Bristol - Queen Square & King Street 1

Bristol - Queen Square and King Street - Page 1

The Marsh, now Queen Square, was outside the city walls and was used up to the beginning of the 17th Century as a rubbish dump. It was then remodelled as a place to play bowls and to walk along a tree lined Promenade. In 1702 the Square was laid out in its present form, and new houses were built there in 1753. During the Bristol Reform Riots of 1831 most of the houses were destroyed and had to be rebuilt. In 1999 the road running through the green was removed and traffic through the area was reduced, being limited to public transport. The Square now being returned to something of the peace it enjoyed before the 18th century.

Queen Square

Some of the fine houses in Queen Square

Near the South East corner of the square, where it meets The Grove stands the Hole in the Wall pub.

The Hole in the Wall

This pub is supposed to be one of the ones that was used as a model for the inn in Robert Louis Stephensons' Treasure Island.

At the opposite end of Queen Square is King Street.

Seamens Alms Houses

Nestled between the offices of the city centre is this Seamens Almshouse. It was built with money donated by the Society of Merchant Venturers, the almshouse was enlarged with money donated by Edward Colston in the late 17th century. The plaque is reproduced below.

Plaque on the wall of the Seamens Almshouse

Next to the Seamens Almhouse is a small stone built building

Building in King Street

I don't really know what this building is, but I suspect that it is part of the Seamens Almshouse. The reason I think this is because of the arms on the front of the building. This contains a mermaid, anchor and Neptune. Pretty much a giveaway really. The plaque is reproduced below.

This page created 5th August 2000, last modified 5th May 2005

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