Merchant Taylors' Almshouses

Merchant Taylors' Almshouses, now a bank, were built in 1701. The building features a U-shaped plan with wings on either side of a front courtyard. It is constructed of rendered brick with rendered lateral stacks and has a slate hipped roof, showcasing an early Georgian style. The structure is two storeys high and has a symmetrical four-window range, with deep projecting wings that create a courtyard. Notable architectural details include chamfered quoins, a first-floor string, and a modillion cornice at the boxed eaves. The central doorway is adorned with a bracketed shell hood, a plain surround, and two-leaf, two-panel doors. Matching doorways across the courtyard have carved brackets supporting a pedimented hood. There are 20th-century cross windows flanking the main door, with three on each side of the courtyard and two at the ends. Above the main entrance is a large painted panel displaying the arms of the Merchant Taylor's Guild, flanked by the inscription ANNODM/1701. This building is one of Bristol's earliest brick constructions, originally built by the Guild to house nine individuals, with three dwellings on each side.