Gardiners Warehouse

Gardiners Warehouse is a red brick building on Straight Street with decorative arches and ornamental details in Byzantine style. The multi-story structure displays elements that recall Florentine design spread across the entire facade.

William Bruce Gingell completed this building in 1865 as part of soap manufacturing operations for Christopher Thomas and Brothers in Victorian Bristol. It later served as a furniture store and reflects the industrial growth of the 1800s.

The building shows how industrial construction and decorative design came together in a style that shaped Bristol's character. Walking past it, you see how practical warehouse functions were combined with artistic brick details that made the structure stand out.

The building sits near Bristol's waterfront and is grade II listed, making it easy to spot and view from outside. As an active heritage structure, it works well for a city walk and does not need any advance planning to appreciate.

The building is an example of the Bristol Byzantine movement, which merged industrial construction with decorative elements rarely found in other Victorian factory buildings. This local building tradition sets it apart from typical factory architecture of its era.