Spaceworks History
Spaceworks was launched in 2010 from a merger of 2 not-for-profit social enterprises operating in Bristol's inner city east side, East Bristol Enterprise and Bristol East Side Traders.
Rock solid since 85’
1991
The rise of Easton Business Centre
Six years later, they developed the site in Felix Road formerly occupied by Easton Colliery, to create a 3-storey modern and spacious business centre. In 1999 an additional block gave further workshop and office space to create Easton Business Centre.
2007
Transformational opportunities
In 2007 the two organisations worked closely to redevelop 2 historic buildings in the area and transform them into thriving enterprise centres.
The Old Library on Trinity Road in Old Market is a grade II listed Victorian library which now houses 9 workspaces of varying sizes.
The Old Schoolhouse in Barton Hill has been an important local community building since the early 20th century and now houses 24 artist studios, a larger workspace and 8 offices.
2023
Spaceworks Rebrand
In 2023, our trading name Bristol Spaceworks rebranded to Spaceworks. The business has expanded in the last 4 years, adding 3 new locations and serving a wider range of businesses and organisations. Our aim is to continue to provide support to fledgling businesses and more established organisations and act as a catalyst for job creation in the community.
1985
East Bristol Enterprise
East Bristol Enterprise was established in 1985 to improve the economic and employment prospects in Easton and the surrounding areas by offering business start-up advice, training and flexible workspaces for establishing local businesses.
1999
Bristol East Side Traders
Bristol East Side Traders (BEST) was established in 1999 as a specialist regeneration and enterprise support agency working on environmental improvements and enterprise solutions to the retail areas of Stokes Croft, Stapleton Road, Old Market, Lawrence Hill and Redfield.
2010 - Today
A social enterprise merger
East Bristol Enterprise and BEST had been collectively supporting local business in starting up and getting established for a quarter of a century. Since the merger in 2010 to form Bristol Spaceworks, we have been able to support many more local businesses and some national organisations.
We believe firmly that building a strong local economy supports the general health and vitality of local communities, providing local employment, goods, services and opportunities.
1985
East Bristol Enterprise
East Bristol Enterprise was established in 1985 to improve the economic and employment prospects in Easton and the surrounding areas by offering business start-up advice, training and flexible workspaces for establishing local businesses.
1991
The rise of Easton Business Centre
Six years later, they developed the site in Felix Road formerly occupied by Easton Colliery, to create a 3-storey modern and spacious business centre. In 1999 an additional block gave further workshop and office space to create Easton Business Centre.
1999
Bristol East Side Traders
Bristol East Side Traders (BEST) was established in 1999 as a specialist regeneration and enterprise support agency working on environmental improvements and enterprise solutions to the retail areas of Stokes Croft, Stapleton Road, Old Market, Lawrence Hill and Redfield.
2007
Transformational opportunities
In 2007 the two organisations worked closely to redevelop 2 historic buildings in the area and transform them into thriving enterprise centres.
The Old Library on Trinity Road in Old Market is a grade II listed Victorian library which now houses 9 workspaces of varying sizes.
The Old Schoolhouse in Barton Hill has been an important local community building since the early 20th century and now houses 24 artist studios, a larger workspace and 8 offices.
2010 - Today
A social enterprise merger
East Bristol Enterprise and BEST had been collectively supporting local business in starting up and getting established for a quarter of a century. Since the merger in 2010 to form Bristol Spaceworks, we have been able to support many more local businesses and some national organisations.
We believe firmly that building a strong local economy supports the general health and vitality of local communities, providing local employment, goods, services and opportunities.
2022
Spaceworks Rebrand
In 2022, Bristol Spaceworks rebranded to Spaceworks. The business has expanded in the last 4 years, adding 3 new locations and serving a wider range of businesses and organisations. Our aim is to continue to provide support to fledgling businesses and more established organisations and act as a catalyst for job creation in the community.
A history of Spaceworks locations
Our research into the history of Spaceworks and its business centres is ongoing. If you have any information that could fill in some gaps, please do contact us!
Easton Business Centre, Felix Road, Easton
The site at Easton Business Centre (EBC) has played host to a variety of businesses and building structures over the years, which continues with the modern business centre we know today.
EBC is located on the site of the former Easton Colliery, which was active from 1830-1911.
From 1931 – 1962, J Lyons & Co ran a wholesale tea distribution depot...
From 1931 – 1962, J Lyons & Co ran a wholesale tea distribution depot onsite, and their warehouse covered the area at the end of the car park where the single-storey building sits today.
From a 1950 map of the site, there was a building which housed A. V. Willis General Engineer where the 2-storey building is now (source: 1950 Bristol Town Plans).
