Colstons Almshouses Colston's Almshouses

COLSTON'S ALMSHOUSES, ST MICHAELS HILL

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1202546
Date first listed:
08-Jan-1959
List Entry Name:
Colstons Almshouses Colston's Almshouses
Statutory Address:
COLSTON'S ALMSHOUSES, ST MICHAELS HILL
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Date:
2002-05-11
Reference:
IOE01/07133/34
Rights:
© Miss Janet Gibson. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1202546
Date first listed:
08-Jan-1959
Date of most recent amendment:
24-Oct-1996
List Entry Name:
Colstons Almshouses Colston's Almshouses
Statutory Address 1:
COLSTON'S ALMSHOUSES, ST MICHAELS HILL
Statutory Address 2:
COLSTONS ALMSHOUSES, ST MICHAELS HILL

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

Location

Statutory Address:
COLSTON'S ALMSHOUSES, ST MICHAELS HILL
Statutory Address:
COLSTONS ALMSHOUSES, ST MICHAELS HILL

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 58509 73363

Details

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

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
380472
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.

Ordnance survey map of Colstons Almshouses Colston's Almshouses

Map

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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