Fry'S House Of Mercy

BRISTOL

901-1/42/1672 COLSTON PARADE 04-MAR-1977 REDCLIFFE (South side) FRY'S HOUSE OF MERCY

II

Almshouse, 1784 with C20 internal alterations, endowed by William Fry.

MATERIALS: Coarse roughcast walls, limestone parapet, brick chimneys behind the ridge of the pantile roof.

PLAN: Two storied, double-depth plan, with a long range to rear.

EXTERIOR: Symmetrical three-bay elevation in the Gothick style. The central two-leaf door has strap hinges (a modern replacement), and scrolled ends and sits within a four-centred moulded arch on uncarved imposts and moulded jambs. The lancet windows to both floors have Y-tracery with two leaded casements with interlacing heads. The elevation is surmounted with a crenellated parapet with cornice beneath. An oval panel above the doorway reads FRY'S/ HOUSE OF MERCY/ 1784.

INTERIOR: Not inspected but rebuilt behind the façade in after 1945.

HISTORY: The almshouse was founded in 1778 and completed in 1784. It was endowed by William Fry, a local distiller, and built to house twelve widows; the almshouse was connected to the parish of St. Mary Redcliffe, which no doubt explains its choice of Gothick. Following bomb damage during WWII the almshouses were partly rebuilt behind the façade.

SOURCES: Folyle, Andrew. Bristol Pevsner Architectural Guide (2004), 181.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: Fry's House of Mercy, an almshouse of 1784, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

• Architectural interest: in particular for its gothick design * Historic interest: one of a number of surviving C18 philanthropic buildings within the city and one that continues to be used for its original purpose * Group value: with St Mary Redcliffe church (Grade I listed) opposite and the C18 and C19 houses adjacent to it on Colston Parade (all listed Grade II)