EPW005455 ENGLAND (1921). The County Ground at Ashley Down, Bristol, 1921

An oblique image of the County Ground at Ashley Down taken from the northern edge of St. Andrew's Park, looking in a north-easterly direction. The cricket pitch is surrounded by a cycle track and at the far end (Orphanage End)is a football pitch, which later became a car park and a hockey pitch, as shown on the plan of the ground in the 1950 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.



The New Orphan Houses show up particularly clearly, with four of the buildings flanking the top and right-hand sides of the ground. Built between 1847 and 1870, the orphanage was created by George Muller (1805-1898) and designed by architect John Foster. These well-constructed units in Pennant Sandstone stood the test of time and were eventually bought by Bristol City Council in 1958, after which they formed the basis for various educational institutions.