Bridges Almshouses

KEYNSHAM

ST6468 BRISTOL ROAD 739-1/3/22 (North side) 27/02/50 Nos.46-56 (Even) Bridges Almshouses

II

Terrace of six almshouses. 1685, founded by Sir Thomas Bridges, with minor C19 alterations. Squared, coursed limestone with ashlar dressings, copings, pantile roof and brick stacks: 2 end and 2 mid-ridge. Founded by Sir Thomas Bridges. PLAN: each a single-depth plan with paired through-passages. EXTERIOR: each cottage is a 2-storey; 2-window range. Long continuous range of three symmetrical pairs of houses, with string-courses to both floors, steeply pitched gabled roof with plain eaves line. Ground-floor has 3-light ovolo-moulded mullion windows with 4-pane early C19 casements and paired, deeply recessed plank doors with decorative hinges and single rectangular lights; first-floor has 2-light ovolo-moulded mullion windows with 3-pane early C19 casements. Two armorial cartouches set below first-floor string-course between Nos 48/50 and Nos 52/54: Lady Anna Rodney (lion) and Sir Thomas Bridges (cross). INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORICAL NOTE: reputedly built for the poor widows of men killed in the Monmouth Rebellion. A well preserved example of a civic building type with local historical significance. (White E: Keynsham and Saltford: Keynsham: 1990-: 5, 42; The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: North Somerset and Bristol: London: 1958-: 210).

Listing NGR: ST6498368928