Stories of the Silent: prisoners and paupers at Blackberry Hill, Bristol
Recent archaeological work at the former Blackberry Hill Hospital in Bristol has uncovered burials and evidence from its earlier use as a prisoner of war camp and later as a Victorian workhouse, revealing stark insights into the lives of captives, paupers and the destitute.
Wednesday 18th March 2026 7:00pm
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Archaeological investigations ahead of the redevelopment of the former Blackberry Hill NHS hospital in Bristol have revealed significant evidence relating to the site’s Georgian and Victorian past.
Originally constructed in 1778, the site served as a prisoner of war camp during Britain’s conflicts of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, particularly the wars against France. It is believed to have been the first purpose-built prisoner of war camp in Britain. Excavations have uncovered burials thought to include prisoners captured during the Napoleonic Wars.
From 1832 the site was converted into a workhouse, continuing in this role well into the twentieth century. Archaeological work within the workhouse cemetery has revealed the burials of later residents, offering a glimpse into the lives and deaths of the destitute population of Bristol’s Victorian slums, and raising questions about the treatment and medical exploitation of some of those who lived and died there.
In this webinar, archaeologists Andrew Pearson and Sharon Clough of Cotswold Archaeology will present the discoveries from the site and explore what they reveal about these often overlooked lives.
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