More information : ST59277332 Friends' Meeting House. Built in 1747-9 on the site of an earlier (1670) Meeting House. The character and style is paralleled in Wesley's New Room. Quaker meeting house, now registry office. 1747-9. By GeorgeTully. Stonework details designed and supplied by Thomas Pat, also the contractor. Render with limestone dressings and a leaded roof with hipped Welsh slate roof to a Delabole slate lantern.
Square open plan. Mid Georgian style. 2 storeys; 3-window range. A symmetrical front with a plat band and moulded, coped parapet, ramped up at the corners. A large, central doorcase has a triple keyed, moulded architrave inscribed 1747, consoles to pediment and a 2-leaf, 8-panel door. Segmental-arched surrounds with sill blocks to flanking 4/8-pane sashes and 3 taller 8/8-pane sashes on the first floor. Similar side elevations each of a 4-window range without doorways. Square lantern has sashes to each face.
INTERIOR: a pedimented inner porch with pilasters and panellel side doors, to a 3x3 bay auditorium, articulated by Doric columns on high octagonal plinths; panelled side galleries to 3 sides between the columns, and keyed, semicircular-arched doorways from the lobby to steps up to them; at the blind W end stood the preacher's desk, in front of a dado and entablature, with stair rails at each end with turned balusters and square newels; central square lantern has a coved ceiling. FITTINGS: some seating remains in the galleries.
The Quakers were established on the site from 1670. An interior of 'noble simplicity' (Ison), restored c1960, with inserted offices. Exceptionally ambitious for a Quaker building and clearly influenced by Wesley's New Rooms (qv).
(Gomme A, Jenner M and Little B: Bristol, An Architectural History: Bristol: 1979-: 129; Ison W: The Georgian Buildings of Bristol: Bath: 1952-: 62; An Inventory of Nonconformist Chapels...in Central England: Stell C: Gloucestershire: London: 1986-: 65).
Grade I (1-2)
In 2005 the Register Office moved to the Old Council House on Corn Street. Broadmead underwent massive redevelopment with the demolition of many post-war shops and the construction of Cabot Circus, a huge shopping area. It is not yet clear what the Meeting House will be used for. ( |