We were recently invited to spend a day enjoying the hospitality of the Vale of Berkeley tourist attractions.

Berkeley is only 20 minutes from the hotel and is home to a fabulous selection of the  finest tourist attractions in the area.

I was thrilled to be able to witness TV celebrity Mark Horton proudly display the latest finds during the excavaion of the Jenner Museum gardens. 

The dig at Jenner Museum Berkeley

This facinating museum tells the incredible story of the famous Dr Edward Jenner who discovered vacination in the late 1800’s.

Swans at WWT Slimbridge

Full details of these and many more attractions can be found via our links page and also from reception at the hotel.

Photographs by kind permission of Chris McHugh of Seemac Ltd.

We were delighted to host a talk recently on Captain Frank Barnwell, a pioneer in Bristol and UK aviation history.

Captain Barnwell moved into Alveston House in the early part of the 20th Century.  He lived here with his wife and 3 sons until his untimely death in 1938.

Frank Barnwell and his brother Harold were famous for building and flying the first aeroplane in Scotland in 1909.  Frank then went on to become chief engineer for Sir George White, founder of the BCAC – Bristol and Colonial Aeroplane Company.  The company leased two sheds at a site in Filton which has since become the base for the internationally renowned BAE Systems.

Some 60 members of Bristol Aero Collection who share a passion for aviation heritage in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area gathered in the Garden Suite to hear about his early life from speaker Quentin Wilson, who was flown down for the occasion from Scotland.

It was a wonderful occasion made even more special as it took place in the former home of Captain Barnwell himself.

Pictured with Quentin Wilson are Bill Morgan, Peter Coombs both from the Aero Collection and myself Carole Topping from Alveston House.

Many visitors to Alveston House Hotel ask about the hotels history and its previous occupants.

One famous family – the Barnwells – lived in the house during the 20’s and 30’s.  Captain Frank Barnwell lived with his wife Marjorie and 3 sons, David, John and Richard at Alveston House after moving to the area to work at Filton where Captain Barnwell was Chief Engineer. 

Frank Barnwell and his brother Harold designed a prototype aeroplane in Scotland and Harold Barnwell piloted the first ever powered flight there at Causewayhead near Stirling on 28th July 1090. The 100th anniversary of this successful flight was celebrated in Scotland this weekend.

Sadly Captain Barnwell was tragically killed in Bristol in 1938 when piloting a small aircraft he had designed and built himself.   The family experienced further tragedy when, one by one, each of the boys were killed during the war aged 19, 20 and 24.

 If you have any knowledge of the history of the Hotel please do get in touch as we would love to hear from you…