First World War Shelter
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1426661
- Date first listed:
- 09-Sept-2015
- List Entry Name:
- First World War Shelter
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1426661
- Date first listed:
- 09-Sept-2015
- List Entry Name:
- First World War Shelter
- Location Description:
- Westbury Road, Bristol, BS8 2XU
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.
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.
Location
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:
- ST5733974886
Summary
A convalescent shelter and war memorial of 1917.
Reasons for Designation
The Downs Haven memorial shelter at Westbury Road, Bristol is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the generous response it made by erecting this shelter for those who had suffered in the cause of freedom and needed the means of convalescence in which to recover from their injuries;
* Architectural interest: a simple and modest design, well-crafted and enlivened with good quality detailing particularly in the cast-iron eaves and roof ridge detailing;
* Intactness: the structure is unaltered;
* Group value: it groups well with neighbouring listed buildings.
History
The shelter, known as The Downs Haven, was built in 1917 for the use of injured servicemen and women who were convalescing at the nearby Queen Victoria Hospital. It is located on the southern edge of Durdham Down, a large green open space considered to be an ideal and healthy location to aid rest and recuperation. The Downs Haven was paid for by public subscription and had a Roll of Honour to the 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment installed in June 1917, which was later moved, possibly to the Drill Hall in Old Market Street, Bristol. The shelter was restored in 1999, at which time a plaque was attached by Redland and Cotham Amenity Society.
Details
A shelter for convalescing soldiers constructed in 1917.
MATERIALS: constructed of timber panels with cast-iron canopy detailing and rainwater goods, and modern slate roofs. The seats have steel frames and timber seats and backs.
DESCRIPTION: the shelter is T-plan and split into three seating areas. The widest (5.46m, six panels), along the bar of the T, faces south-east. The other two have L-shaped seating plans, partly facing north to the downs. The structure is built of chamfered and stopped timber posts and rails, and with timber board infill panels in a herringbone pattern. It stands on a concrete base. The bench seating is set back against the walls, under the cover of oversailing canopies. Iron detailing to the canopies is in a French style including a flower motif. The roof has a wheel cross finial on top of each of the three gable ends.
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 15 December 2016.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 15/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/227785
Other
Western Daily Press, Bristol, Wednesday June 27, 1917 [letter]
Architect drawings from the City Engineer's Office. Corporation of Bristol: No. 17760, dated 5.2.17
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 01-Jul-2026 at 21:37:46.
Download a full scale map (PDF)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.