Westmorland House and The Carriage Works

Image: © Ian Capper Taken: 25 Jun 2017

Two buildings in Stokes Croft. The Carriage Works, in the centre of the photo, was built in 1862 designed by the Bristol born architect E W Godwin in the "Bristol Byzantine" style. Its importance is recognised in the building's grade II* listing - see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1025273. It was built as the manufacturing base and showrooms for Perry and Co, a leading carriage builder in the pre-motor age, the wide arches at ground floor level enabling the carriages to be moved out of the building. Later occupants included Anderson's Rubber Company followed by Regional Pools Promotions (see below). Beyond is Westmorland House (spelt Westmoreland by some, but without the second "e" would appear to be correct). This was designed by Bristol architects Ivor Day & O’Brien for a local company Regional Pools Promotions, who ran a national lottery scheme, part of the subscriptions to which went to the Spastics Society (as it was then, now Scope). The scheme was launched in 1957 but as it grew it needed larger premises (including, prior to this building, in The Carriage Works next door). It was opened on 14 January 1966 by the Countess of Westmorland, who was a patron of the Spastics Society. Previously the site had been occupied by a Georgian building called Croft House. Westmorland House was vacated by 1982 and has remained empty since, suffering fire and other damage and occupation by squatters, such that it is now totally derelict. For another photo of Westmorland House see Image As can be seen from the photo, both buildings now serve as a gallery for street art, a feature of much of the Stokes Croft area. Plans are now in place to demolish Westmorland House and put in a major housing development (a mix of affordable and private) together with commercial and community spaces on the combined site of both it and The Carriage Works (recognising the listed status of the latter), with the aim of fitting in with the nature of the Stokes Croft area.

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