About half a mile north of Longwell Green was Barrs Court " now a modern
housing estate". In Henry V111's time this was the home of Sir John Newton
who held large estates in Kingswood Forest. This house, with its drawbridge
and Moat, and its colossal leaden statues, with a great hall and gallery, was
pulled down together with its chapel several hundred years ago, and all that remains today is a small area of the moat, and a large tithe Barn which is now converted into a public house named "Barrs Court". Barrs Court Moat
Space was acquired by Kingswood Council as a result of the development, for housing purposes, of a large area of land streching from the village of Warmley to Longwell Green. The moat is one manyspaces provided within this large development.
Barrs Court is said to have been one of the earliest mansions built on the edge of Kingswood Forest. The exact boundary of the forest is not known but it seems to have extended beyound what is now known as St.George and the neighbourhood east of Bristol.
Barrs Court was built by the mid 14th centry when 15th was held by the De Button family. Lady Jane Barre, grandaughter of the last of the male de Buttons owned the estate in the
mid 15th centry. On her death in 1485 it was inherited by Sir Thomas Newton and remained in the hands of the Newtons for 200 years. The Moat and Manor House lay in the centre of a park of about 95 acres. This park was described
as 'new made' in 1661.
To the east of the moat were two ponds used for the
breeding of fish, probably carp. A rabbit warren, constructed for the supply of rabbit meat and skins, and a dove cot feature in records of 1444 whilst a 'round pigeon house' was mentioned in 1728.
The Manor House was demolished in the 1730's by Sir John Newton. It was replaced by a farm house in the mid 18th century. This house was abandoned in the 1920's although remains of it survive today.
The most impressive feature, however, to be seen at Barrs Court today is the large and well preserved moat, partly enclosing the site of the long demolished manor house. The extent of the lands of Barr's court and entitled Hanham can be found in a long roll of parchmemnt twenty feet long or more, in the British Museum.
Barr's Court
was one of the earliest, if not the first mansion built on the margin of Kingswood Forest. We still find reminders of this great house in local street
or roads names of the area i.e. Parkwall, Newton road, Park Estate, Barrs Court road, etc.
