Carriage Works, Bristol

Carriage Works is a structure displaying Byzantine Revival architecture in Stokes Croft, featuring round arched arcades and double-width segmental arches constructed from Pennant stone with Bath stone dressings. The building is undergoing redevelopment into 112 new homes alongside community and commercial spaces at the intersection of Ashley Road.

Built in 1862 by architect Edward William Godwin, the structure replaced an earlier Coach and Harness works established by T and J Perry in 1804. This continuity on the same site demonstrates how Bristol remained a center of vehicle manufacturing across generations.

The building marks the transition from horse carriage manufacturing to automobile production in Bristol, with later rubber processing operations reshaping how the neighborhood functioned. These shifts reflect how industrial cities adapted to new technologies and markets.

The building sits at the intersection of Ashley Road and Stokes Croft, making it easy to find on foot from either street. You can see the original ground floor arches that now serve as a public passageway, giving you a way to walk through the space and observe the stonework up close.

The five original ground floor arches were deliberately designed to allow carriages to enter and exit easily, and these distinctive openings remain visible today. These architectural details reveal the practical building requirements of 19th-century vehicle manufacturing.

Location: City of Bristol

Inception: 1862

Architects: Edward William Godwin

Architectural style: Byzantine Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 51.46380,-2.58950

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:22