Colstons Almshouses Explained

Colstons Almshouses
Location Town:Bristol
Location Country:England
Coordinates:51.458°N -2.5985°W
Map Type:Bristol
Client:Edward Colston
Completion Date:1691

Colstons Almshouses is a historic building on St Michaels Hill, Bristol, England. It was built in 1691 and has been designated by Historic England as a Grade I listed building. The front wall and gates are also Grade I listed. They are named after the Bristol-born merchant, philanthropist, slave trader, and Member of Parliament Edward Colston.

The almshouses were founded by Edward Colston for twelve inmates.[1] They were expected to attend the chapel twice a day for a prayer reading.[2] The baroque chapel contains panels made from ships' timbers and has a barrel vault. On the front wall of the chapel is a plaque to Colston.[2]

It is a two-storey limestone building with hipped roofs with triangular canopies over the individual front doors.[2] The building is U-shaped, arranged around a courtyard with a wall forming the front of the complex. The windows are divided by stone mullions and transoms.[2] There is a central bell cupola.

The building was renovated in 1988.[3] The home provides twelve one-bedroom flats, laundry and communal lounge and a garden. The Society of Merchant Venturers is the trustee for the Almshouses.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Burrough, THB . Bristol . 1970 . Studio Vista . London . 0-289-79804-3 .
  2. Web site: Colston's Almshouses and Chapel. Bristol Opening Doors. 23 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161024024238/http://bristolopeningdoors.org/colstons-almshouses-chapel/. 24 October 2016. dead.
  3. Web site: Colston's Almshouses. Housing Care. 23 October 2016.
  4. Web site: Care for Older People. Society of Merchant Venturers. 8 August 2016.