IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Oatley Way, BRISTOL, BS16 2FU

Equine resident of suburbia

This establishment began life in September, 1853, as the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Training School for school mistresses - a female only college. As proper schooling became more enshrined in statute law, it was necessary to develop and supply qualified teachers to the Church of England's voluntary elementary schools. Discipline was strict and rigorous, as was the Anglican way, and was largely self-funded - allowing it to remain clear of state controls. The school became the College of St Matthias in 1955 and was part of the new approach to education. In 1972 it merged with Bristol Polytechnic, later to move from the site to a new one in Frenchay. By 2010 the St Matthias Campus was run down and finally sold off in 2014. It is now the Avanti Gardens School, an independent organisation.

Warneford Road

Occupying the former Diocesan Training College of St Matthias, the school in an independent trust. The chapel with the small belfry is St Mattias, which became used as the college's later name.

The chapel was part of the old Diocesan Training College of the mid-nineteenth century, which trained women to become headmistresses in Church of England schools. It has a few small details on the roof ridgeline, including this crown and sword design.

As in common with many churches, the drains and guttering bears a date. In this instance of the old Diocesan Training College (later St Matthias, then Bristol Polytechnic), the chapel was built about the same time as the rest of the site. Also note the mesh lining the gutters, stopping things from dropping below.

The Victorian Gothic buildings with baronial touches range around three sides of the campus. The more modern additions extend to the north.

A small decorative feature on the ridge of the chapel roof.

Green energy in Fishponds

The warden's house on the north side of the campus. St Matthias is one of UWE's four sites in Bristol.