Wills Memorial Building, Gothic university building in Bristol, England
The Wills Memorial Building is a Gothic university building with a 215-foot tower in Bristol, England, constructed from pale Bath stone over a reinforced concrete frame. The tower rises through several stages and ends in an octagonal lantern with battlements and pinnacles, while the facade displays pointed arch windows and niches holding statues of saints.
Planning started in 1912, the foundation stone was laid in 1915, but World War I delayed construction until 1919. George and Henry Wills funded the building as a memorial to their father, and King George V opened it in 1925.
The tower honors Henry Overton Wills III., a tobacco merchant whose family helped establish the university in 1909. Law students and earth scientists now use these halls throughout the academic year.
The main entrance faces Park Street, and the interior is accessible via elevators and staircases from the ground floor. Tours are sometimes offered during university events or open days, so check availability before planning a visit.
Great George, the ninth-largest bell in England weighing 9.5 tonnes, rings from the octagonal lantern at the top of the tower. Its sound waves travel widely across the city and mark special occasions and celebrations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
