The site of the Engineer's Arms and Spring Head Brewery was once known as Napier Gardens. It is marked thus on the 1874 Ashmead map, and there were buildings on this site on the 1840's Tithe map, plot 844.
Salvidge opened a tavern there in 1854, he was also licensee of the General Elliott Inn, West Street, Bedminster from 1857-taking over from his father of the same name who had had the place for 20 years, when Salvidge junior took over he was advertising his home made beer:

    Bristol Mercury - Saturday 05 August 1854: NAPIER GARDENS, JOHN'S LANE, BEDMINSTER.

    Mr. George Salvidge, jun., begs to inform his friends and the public in general that he has opened the above GARDENS for the sale of Home-Brewed BEER.
Tea parties accommodated, and families supplied with beer in small casks. P.S. A covered ninepin alley.

    On 12th June 1857 George Salvidge Senior retired at the General Elliott Inn, Bedminster in favour of his son George Salvidge Junior. The same applied to his Builders, brick and lime business, which his sons William and George Salvidge took over.

    Bristol Mercury - Saturday 22 August 1857: To Be Let: A beer-house and tea gardens, known as the "Napier Gardens," John's Lane, Bedminster.
This is a good opportunity for parties seeking a business. Satisfactory reasons will be given for the present proprietor leaving. Apply on the premises. (The reasons being George had to take care of his father's businesses).
The next incumbent did not last there long.
Bristol Mercury - Saturday 07 November 1857: NAPIER GARDENS, JOHN'S LANE, BEDMINSTER. Mr. F. Miles will sell by auction, on the premises, on Thursday next, November 12th.
All the neat and nearly new household furniture, fixtures, two fat pigs, new teasel dilly, with sheet and lines; about 16 sacks of very prime potatoes, in lots, & c., of Mr. George Challenger
of the aforesaid gardens, quitting the same.
Sale at 11 o'clock in the forenoon. No reserve whatever.
NB. The above house to be let. For particulars, enquire on the premises.

    Tuesday 14th Jan. 1862 license of the General Elliott, West Street, Bedminster, transferred from George Salvidge, jun. to Daniel Mereweather. George now removes from the Elliott, back to the Brewery, assisted by his brother James.

    Western Daily Press - Wednesday 12 February 1862: Barm! Barm! Barm! To Be Sold, a quantity of Barm. Apply to George & James Salvidge, Spring Head Brewery, Knowle Lane, Bedminster.
Western Daily Press - Wednesday 25 June 1862: Spring Head Brewery advertising for beer delivery man.

    Jan. & Feb. 1865 more Barm adverts appear. 19th May they were advertising Barm 6d a gallon and grains 2d a bushel.

    Bristol Mercury - Saturday 02 February 1867 reports that the body of the landlord of the Jolly Sailor at East Street, George White, was found in a ditch in St. John's lane near the gardens the previous Thursday and taken back to the beer house. It was a mystery how he got there.
This turned out to be a case of mistaken identity by the local police constable, the deceased was actually a 27 year old shoemaker called Benjamin Wring who it seems had a fit while hunting watercress.

    From the London Gazette, Tues. May 26th 1868, the dissolution of the partnership (on the 22nd inst.) of George Salvidge jun. and James Salvidge, Knowle Lane, Bedminster, brewers, under the style of "G. & J. Salvidge", was announced, business to be carried on by George the younger, alone.

    Western Daily Press - Thursday 05 November 1868, George Salvidge still advertising Barm & Grains.
Western Daily Press - Saturday 25 September 1869: To be let: SPRING GARDEN TAVERN, Knowle Lane, Bedminster. Napier Gardens now has a new name.
Apply to Mr. George Patch of the above house, or to Mr. George Salvidge of the Spring Head Brewery.

    Sat. 5th Nov. 1870 George Salvidge, proprietor of the Engineer's Hotel, put on a firework display. This is the first mention I have found for the Engineer's Hotel.

    Bristol Mercury - Saturday 24 June 1871: NOTICE- George Salvidge, Lime Burner and Brick Maker, have Removed to the Engineer's Hotel, Knowle Lane, Bedminster, where all orders will be punctually attended to. N.B. Teas Gardens with Skittle Alley and other amusements, will be open to the public.

    Western Daily Press - Tuesday 27 August 1872: George Salvidge loses a leather purse containing gold, silver and a cheque, on college green in the city.

   16th Dec.1873 George Salvidge Sen. dies at the Engineer's, leaving son George around £300. George was later sued by his sister (Higgs v. Salvidge, Bristol Tolzey Court, 27th Oct. 1875) for £50 as payment for looking after their father whilst he was terminally ill. From the report, she believed her brother received in the order of £5,000 from the will, clearly at odds with the National Probate calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations).

    Western Daily Press - Saturday 16 May 1874: Brewery comes on the market:

    Messrs. Day & Willcox will submit to auction, at the Hen & Chicken Inn, North Street, Bedminster, on Tuesday 19th May 1874, at 6 o'clock in the evening (subject to conditions of sale),
and in the following or such other lots as shall be determined at the sale,
Lot 1. The Brewery, Malthouse, Yard, Stable, Bowling Alley, and Land, situate in Knowle Lane, Bedminster, Somersetshire, called the Spring Head Brewery, and the adjoining Full-Licensed Public House and Gardens,
called the Engineer's Arms.....etc.

    Friday 16th April 1875 Salvidge is fined £110 for improper recording of quantities of sugar obtained for brewing on 10 charges brought by the customs & excise. This signals the beginning of the end for the brewery business and Salvidge's fortunes.

    George Salvidge announced liquidation, by arrangement, of the brewery, in the Bristol Mercury - Saturday 01 January 1876, from the London Gazette of Friday 24th Dec. 1875.

    Fixtures etc. were put up for sale again at the Hope and Anchor Inn, Redcliff Hill, on the 6th Jan. 1876. The brewery and 25-quarter malt house was then offered to let.
   
    In the Bristol Mercury - Saturday 12 October 1878, it was reported that Salvidge and an accomplice named James Tutton, assaulted the then occupier of the malthouse, Henry Green Coleman, in a dispute over their right to occupation, they were both fined 20s with costs, or a month imprisonment.

    In the Bristol Mercury - Monday 12 June 1882, it was reported that Salvidge was in the dock for stealing a piece of soap from the Athanaeum. It appeared he was now of much reduced circumstances, but because of his previous good standing as a Bedminster brewer, he was given the benefit of the doubt by the judge.