Merchant Venturers Almshouses

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Merchant Venturers Almshouses
Building information
Location	Bristol
Country	England
Client	Society of Merchant Venturers
Completion Date	1696

Merchant Venturers Almshouses (grid reference ST587727) is a historic building on King Street, Bristol, England.

It was built around 1696 by the Society of Merchant Venturers for convalescent and old sailors to see out their days, and still provides sheltered accommodation as the Merchant Venturers` Almshouses Charity Reg No 202152.

The plaque on the wall is a poem:
"Freed from all storms the tempest and the rage
Of billows, here we spend our age.
Our weather beaten vessels here repair
And from the Merchants' kind and generous care
Find harbour here; no more we put to sea
Until we launch into Eternity.
And lest our Widows whom we leave behind
Should want relief, they too a shelter find.
Thus all our anxious cares and sorrows cease
Whilst our kind Guardians turn our toils to ease.
May they be with an endless Sabbath blest
Who have afforded unto us this rest."

It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol