Bristol is a big city with plenty of things going on at any one time. Split the city into its areas and suburbs, and some places stand out more and are more recognisable.
In the northwest of Bristol, various big areas coexist side by side with each other. These include Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston, Stoke Bishop and Avonmouth. There is one area which residents feel is largely unknown and is often confused with its neighbours.
Sitting between Shirehampton, Westbury-on-Trym and Stoke Bishop, Sea Mills is a historic part of Bristol that is overshadowed by its bigger neighbours. One case in point is within the Local Elections, where half of Sea Mills falls within the Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston ward, and the other within the Stoke Bishop ward.
Whilst being a location of significant history, with an 18th century dock and a 19th century train station, Sea Mills is “unknown and forgotten” according to residents. Mary, who has lived in Sea Mills for over 20 years, told Bristol Live that she still has to explain where she lives to Bristolians who don’t live nearby.
She said: “Sea Mills is quite unknown and forgotten I find. I’d say to someone ‘I live in Sea Mills’ and they would say ‘Where is that?’
“We are next to the A4 Portway, have our own train station and still people don’t know we exist. At least it’s peaceful and close to everything we need, including local shops in Stoke Bishop.
“Do I wish we were well known? Yes, but not for what happened a year ago.”
On February 18, three children were found dead at a home in Blaise Walk which was later confirmed to be from knife injuries. A 42-year-old woman was arrested that night and detained under the Mental Health Act.
The incident shocked the area and nearly a year on from the tragic deaths, residents remain shocked at what happened.
One resident, who lived a couple of streets away, said: “It was heartbreaking. It shocked the community and it is hard to comprehend how something like this could have happened here. I couldn’t believe it was just a few streets away.”
To those living in Sea Mills, the quietness and the element of being forgotten has had an impact on what goes on there. For teenagers, in particular, there is little to do.
A 17-year-old said: “I wish there was more here. It’s great for little kids, they have a playground and the Rec [a local green space], but not so much for us.
“I can’t complain though, we have transport to get to the city centre and towards Cribbs Causeway. But my mum says the buses have gotten worse.”