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FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY

FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY, COLSTON PARADE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Almshouse, 1784 with C20 internal alterations, endowed by William Fry. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1052244
Date first listed:: 04-Mar-1977
List Entry Name:: FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY
Statutory Address:: FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY, COLSTON PARADE

User submitted image — Uploaded by Martin Newman This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Date:: 2004-04-17
Reference:: IOE01/11866/17
Rights:: © Mr Ian Garman. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1052244
Date first listed:: 04-Mar-1977
List Entry Name:: FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY
Statutory Address 1:: FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY, COLSTON PARADE

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY, COLSTON PARADE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: City of Bristol (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: ST 59115 72219

Details

BRISTOL

901-1/42/1672 COLSTON PARADE 04-MAR-1977 REDCLIFFE (South side) FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY

II

Almshouse, 1784 with C20 internal alterations, endowed by William Fry.

MATERIALS: Coarse roughcast walls, limestone parapet, brick chimneys behind the ridge of the pantile roof.

PLAN: Two storied, double-depth plan, with a long range to rear.

EXTERIOR: Symmetrical three-bay elevation in the Gothick style. The central two-leaf door has strap hinges (a modern replacement), and scrolled ends and sits within a four-centred moulded arch on uncarved imposts and moulded jambs. The lancet windows to both floors have Y-tracery with two leaded casements with interlacing heads. The elevation is surmounted with a crenellated parapet with cornice beneath. An oval panel above the doorway reads FRY'S/ HOUSE OF MERCY/ 1784.

INTERIOR: Not inspected but rebuilt behind the façade in after 1945.

HISTORY: The almshouse was founded in 1778 and completed in 1784. It was endowed by William Fry, a local distiller, and built to house twelve widows; the almshouse was connected to the parish of St. Mary Redcliffe, which no doubt explains its choice of Gothick. Following bomb damage during WWII the almshouses were partly rebuilt behind the façade.

SOURCES: Folyle, Andrew. Bristol Pevsner Architectural Guide (2004), 181.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: Fry's House of Mercy, an almshouse of 1784, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Architectural interest: in particular for its gothick design * Historic interest: one of a number of surviving C18 philanthropic buildings within the city and one that continues to be used for its original purpose * Group value: with St Mary Redcliffe church (Grade I listed) opposite and the C18 and C19 houses adjacent to it on Colston Parade (all listed Grade II)

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 379343
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.