Merchant Venturers Almshouses, Historic almshouse in King Street, Bristol, England.
The Merchant Venturers Almshouses is an early Georgian building on King Street featuring Pennant stone walls, a hipped roof with pantiles, and a central doorway with an oculus window. Three sides of the original quadrangle remain visible from the street, while the interior continues to serve as residential space.
The building was founded in 1696 by the Society of Merchant Venturers to house elderly sailors who had served in Bristol's maritime trade. A bombing raid in 1940 destroyed the adjacent Merchants Hall and one side of the complex.
The facade includes a commemorative plaque with poetry about sailors and their families, showing Bristol's maritime heritage. The space reflects how the city honors those who worked at sea.
The building can be viewed from King Street, where visitors can see the Georgian architecture and the commemorative plaque from the sidewalk. Access is limited to the exterior since it remains a residential property.
The current three-sided layout is the result of wartime destruction, giving the complex its distinctive asymmetrical appearance today. This incomplete state tells the story of Bristol's experience during World War II.
Location: City of Bristol
Inception: 1696
GPS coordinates: 51.45220,-2.59503
Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:00
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