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BRISTOL CHARITIES ANNOUNCES NEW ALMSHOUSES FOR OLD

Bristol Charities is selling Foster‘s House at the top of Christmas Steps in Bristol

The sale will fund the provision of larger, 21st Century almshouse accommodation

Bristol Charities, which has six almshouse centres in Bristol, is selling Foster‘s House to help fund the creation of a new almshouse centre, providing more homes and better facilities.

One of Bristol‘s best known architectural landmarks, Foster‘s House is a ‘Burgundian domestic Gothic‘ group of buildings at the top of the historic Christmas Steps.

“Unfortunately, this beautiful Grade II* listed building is no longer able to provide older people in need with the quality of accommodation that they require in the 21st Century, for example it does not provide wheelchair access,” says David Jones, Chief Executive of Bristol Charities.

“The location, whilst very attractive for younger city-dwellers, is not ideal for older, frailer residents.  Essentially, it is a Victorian building that has served Bristol well over the 120 years or more, but it is now time to provide a new John Foster‘s Almshouse that will better meet the requirements of older residents.

Foster‘s Almshouse was founded between 1481 and 1483 by John Foster, a Bristol ship builder and a salt merchant, who traded actively with Iceland. The almshouse has been rebuilt twice, first in 1708 and again in 1883, making the present building 123 years old. 

The site includes the almshouse buildings, three shops fronting onto Christmas Steps, and a chapel. The chapel is unique in Britain by being dedicated to the Three Kings of Cologne, a cult that is believed to have arrived in Bristol as a result of trade with the Rhineland.  The chapel was restored in 1883 and again in 1962.

The sale is being arranged by the residential team at the Bristol office of international property consultants, King Sturge.  Paddy Sykes, partner at the firm, said:  “This is a rare chance to purchase an historic building in central Bristol offering exciting investment and redevelopment opportunities and we expect strong levels of interest.”

Bristol Charities‘ David Jones explained: “We work hard to enable our residents to enjoy independent living with supportive care and warden assistance in their own homes.  Sadly we cannot adapt this listed building to meet our residents‘ needs adequately.  Selling the site and reinvesting the proceeds in a new almshouse will mean we can continue our work and keep the name of the founder John Foster, and his almshouse alive for another 500 years.”

Selling the site will enable the charity to build the new Foster‘s Almshouse in Henbury, consisting of the most up-to-date accommodation, offering 18 homes (two more than the present building) and a new clinic for the Primary Care Trust.  

The new flats at Henbury have been specifically designed for the residents‘ needs, including comprehensive wheelchair access, and modern technology systems for communications and personal safety and security, enabling the occupants to enjoy the independence of their own homes. 

All monies from the sale of the old Foster‘s Almshouse will be used to part-fund the new John Foster‘s Almshouse, the remainder will come from reserves held by the charity.

 

END                25th September 2006

For further information please contact Neil Fraser, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349011 or email: neil@sturgessvandamme.co.uk

 

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

 

• The Grade II* listing of Foster‘s Almshouse ensures that the architectural and historic interest of the building is protected.

• Bristol Charities was established in 1835, to administer a wide range of charities set up by Bristol benefactors.  The organisation has three main aims, to offer older people‘s residential and day care services, to administer grants to individuals from a series of endowments and legacies and to offer professional management services to other charities.

• The residents who lived at Foster‘s Almshouse were aware of the site‘s limitations and that Bristol Charities was considering options regarding the best care for its residents. They were offered homes in other Bristol Charities‘ local almshouses and by Christmas 2005, all had been successfully relocated.  Since then the flats have been let on a short term temporary basis.

• ‘Foster‘s Almshouse‘ refers to the building at the top of Christmas steps, ‘Foster‘s House‘ refers to the same building in its current useage, with tenants instead of almshouse residents. ‘John Foster‘s House‘ is the name of the new almshouse to be built in Henbury.