Completed 1691 Opened 1691 | ||
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Similar Merchant Venturers Almshouses, Foster's Almshouses - Bristol, Wickham Theatre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, St Mary on the Quay | ||
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.
Contents
Map of Colstons Almshouses, St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8DY, UK
The almshouses were founded by Edward Colston for 12 inmates. They were expected to attend the chapel twice a day for a prayer reading. The baroque chapel contains panels made from ships timbers and has a barrel vault roof. On the front wall of the chapel is a plaque to Colston.
It is a two-storey limestone building with hipped roofs with triangular canopies over the individual front doors. The building is U shaped, arranged around a courtyard with a all forming the front of the complex. The windows are divided by stone mullions and transoms. There is a central bell cupola.
The building was renovated in 1988. The home provides 12 1-bedroom flats, laundry and communal lounge and a garden. The Society of Merchant Venturers is the trustee for the Almshouses.
Archives
Records of Colston's Almshouses are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. SMV/4/2) (online catalogue).