated out of the clouds ..." Joseph Banks when he visited the gardens in 1767.

15/09/2024

Over 200 visitors to see The Grottoes, with some joining the campaign of conservation and restoration.

12/09/2024

19th century water powered forge, over 50 years after William Champion’s.

Explore Finch Foundry in Devon, and find out more about this fascinating example of Victorian engineering: the last working water-powered forge in England.

10/09/2024

06/09/2024

Statue of Neptune "In the centre of the lake on a small island, stands Neptune, constructed of masonry according to the traditional proportions of the monster. Its face, chest and arms being of white plaster or cement, contrasting effectively with its head and lower parts of the body made of rough black cinders from the works; while one hand extended held the usual barbed fork. This image has a weird effect from a little distance'
Canon Ellacombe 1880s

05/09/2024

Popular visit in May 2024 to see the Grottoes.