Description

ST 5873 SE BRISTOL ST MICHAEL'S HILL

901-1/11/281 Colstons Almshouses

08/01/59

GV I

Almshouse. Dated 1691, restored 1861 and 1988. Limestone ashlar with ridge stacks, and pantile hipped roof. U-shaped plan with wings to sides of a courtyard. 2 storeys; 8-window range middle with 10-window wings. A symmetrical group with a pedimented central chapel broken forward, drip moulds to both floors and a stone eaves cornice.
Large central doorway has an eared architrave and 6-panel oak door, with a deep segmental canopy on foliate brackets, with a relief broken pediment with a pedestal Above is a moulded panel inscribed to EDWARD COLSTON with a broken pediment, oval keyed windows each side and a clock in the pediment tympanum. Doorways to the ends of the centre, and in the 3rd and 5th bays of the wings, with pitched canopies on brackets and 4-panel oak doors. Stone moulded cross windows with architraves to metal casements, with alternate pediments and segmental pediments along the string, and 2 segmental pediments to the end elevations. The rear elevation has projecting chapel with rose window and lower flanking windows with stained glass, and a good plank door to a flagged basement, with cross boarding to the inside. Stacks are diagonally-set with linked cornices. Central bell cupola with an ogee roof. Square section lead downpipes. INTERIOR: chapel, refurbished in late C17, has panelled timber pilasters flanking the entrance and in the corners of the E end, to a 3-bay barrel-vaulted timber roof, tall wainscotting rising behind the altar to a segmental pediment, with attached side benches and curved arm rests, and a single row of pews each side with desks. The houses have been extensively restored. Founded by the noted Bristol philanthropist merchant Edward Colston.

Listing NGR: ST5851873372

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Colstons Almshouses at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5149380

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)