The first two photos show Pennywell before urban development taken place. Traditionally known as “Pennywell Hill” the area derived its name from old Celtic with “Penn” meaning hill (compare: Penshaw) and of course “well” being self-explanatory. An old gill used to run through the area, hence it was a hill with a spring of water running through it.
A view of the old Pennywell shops in the early days of the estate, before this became housing.
A carnival parade going through Pennywell in the 1960s
A closer up view of the Pennywell shops. The life, atmosphere and feel of the whole estate seems very different to today.
The former Pennywell Comprehensive School, dated 1970