Smyth Almhouses

This is a row of eight almshouses built between 1900 and 1902 by Edward Gabriel of Bristol for Lady Smyth of Ashton Court. The buildings are constructed of coursed, squared rubble with plain tiled roofs and double brick stacks with cornices and caps. They are designed in an Arts and Crafts style.

Each house is single storeyed and features a projecting square bay with a three-light, leaded casement window. The inner six bays are paired under a continuous roof with a bold, dentil cornice. Between each of these bays is a pair of arch braces, and a carved seat is set into the recess below. The roof and cornice extend over the porch, which is supported by a square column with a moulded cap. The almshouses have panelled doors with glazed upper sections. The outer two bays have hipped, catslide roofs with finials. Steep gables rise above the inner bays; the central gable has a dentil pediment with a heavily moulded tympanum. This tympanum features a cartouche displaying the Smyth arms and an inscription reading: "REST AFTER TOIL/PEACE AFTER STORMY SEAS/DOTH GREATLY PLEASE.”

A central square lantern or clock tower features a timber upper stage and a copper top with a weathervane.