In 1991 East Bristol Enterprise developed the site, which at the time housed Julian Flook Wine Supermarket, to create a 3-storey business centre. In 1999 an additional block was built giving further workshop and office/studio space to create what is now Easton Business Centre.
Easton Colliery
From 1883 it appears that the workings of the Easton and Whitehall pits were connected by an underground roadway between 2 and 3 miles long. Towards the Whitehall shaft there were two 30 horsepower engines 380 yards below the surface in an underground engine-house used for pulling trams up inclines.
WB Monks Senior, Mine Manager (1831-1892), is described as giving th...
WB Monks Senior, Mine Manager (1831-1892), is described as giving the Times & Mirror reporters a ‘cheerful and kindly greeting’.
The following 3 maps show where the colliery was located in relation to Easton Business Centre today, and straddles our current-day neighbours – St Gabriel’s Business Park and the Felix Road adventure playground.
J Lyons & Co
J Lyons & Co came on site in 1931 and was located at the bottom of the current car park. They set up a wholesale tea distribution business in Bristol, dispatching tea to ‘places such as Liskeard, Banbury, Cardiff, Llanelly, Penzance and Hereford’. The business ceased trading in 1962...
J Lyons & Co came on site in 1931 and was located at the bottom of the current car park. They set up a wholesale tea distribution business in Bristol, dispatching tea to ‘places such as Liskeard, Banbury, Cardiff, Llanelly, Penzance and Hereford’. The business ceased trading in 1962, but apparently there was an attached bakery which continued trading beyond this time.
The Old Library Business Centre, Trinity Road, St Philips
Previously known as the St Philips Public Library and also the St Philips Free Library, the library was built in 1896 in a Jacobethan style. It was designed by William Venn Gough and still has its original name on the top of the building. It closed as a public library on 28 November 2012.
We’ve found a couple of pictures of the library in all its glory back in the 1900s...
We’ve found a couple of pictures of the library in all its glory back in the 1900s.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Road_Library,_Bristol
The Old Schoolhouse, Salisbury Street, Barton Hill
The building was built in 1899 and named the Bristol Friends First Day School. Six years later it was extended to include a gym, skittle alley and billiards room. Its name was recorded in Kelly’s Directory of Bristol of 1914 as ‘Society of Friends Meeting House’ as well as ‘Barton Hill Adult School’. In 1951 it was known as the ‘Adult School’ and in 1967 re-named the ‘Barton Hill Bristol Friends First Day School’.
In the 1970s and 80s the building was used by the Boys Brigade, the...
In the 1970s and 80s the building was used by the Boys Brigade, the Shaftesbury Crusade and Barton Hill History Group. It closed as a school in 1980.
Barton Hill Revisited – Images of England, Barton Hill History Group, Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2005
The Old Co-op business centre, Chelsea Road, Easton
The Old Co-op building is located on Chelsea Road in Easton. Formerly part of the Co-operative chain of supermarkets, it was our very first business centre, opening in 1985.
Numbers 38 and 40-42 were purchased with help from Bristol City Council and central government and saw the amalgamation of East Bristol Enterprise and Bristol East Side Traders to take over running the building...
Numbers 38 and 40-42 were purchased with help from Bristol City Council and central government and saw the amalgamation of East Bristol Enterprise and Bristol East Side Traders to take over running the building.
Bristol East Side Traders was founded in 1985. By organising street festivals in St Marks Road and St Paul’s Market, two of the city’s busiest inner-city trading areas, the group helped create a sense of pride in the local community. The festivals gave local traders the opportunity to run stalls, try out business ideas and get their products to customers. They also made closer links with other businesses operating in the two streets.
The building was refurbished in 2004-5 and now offers 26 high-quality offices.
Source: https://www.wikipreneurship.eu/index.php/Bristol_East_Side_Traders
St Bonaventure’s business centre, Friary Road, Bishopston
St Bonaventure’s business centre was officially opened in October 2017, when Spaceworks took over managing the centre. The building was previously a social club and hosted a wide variety of live music. CRH Music organised gigs there for over 12 years. Read local press stories below:
https://www.bristol247.com/culture/music/bye-bye-to-st-bons-as-a-music-venue/...
Redbrick House co-working space, Wilder Street, St Pauls
Redbrick House is a not-for-profit co-working space, centrally located in St Pauls. Spaceworks bought the building in 2020 and took over the running of it from Paper Arts CIC. Before that it was an old council building.
The building comprises 4 floors and includes a range of spaces, from interactive open-plan co-working to secluded studios.
Big hangars, small nooks, stained-glass windows, contemporary spaces. There’s something for everyone at Spaceworks.
