2025 marks a remarkable milestone as Rosemary Nursery celebrates 100 years of quality early years education for Bristol families.
Our centenary celebration in July was a tremendous success, bringing together our children, families, and even the Lord Mayor of Bristol for a memorable day. We enjoyed delicious food prepared by our families, cooling ice cream, a visit from a petting zoo, creative art activities, face painting, music and dancing, and decorating a special memory tree. The day concluded with a birthday cake and the planting of a commemorative peach tree.
Our Heritage
Rosemary Nursery began as Friars Nursery School in 1925 in Quaker’s Friar (now Broadmead), making it Bristol’s first nursery school and one of the very first in the country. Our founding headteacher, Miss Ellen King, was awarded an MBE for her tireless community work. Since moving to our St Judes site in 1959, we have continuously evolved to meet changing needs whilst maintaining our core belief in learning through play.
Today, we serve children aged 2-4 from Bristol’s diverse, multicultural community as a Maintained Nursery School, federated with The Limes and St Werburgh’s Nursery Schools. Many of our families arrive from challenging backgrounds, and we pride ourselves on creating a welcoming environment where every child and family feels they belong.
Looking Ahead
Despite ongoing building improvements, our dedicated staff remain committed to providing exceptional childcare and giving each child the best possible start to their educational journey. Here’s to the next chapter in our remarkable story!
