Merchant Venturers Almshouses

Merchant Venturers Almshouses (grid reference ST587727) is a historic building on King Street, Bristol, England. It has been designated as a Grade II* listed building.[1]

Merchant Venturers Almshouses
Location within Bristol
General information
Town or cityBristol
CountryEngland
Coordinates51.452220°N 2.595026°W / 51.452220; -2.595026
Completed1696
ClientSociety of Merchant Venturers

History

It was built around 1696 by the Society of Merchant Venturers for convalescent and old sailors to see out their days, often after fever or blindness during service in the ships of the Bristol slave trade.[2] It is now private accommodation, apartments 1 to 10.

They are built of Pennant stone in an early Georgian style. The pantile hipped roof has lateral and ridge stacks. There is an oculus over the central doorway, however most of the windows are 20th century replacements.[3] It has scroll-bracketed door canopies at irregular angles.[4]

The almshouses were originally built around a quadrangle however bombing and road realignment mean that it is now left with only three sides.[5] It used to be accompanied by the Merchants Hall but this was destroyed in the Bristol Blitz of World War II.[6]

In 2014 a long lease for the almshouses was signed for £620,000.[7]

The plaque on the wall is a poem:
"Freed from all storms the tempest and the rage
 Of billows, here we spend our age.
Our weather beaten vessels here repair
And from the Merchants' kind and generous care
Find harbour here; no more we put to sea
Until we launch into Eternity.
And lest our Widows whom we leave behind
Should want relief, they too a shelter find.
Thus all our anxious cares and sorrows cease
Whilst our kind Guardians turn our toils to ease.
May they be with an endless Sabbath blest
Who have afforded unto us this rest."

Archives

Records of Merchant Venturers' Almshouse are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. SMV/4/1) (online catalogue).

See also

References
  1. "Merchant Venturers' Almshouses". historicengland.org.uk. Historic England. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  2. "Merchant Venturers' Almshouse". Sweet History?. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  3. "Merchant Venturers' Almshouses, Nos.1-9 (Consecutive)". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  4. Foyle, Andrew (2004). Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides). Yale University Press. p. 161. ISBN 978-0300104424.
  5. "Merchant Venturers' Almhouse". Victoria County History. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  6. Burrough, THB (1970). Bristol. London: Studio Vista. ISBN 0-289-79804-3.
  7. "The Society of Merchant Venturers' Almshouses Charity Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2013". Housing Net. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
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