Tollgate House, once a prominent feature in the Bristol skyline, has always held a special place in my heart. Working there from 1992 to 2001, I was fortunate to witness both the vibrancy and the later decline of this iconic building. Recently, stumbling upon some photos of Tollgate House in its abandoned state, a flood of nostalgia mixed with a pang of melancholy washed over me.
Here is a little recap of the days working for the UK Government in Tollgate.
A Daily Ascent to the Eighth Floor
From memory Tollgate House had 15 floors with a canteen, small shop and if memory recalls a bar! On the “16th floor”. My journey with Tollgate House began in the early 90s when I started working on the eighth floor. Those elevator rides were a daily ritual, seeing faces that would always present. smile to you yet you never knew their names. Each few floors had a department of their own. The Wildlife section was 8 & 9. The view from the windows was nothing short of spectacular, offering a panoramic vista of Bristol that never failed to impress.
The building, with its Brutalist architecture, might not have been the prettiest on the block, but it had character. It was a place where you could feel the pulse of the city—where friendships and even relationships were formed. Though in those days there was a strange rule that if you dated someone you could not work in the same office.
The Heartbeat of Our Office Life
Tollgate House was more than just a workplace; it was where camaraderie was built. Our office was filled with a mix of laughter, the clacking of keyboards, the smell of toast and coffee, and the ringing of phones that seemed almost incessant. Coffee breaks and lunch hours were opportunities to exchange stories with colleagues or to simply enjoy the view of the bustling city below. Smoking was allowed in some rooms those days but soon stopped.
As the years passed, changes in technology and shifts in business dynamics transformed our workflow and interactions. Yet, the essence of our collective endeavor remained the same—dedicated individuals coming together to achieve common goals as civil servants.
Witnessing Changes and Decline
By the late 90s, however, it was clear that Tollgate House was struggling to keep up with the newer, more modern facilities that were popping up around Bristol. The decline was gradual but undeniable. Departments moved out, and fewer colleages came through its doors. The vibrancy that once defined it began to fade, leaving behind a quieter, emptier shell of its former self. Eventually most moved to the newer offices in Temple Quay. For me I moved to London.
Finding Photos of an Abandoned Icon
Discovering photos of Tollgate House in its abandoned state brought a mix of emotions. The images of empty, graffiti-scarred hallways and dust-covered floors where we once walked and worked were poignant. It was hard to reconcile these somber visuals with my vivid memories of a bustling workplace.
These photographs serve as powerful reminders of the impermanence of man-made structures and the enduring nature of the memories we attach to them. They prompted me to reach out to former colleagues, sharing these visuals, reigniting old connections, and collectively reminiscing about our time there.
A Legacy Remembered
Today, Tollgate House lives on in our shared memories and the stories we tell. It stands as a testament to the era it was built in, the people who passed through its doors, and the inevitable changes that come with time. For those of us who spent a significant part of our careers there, it remains a symbol of our professional beginnings and the relationships we forged.
As I look back at those photos, I am grateful for the memories and the people I met along the way. Tollgate House may no longer be the bustling hub it once was, but it continues to hold a special place in the history of Bristol and in the hearts of those who knew it well.