Another booklet on Brislington history provides some further details of Kensington House:

"KENSINGTON HOUSE stood near the site of the present PDSA building on the Bath Road. The house was built about 1810 by a Mr John Bally and it had pleasure grounds adjoining those of "Arno's Court" (the grounds originally took much of the "Kensington Park" area). The front of the house had an elaborate neo-classical porch.

In 1832 the mansion was advertised for sale by auction in the "Bristol Mirror as "a most desirable Residence for a Large Family of the highest respectability". The lengthy description of the property mentioned the "six capital best Bed-Chambers, with Dressing Rooms (one of which is fitted up with an Iron Repository)" and the "best and secondary kitchens, fitted up with Steam-Cooking Apparatus, Larder, Dairy, Laundry, Wine and Beer Cellars and every other convenience together with an abundance of both sorts of water". In the late 1840's, John Brown sold the house to Mr Richard Jenkins Poole-King (1799-1874), partner with his brother in the firm Messrs R and R Poole-King "merchants trading to Africa". The business, started by their father, Thomas King, continued to exist until about 1906.

In the early days the company traded or bartered with the natives with coloured cloth, beads and even firearms (which were highly dangerous) for ivory, rubber and other products.

Mr Poole-King was known locally as Mr "Merchant" King and for many years was a "big noise" in Bristol shipping (at one time he had a fleet of some 20 ships averaging 200 tons each trading to West Africa). He was a member of Bristol City Council for the best part of 40 years and Mayor of Bristol in 1844-45. This was a couple of years before he moved to "Kensington House" which was his home until his death in 1874.

A Bristol guide book of 1850 stated of Brislington "several of the more opulent merchants of Bristol have taken up their private residences about this healthy and quiet locality; the neighbourhood abounds with fine meadow fields and pleasant walks".

The same book described "Kensington House" as "the splendid mansion..... situated on a rising slope of park like verdant lawn; surrounded by exotics and evergreens of the choicest selection; and it is in the centre of a noble hedgerow plantation of luxuriant elm, beech and other timber trees; and nearly the whole is close to, and within sight of the high road to Bath".

A stained glass window in St Luke's Church commemorated Mr Poole-King, but it was blitzed during the last war and not replaced, but another memory of his is preserved in "King's Road", Brislington.

In the early 1880's houses originally known as "Kensington Villas" were built on what had been "Kensington House" shrubbery.

After Mr Poole-King's death his widow continued to live at the house until 1884. She was succeeded by Mr S Weston, who was followed in 1896 by Mr Frederick Hunt. In 1902 Mr George Lewis Poole, a builder, came there. He built many of the houses in the "Kensington Park" area. Mr William Brain, a commercial traveller who also owned a greengrocer's shop in Temple Meads, followed in about 1918 and lived there until 1932 - the final private occupier of the house.

The house was bought by Mr W Knight, nurseryman (formerly Mr Brain's gardener), whose son until recently ran the business at 602 Bath Road.

About 1935 the house was acquired by St Christopher's Church who used it as a club house for some years. During the Second .World War a tank regiment was in occupation and after the war the house was used by the Territorial Army. it was later used by a medical products firm and finally a greetings card business. It was eventually demolished in 1973 and the present PDSA building built on the site. The coach house and stables survive, now used by Army and Air Cadets."

Source: Bygone Brislington by Jonathan Rowe

1881 Census

As a matter of interest, the following people were living at Kensington House (where it seems the owner was away on census night), Kensington House Lodge and Kensington House Cottages when the 1881 census was taken:

Dwelling: Kensington Ho
Census Place: Brislington, Somerset, England
Source: FHL Film 1341589 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2449 Folio 123 Page 14
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Joseph BALE M 53 M Bristol Clifton
Rel: Serv (Head)
Occ: Butler Dom Serv
Maria WEBBER U 48 F Taunton, Somerset, England
Rel: Serv
Occ: Parlourmaid Dom Serv
Edith E. HOUSE U 25 F Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, England
Rel: Serv
Occ: Ladies Maid Dom Serv
Eliza BROOKS U 30 F Huish, Somerset, England
Rel: Serv
Occ: Housemaid Dom Serv

Dwelling: Kensington Ho Lodge
Census Place: Brislington, Somerset, England
Source: FHL Film 1341589 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2449 Folio 123 Page 14
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
George GOODLAND M 67 M Chew Magna, Somerset, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Coachman Dom Serv
Elizabeth GOODLAND M 54 F Alveston, Gloucester, England
Rel: Wife
Herbert GOODLAND U 19 M Brislington, Somerset, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Carpenter
Elizabeth GOODLAND U 27 F Brislington, Somerset, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: Dressmaker
Clarissia GOODLAND U 24 F Brislington, Somerset, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: Dressmaker
Florence GOODLAND U 16 F Brislington, Somerset, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: Dressmaker
Frederick MORRIS U 21 M Durrington, Wiltshire, England
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Groom (D)

Dwelling: Kensington Ho Cottage
Census Place: Brislington, Somerset, England
Source: FHL Film 1341589 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2449 Folio 123 Page 14
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Maurice O'BRIEN M 67 M C Cork, Ireland
Rel: Head
Occ: Gardener (D)
Lucy O'BRIEN M 67 F Brockerswood, Wiltshire, England
Rel: Wife

Dwelling: Kensington Ho Cottage
Census Place: Brislington, Somerset, England
Source: FHL Film 1341589 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2449 Folio 123 Page 14
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Mark LAW M 32 M Brislington, Somerset, England
Rel: Head
Occ: (D) Gardener
Elizabeth A. LAW M 29 F Brislington, Somerset, England
Rel: Wife
Occ: Dressmaker
Alice A. LAW 1 F Brislington, Somerset, England
Rel: Daur