| Colstons Almshouses | |
|---|---|
 Colstons Almshouses | |
  Location within Bristol | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′29″N2°35′54″W / 51.45795°N 2.59845°W |
| Completed | 1691 |
| Client | Edward Colston |
Colstons Almshouses is a historic building on St Michaels Hill, Bristol, England. It was built in 1691 and has been designated by Historic England as a Grade I listed building. [1] The front wall and gates are also Grade I listed. [2] They are named after the Bristol-born merchant, philanthropist, slave trader, and Member of Parliament Edward Colston.
The almshouses were founded by Edward Colston for twelve inmates. [3] They were expected to attend the chapel twice a day for a prayer reading. [4] The baroque chapel contains panels made from ships' timbers and has a barrel vault. [1] On the front wall of the chapel is a plaque to Colston. [4]
It is a two-storey limestone building with hipped roofs with triangular canopies over the individual front doors. [4] The building is U-shaped, arranged around a courtyard with a wall forming the front of the complex. [1] The windows are divided by stone mullions and transoms. [4] There is a central bell cupola. [1]
The building was renovated in 1988. [5] The home provides twelve one-bedroom flats, laundry and communal lounge and a garden. The Society of Merchant Venturers is the trustee for the Almshouses. [6]