Barstaple Almshouse (Bristol)

 apartment building, almshouses, Grade II* Listed (UK), 19th century construction

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Almshouses, now flats. 1402. Founded by John Barstaple. Rebuilt 1857-58 NE block, 1867 chapel and W block, 1881-83 SE block, by Foster and Wood. Squared Pennant rubble with limestone dressings, brick, limestone ashlar ridge, gable and exterior stacks, tiled hipped and gable roofs with decorative ridges. Double-depth plan, parallel ranges of 3 E blocks and 2 W blocks and a chapel to opposite sides of a courtyard. Tudor Revival style, later blocks with Burgundian Gothic influence. 2 storeys.
historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1202...

The original Almshouse situated at the corner of Old Market Street and Midland Road had been in existence for over six hundred years. Although it had occupied the same site since its foundation in the fourteenth century, it had been rebuilt a number of times and the present building dates back to mid-Victorian times.

The Almshouse founder was John Barstaple, a Bristol merchant who was bailiff in 1379, Sherriff in 1389 and Mayor in 1395, 1401 and 1405.

The building was listed as Grade II* and it was accepted that due to the design and layout, it was unfit for occupation by frail, older people.There were significant problems with access for those with even minor mobility issues.

The property was sold in 2010 with Charity Commission agreement and the sales proceeds were reinvested in the development of a new Almshouse which would be designed to meet the needs of older people in the 21st Century.
www.bristolcharities.org.uk/about/history-almshouses