Foster's Almshouses, Bristol

Foster's Almshouse
Foster's Almshouses with the Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne
Location within Bristol
General information
Location	Colston Street, Bristol, England
Coordinates	51°27′22″N2°35′50″W / 51.4560°N 2.5973°W / 51.4560; -2.5973
Construction started	1861
Completed	1883
Website
www.fostersalmshouses.co.uk
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	Foster's Almshouses and attached walls, railings and gates
Designated	8 January 1959
Reference no.	1282306

Foster's Almshouses (grid reference ST586732 ) is a historic building on Colston Street in Bristol, England. The almshouse was founded by a bequest from the 15th-century merchant John Foster in 1492; his will can be read online. ^[1]

History

The west wing of the current building was built in 1861, the north wing in 1872, and the south and east wings in 1880–83 by Foster and Wood. The Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne, which was built for the use of those living in the Almshouse, was restored at the same time. ^[2]

It has been designated as a Grade II* listed building. ^[3]

In 2007 Bristol Charities, which runs the almshouse, sold the existing buildings to a developer to develop into private accommodation. This decision was taken because the existing buildings were judged to be unfit for the purpose of housing the old and often infirm occupants who lived there. ^[4] The proceeds of the sale have been used to establish a new purpose-built 'John Foster's Almshouse' in Henbury in north Bristol. ^{[5] [6]}

Archives

Records of Foster's Almshouse are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. 33041/BMC/2) (online catalogue) and (Ref. 45157/1) (online catalogue).

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
• List of British almshouses

References

1. Evan T. Jones (ed.), Will of John Foster, merchant of Bristol, 6 August 1492, The National Archives, PROB 11/9, fos. 65–66 (University of Bristol, ROSE, 2008)
2. Brace, Keith (1976). Portrait of Bristol. London: Robert Hale. ISBN   0-7091-5435-6.
3. Historic England. "Foster's Almshouses and attached walls, railings and gates (1282306)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 November 2023.
4. "End of an era for almshouses". Bristol: BBC. 26 September 2006.^{[ dead link ]}
5. 'The new John Foster’s Almshouse in Henbury, north Bristol'. Archived 28 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
6. "New almshouse for city's elderly". BBC News. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2025.

External links

• Foster's Almshouses website

Media related to Foster's Almshouses, Bristol at Wikimedia Commons