Colstons Almshouses

{{Short description|Almshouse in Bristol, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox Historic building

|image=Colstons Almshouses.jpg

|caption=Colstons Almshouses

|name=Colstons Almshouses

|location_town=Bristol

|location_country=England

|coordinates = {{coord|51.45795|-2.59845|format=dms|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|map_type=Bristol

|architect=

|client=Edward Colston

|engineer=

|construction_start_date=

|completion_date=1691

|date_demolished=

|cost=

|structural_system=

|style=

|size=

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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.{{NHLE|desc=Colstons Almshouses|num=1202546|accessdate=23 October 2016}} The front wall and gates are also Grade I listed.{{NHLE |num=1282110 |desc=Front wall and gates to Colston's Almshouses |accessdate=2007-03-16}} 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.{{cite book |last=Burrough |first=THB |title=Bristol |year=1970 |publisher=Studio Vista |location=London |isbn=0-289-79804-3 }} They were expected to attend the chapel twice a day for a prayer reading.{{cite web|title=Colston's Almshouses and Chapel|url=http://bristolopeningdoors.org/colstons-almshouses-chapel/#|publisher=Bristol Opening Doors|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024024238/http://bristolopeningdoors.org/colstons-almshouses-chapel/|archive-date=24 October 2016|url-status=dead}} The baroque chapel contains panels made from ships' timbers and has a barrel vault. On the front wall of the chapel is a plaque to Colston.

It is a two-storey limestone building with hipped roofs with triangular canopies over the individual front doors. The building is U-shaped, arranged around a courtyard with a wall forming the front of the complex. The windows are divided by stone mullions and transoms. There is a central bell cupola.

The building was renovated in 1988.{{cite web|title=Colston's Almshouses|url=http://www.housingcare.org/housing-care/facility-info-83713-colstons-almshouse-st-michaels-hill-england.aspx|publisher=Housing Care|access-date=23 October 2016}} 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.{{cite web|title=Care for Older People|url=http://merchantventurers.com/charitable-activities/care-for-older-people/|publisher=Society of Merchant Venturers|access-date=8 August 2016}}