Historic Gatehouse to get new lease of life

RH, Gatehouse, Bond's Mill, april 2017.jpg

The historic Gatehouse at Bond’s Mill Estate, owned by the Robert Hitchins Group, is to get a new lease of life as a mini heritage centre run by the Cotswold Canals Trust.

The Trust occupies the quaint Grade II listed building, which is perched on the edge of the Stroudwater Navigation Canal at Stonehouse.

Originally a gun turret built as part of the Second World War defences to protect Bristol and Avonmouth, it will in future be an activity centre, used for displays on the history of the Gatehouse, the Stroudwater Canal and the Bond’s Mill business park.

After the official opening on April 13, The Gatehouse will be open to the public at weekends and on Bank Holidays and run by volunteers from the Canals Trust and the Stonehouse History Group.

“We’re grateful to Robert Hitchins for permission to open the Gatehouse to the public,” said Val Kirby from the CCT.

“This is a great opportunity to view a hidden historic gem.  As a pillbox, the building was part of Bristol’s outer defences against a German army. It was unique since it doubled up as a platform for an anti-aircraft gun mounted on the roof.”

Helen Hawke, Accounts and Administration Manager for the landlord at Bond’s Mill, welcomed the project.

“As landlord, Robert Hitchins is pleased to support the Cotswold Canals Trust. I’m particularly interested in seeing the Gatehouse gain a new lease of life - when I started working at Bond’s Mill in 1988, I used the first floor as the Estate Office.”

The Gatehouse will be open to visitors at Easter on April 15, 16 and 17 from noon until 4pm and thereafter at weekends and Bank Holidays during the summer.

Bond’s Mill is a thriving business park just 1.5 miles from junction 13 of the M5. It is home to 45 companies from start-ups to well-established names such as UK Power Solutions, Green Gourmet, Omega Resource and BPE Solicitors.

It boasts a mix of character offices and workspace in the refurbished Victorian mill buildings together with modern commercial premises, a café and ample car parking all set in pleasant surroundings of fields and trees with the Stroudwater Canal and River Frome flowing through it. Space is available to let ranging from 100 to 5,000 sq ft.