Brislington Brook is a short, 5 miles (8.0 km) long tributary of the Bristol Avon, rising on the northern slopes of Maes Knoll on the southern boundary of the city of Bristol, England. The stream has been badly affected by pollution but improvements have been made in the latter part of the twentieth century, and some wildlife is supported. St Anne’s Well near the northern end of the brook was a major pilgrimage site for Christians in the Middle Ages.
Brislington Brook rises in twin tributaries fed by springs on the northern slopes of Maes Knoll, at the eastern end of Dundry Hill, just north of the boundary between Somerset and Bristol. One branch flows culverted through the Bamfield estate and then runs on the surface alongside Airport Road.[1]
The other briefly enters Bath and North East Somerset, then enters a shallow valley, passing underneath Saltwell Viaduct, which carries the A37 Wells Road. The brook then re-enters Bristol, passing between Hengrove and Flowers Hill, on into Brislington, being met by a small unnamed tributary on the right bank just before it passes underneath the A4174 road, where it joins the western tributary at West Town Lane. Brislington Brook then turns in a northeast direction, passing underneath the A4 Bath Road and flowing down into Nightingale Valley in Broomhill, passing under a restored packhorse bridge.[1] Near here, a side weir carries excess water in times of heavy rainfall into a tunnel which discharges into the Avon opposite Conham.[2]
Brislington Brook itself then resumes its northerly course and is augmented by water from St Anne’s Spring before running through industrial estates in St Annes Park before joining the Avon in a culvert at the site of the former St Annes Board Mills.
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