Bengough'S Almshouses And Attached Walls, Railings, Balustrades

The Almshouses, built in 1878 by Foster and Wood, are located in Bristol. Constructed of brick with limestone dressings, they feature ridge stacks and a hipped double Roman tiled roof. The buildings are arranged around a courtyard, comprising five single-depth plan blocks forming a 5:3:7:3:5-window range over two storeys and a basement. The style is Jacobethan.

The central range is prominent, with a projecting element featuring a pediment containing a semicircular arch with a coffered soffit. This arch provides access to a large, open Jacobean-style porch supported by Ionic columns on panelled pedestals with strapwork and a pulvinated frieze. Above the doorway is a semicircular-arched window flanked by banded strips, and a steep pediment inscribed "ERECTED 1878 / FOUNDED BY HENRY BENGOUGH 1818," adorned with urns. The lower wings incorporate semicircular-arched doorways with ball finials. The side blocks have central gabled porches with banded corners and pilasters. The windows are moulded cross windows with pulvinated friezes and cornices, housing metal casement windows with three lights. One-window elevations face the street; the left-hand elevation features an elliptical carriage arch with panelled jambs.

Inside, the entrance hall leads to a central open dogleg staircase with turned balusters.

Attached front walls are bordered by wrought-iron railings with barleysugar stanchions, ball finials, and double gates. Central steps ascend to a balustrade with square balusters, ball finials, and railings to the porches.

The buildings are noted for their “learned pastiche of an unlearned [artisan Dutch Renaissance] style,” and form part of Bristol’s notable collection of almshouses.