Talk:Castle Park, Bristol/GA1

GA Review
The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.''

Reviewer: Pyrotec (talk) 14:44, 6 March 2011 (UTC)


 * I will review. Pyrotec (talk) 14:44, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Initial comments
This is an interesting and generally well-referenced (but see later) article and has the makings of a GA.

The main problem is that there is very little history prior to 24 November 1940, from then onwards there is plenty of history, and those two paragraphs are effectively unreferenced. I'm prepared to accept the maps on flickr as a WP:RS where they are dated (mostly 1937), but in effect there is half a millenium of history that is absent and/or unreferenced.

On that sober note I will review the article in more detail, but will leave the first part of History and the WP:Lead until the end. Pyrotec (talk) 15:41, 6 March 2011 (UTC)


 * History -
 * 24 November 1940 -
 * This subsection looks OK.


 * Replanning -
 * This subsection looks OK.


 * Mary le Port development -
 * This subsection looks OK.


 * Sites of Interest -
 * The main problem with this section is lack of references and/or WP:Reliable sources.
 * I don't regard a posting on flickr as a reliable source, since anyone can post comments on to it (same as wikipedia).
 * The castle is a listed building, there are WP:RS images on the Images of England site, for instance this one: . "Images of England" has a poor search facility (unless you register), but I do suggest that you make use of it in this section.


 * History, unnamed first section -
 * The main problem with this section is lack of information and lack of references and/or WP:Reliable sources.

...to be continued. Pyrotec (talk) 17:01, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Good points, well made. I will work on the neglected half-millennium! RedSquirrel (talk) 20:08, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Checking back, I also did the WP:GAN on History of Bristol in June 2009 and I made similar comments. Published references might be hard to find, so I'll try and help. There is a chapter in "Secret Underground Bristol", Sally Watson (1991 & 2002) - I have both and I prefer the 1991 version - on the castle moat and the diversion of the River Frome. Pyrotec (talk) 20:44, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Scope of article
I realise that I have struggled with the fact that the park does not occupy the whole area under discussion - this is the controversy I refer to in the first para. The Mary-le-Port area is not legally part of the park, though some think it should be. Important buildings such as the Dutch House, which very much form a part of the story, thus fall outside the park proper. I see that the park's amenity group is the 'Castle Park and St Mary Le Port Group', and I realise that the phrase 'Castle Park and Mary-le-Port' more accurately covers what this article is about. Do you have a view on how best to handle this? RedSquirrel (talk) 09:58, 7 March 2011 (UTC)


 * I see the problem. I suggest that it can be made clear by minor "tweaks" to the WP:Lead, such as (I've lost the wikilinks here, but I'm not suggesting that they are removed; and you don't have to do it this way):

"Castle Park (sometimes referred to as Castle Green) is a public open space in Bristol, England, managed by Bristol City Council. It is bounded by the Floating Harbour and Castle Street to the south, Lower Castle Street to the east, and Broad Weir, Newgate and Wine Street to the north. Its western boundary is less obviously defined and was the subject of controversy. The western end of the site was heavily damaged by bombing during the Second World War, the remaining parts were subsequently demolished, but not all of them were incorporated into the park. Castle park was completed in 1978,[1] and occupies a site which had contained Bristol's main shopping area.

The ruined tower of St Mary-le-Port church stands to the west of the park and lies outside of the park, it is surrounded by derelict financial office buildings. Adjoining the ruins of St Peter's church in the middle of the park is a sensory herb garden, and seven silver birch trees as a memorial to the beaches of the D-Day landings. To the east is a grassy arena, and the partially-excavated remains of Bristol Castle with a preserved vaulted chamber. There is also a bandstand and a children's play area.

Tree-lined St Peter’s Square, to the north of St Peter's church, has been home to various events including German Xmas markets. In recent summers a tethered balloon has been placed near the bandstand, offering ascents to sightseers.

Recent attempts to develop the area between the park's western edge and High Street have proved controversial; Bristol City Council are keen to replace derelict buildings with a mixed-use development to help reconnect the Old City to Broadmead and raise funds to improve the park; others would rather see the park extended to High Street."

Pyrotec (talk) 10:45, 7 March 2011 (UTC)
 * OK, I've had a bash at rewording the lead - any thoughts? RedSquirrel (talk) 17:02, 7 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Much improved, you can how have a GA. Pyrotec (talk) 22:08, 8 March 2011 (UTC)

Overall summary
GA review – see WP:WIAGA for criteria


 * 1) Is it reasonably well written?
 * A. Prose quality:
 * B. MoS compliance for lead, layout, words to watch, fiction, and lists:
 * 1) Is it factually accurate and verifiable?
 * A. References to sources:
 * B. Citation of reliable sources where necessary:
 * C. No original research:
 * 1) Is it broad in its coverage?
 * A. Major aspects:
 * B. Focused:
 * 1) Is it neutral?
 * Fair representation without bias:
 * 1) Is it stable?
 * No edit wars, etc:
 * 1) Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?
 * A. Images are copyright tagged, and non-free images have fair use rationales:
 * B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:
 * 1) Overall:
 * Pass or Fail:
 * 1) Is it stable?
 * No edit wars, etc:
 * 1) Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?
 * A. Images are copyright tagged, and non-free images have fair use rationales:
 * B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:
 * 1) Overall:
 * Pass or Fail:
 * B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:
 * 1) Overall:
 * Pass or Fail:
 * Pass or Fail:

In the light of improvements carried out during the review, I'm happy to award this article GA-status. Congratulations on producing an imformative article or a part of Bristol's history. Pyrotec (talk) 22:16, 8 March 2011 (UTC)