Merchant Venturers' Almshouses, King Street, Bristol

The Merchant Venturers’ almshouses are dated 1696. Half of them were destroyed by bombing around 1940. They were built by the Society, for sick and elderly sailors. You can see the coat of arms of the Society on the wall. The Society of Merchant Venturers managed Bristol’s harbour from the beginning of the 17th century until the early 19th century. The Society was heavily involved in the slave trade.

Location

Bristol Bristol

Period

Stuart (1603 - 1713)

Tags

almshouse poor charity welfare slave trade slavery stuart (1603 - 1713)