Clifton (Bristol)

 suburb, interesting place

An affluent Suburb, Clifton is one of the oldest and most affluent areas of the city, much of it having been built with profits from tobacco and the slave trade, although none of the houses were built directly by the slaves rather the profits from selling them.

Situated to the west of Bristol's city centre, it was at one time a separate settlement but became attached to Bristol by continuous development during the Georgian era and was formally incorporated into the city in the 1830s.

Grand houses, that required many servants, were built in the area. Although some were detached or semi-detached properties, the bulk were built as terraces, many with three or more floors.
One famous terrace is the majestic Royal York Crescent, visible from the Avon Gorge below and looking across the Bristol docklands.
Berkeley Square which was built around 1790 is an example of georgian architecture.

Although the suburb has no formal boundaries, the name Clifton is generally applied to the high ground stretching from Whiteladies Road in the east to the rim of the Avon Gorge in the west, and from Clifton Down and Durdham Down in the north to Cornwallis Crescent in the south. This area corresponds roughly with the city wards of Clifton and Clifton East, although the former also includes the river side suburb of Hotwells.