Almshouses of Bristol

In case you are wondering (as I was), the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. It has a population not far short of a million people. Its Headquarters are in Bristol. This post is concerned only with Bristol.

King Street, where the St Nicholas with Burton's Almshouses are to be found is on the corner with Queen Charlotte Street. They date from 1652 and were extended in the 19th century and restored in 1961. They are now student accommodation.

King Street is full of interesting buildings, including the Bristol Old Vic and at the far end is another fine almshouse: the Merchant Venturers of 1699, intended for seamen as the plaque suggests.

The front view is delightful although it was originally a square, partly destroyed by wartime bombing and further constrained by road realignment. It is now private accommodation.

 

We crossed the busy Colston Avenue and went to see St Bartholomew's Hospital, the tall white building with vertical timbers. It is a 12th Century town house incorporated into monastery hospital founded 1240 by Sir John le Warre, and later a school. A sign revealed that it was now apartments, all sold.

 

 
At the top of Christmas Steps is the dramatic Foster's Almshouse. It was originally founded by a bequest from  merchant John Foster in 1492. The present high Victorian buildings were constructed between 1861 and 1883 and are now private apartments.

 

 

And finally to see the harmonious Colston's Almshouses, built in 1691 (and restored in 1861 and 1988). Colston is of course the now notorious Edward Colston (1636–1721).