IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
New Kingsley Road, BRISTOL, BS2 0GG

According to Joan Day in A Guide to the Industrial Heritage of Avon (1987) this c1845 building is the earliest of a group that housed the manufacture of "Puritan" soap. Now occupied (1987) by a furniture and DIY store. The corner turrets have allegedly been reduced in height.

On the waterfront at Avon Street, Bristol

Looking northwest towards Temple Footbridge. The craft is a river taxi which is about to berth at the dock on the left.

The redeveloped soap works complex (see also Image, Image and Image). "AWW was appointed ... for the redevelopment of the existing derelict Grade II listed buildings that form part of the Old Soap Works in Bristol City Centre. The development provides 54 new affordable mixed tenure apartments in a complex of four buildings. Works consisted of repairing and converting the two rare Bristol Byzantium 19th century Grade II listed buildings and adding two new six storey timber frame structures within the confined existing site boundary" http://aww-uk.com/project/residential-christopher-thomas-court-former-soap-works/. The main building at the rear is described at https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1202607 : "The conventional stripped elevations are embellished with distinctly Florentine or Sienese Quattrocento details; it is a prominent townscape feature". In front are the former Gardiners offices https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1187344 : "1865-7. By Foster and Wood ... Bristol Byzantine style with structural polychromy. 2 storeys; 10-window range". The former soap works warehouse on the left is "1882. By WB Gingell. Red brick with white and black brick details. Bristol Byzantine style. 3 storeys; 3-window range ... A rare survivor of the round-arched warehouse style considered particular of C19 Bristol" https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1202392 . Two new buildings have been added by AWW. This view is from Providence Place.

Recent demolition has opened up the view of the building from Avon Street.

A more distant view of Image

Doubtless the architects made much of the design.

The brick and stone frontage of part of the old soap works of Broad Plain are reminders of the past. Presently, it has been converted into Christopher Thomas Court - a modern housing development. Soap had been made on this site since at least the early 1800s.

A modern block of apartments now stand where there was once some of Bristol's industrial heartland. As with much of the area, the style and appearance are varied. At least the light will get in. The block occupies a couple of streets where a school and Congregational chapel once were. Perhaps the name refers to a malthouse opposite them, now lost.