Bristol Castle: Vaulted Chambers

Bristol Castle: Vaulted Chambers

A medieval building of mid-13th century date, probably with further construction in the 14th century, built as an entrance porch to the castle's Great Hall. It now serves as commercial premises. The structure was stabilised in the mid-20th century, restored in 1974, extended in the 1980s, and refurbished in the early 20th century.

The building is constructed of cut and squared Pennant sandstone, rubble, ashlar and later brick, with freestone dressings and partial rendering. The roof is a hipped pantile structure set behind a parapet, with a rendered stack to the rear. A late-20th century extension on the north side is built of red brick and part-rendered, with a hipped pantile roof.

The medieval structure is roughly square on plan and comprises two bays, with a late-20th century addition to the north. It stands as a single-storey building presenting two principal phases of construction. The walls are roughcast rendered with some exposed masonry visible in places, and feature a parapet with a concave-moulded cornice. Later stepped brick buttresses define the bays externally, stopping short of the parapet.

The west front has been extensively rebuilt and contains two pointed-arched openings of different sizes and heights, each fitted with late-20th century glazing, timber mullions and metal grilles; the left opening also incorporates a timber door. The south return has a segmental-arched opening containing a 15th century stone window with flat arch and two lights, featuring a hollow-chamfered mullion and jambs, modern head with spandrels and leaded panes. This window may have been re-sited. The rear elevation displays a blocked opening, possibly a pointed-arched doorway or relieving arch towards the north end, with an area of exposed stone that may represent later repairs or the infilling of an opening. The north elevation is obscured by later additions.

Internally, the building contains two rooms and has undergone extensive restoration following alterations, insertions of partitions and staircases (no longer extant), and Second World War damage. A previously vaulted undercroft was infilled with concrete, probably in the mid-20th century.

The south room dates to the 13th century and formed the original entrance to the Great Hall. Its rear wall contains an infilled semi-circular arched opening of two orders. The roof displays quadripartite vaulting with transverse ribs carried on foliate-carved capitals and clustered columns, much restored with some parts missing. A later opening, possibly of early-20th century date, in the north wall provides access to the second room, which was added probably in the 14th century; its original use is uncertain. This northern room has two blocked openings in its east wall and two doorways in its north wall with several recesses, one infilled. The vaulting in the north room is much degraded, comprising simple chamfered ribs, moulded capitals and short clustered shafts with decorated bases.

The late-20th century extension on the north side is excluded from the listing as it is not considered to be of special architectural or historic interest.