Westbury College Gatehouse
Encyclopedia
Westbury College Gatehouse is a 15th-century gatehouse
to the 13th-century College of Priests located in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
, England
, and now a National Trust
property. It is a grade I listed building.
. The College building was fortified with towers, turrets and battlements surrounding a quadrangle, onto which the gatehouse opened. The College itself had been founded earlier, but these buildings were erected between 1459 and 1469 by John Carpenter
, Bishop of Worcester and Westbury. William Canynge
, the notable Bristol merchant and politician, may have contributed to their construction. He trained for the priesthood in Westbury from 1467 and was made Dean in 1469.
In 1544, after the Dissolution
, the College became a private dwelling. In 1643 during the English Civil War
it was burnt by Prince Rupert's forces, to prevent its use by Parliamentarian
troops. By 1771, a Georgian house had been built alongside the gatehouse. Now, the only other surviving parts of the original College are two round towers and the retaining wall alongside the River Trym
. These can be seen from College Road and Trym Road.
, and is currently on a 100 year lease to Holy Trinity Church. It is managed by the Church as a local meeting place, and is regularly used by the Church youth groups, as well as the local Air Cadets
2442 Squadron and the local school Westbury Primary's After School Club.
Tours of the building can be arranged via the National Trust
office at Leigh Woods
in Bristol
.
Gatehouse
A gatehouse, in architectural terminology, is a building enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a castle, manor house, fort, town or similar buildings of importance.-History:...
to the 13th-century College of Priests located in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and now a National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
property. It is a grade I listed building.
History
The Gatehouse originally formed part of Westbury College, a residence for the Dean and Canons of Holy Trinity ChurchHoly Trinity Church, Westbury on Trym
- External links :* *...
. The College building was fortified with towers, turrets and battlements surrounding a quadrangle, onto which the gatehouse opened. The College itself had been founded earlier, but these buildings were erected between 1459 and 1469 by John Carpenter
John Carpenter (bishop)
John Carpenter was an English Bishop, Provost and University Chancellor.-Early life:Bishop Carpenter's father was John Carpenter the elder, born c. 1362 to Richard or Renaud Carpenter of Cambrai and his wife Christina of London. John Carpenter the bishop was also known as John Carpenter the elder....
, Bishop of Worcester and Westbury. William Canynge
William Canynge
William II Canynges was an English merchant and shipper from Bristol, one of the wealthiest private citizens of his day and an occasional royal financier. He served as Mayor of Bristol five times and as MP for Bristol thrice...
, the notable Bristol merchant and politician, may have contributed to their construction. He trained for the priesthood in Westbury from 1467 and was made Dean in 1469.
In 1544, after the Dissolution
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, the College became a private dwelling. In 1643 during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
it was burnt by Prince Rupert's forces, to prevent its use by Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
troops. By 1771, a Georgian house had been built alongside the gatehouse. Now, the only other surviving parts of the original College are two round towers and the retaining wall alongside the River Trym
River Trym
The River Trym is a short river, some in length, which rises in Filton, South Gloucestershire, England. The upper reaches are culverted, some underground, through mostly urban landscapes, but once it emerges into the open it flows through a nature reserve and city parks before joining the tidal...
. These can be seen from College Road and Trym Road.
Current Use
The College Gatehouse was acquired in 1907 by the National TrustNational Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, and is currently on a 100 year lease to Holy Trinity Church. It is managed by the Church as a local meeting place, and is regularly used by the Church youth groups, as well as the local Air Cadets
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
2442 Squadron and the local school Westbury Primary's After School Club.
Tours of the building can be arranged via the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
office at Leigh Woods
Leigh Woods
Leigh Woods is a 2 square kilometre area of woodland on the south-west side of the Avon Gorge, opposite the English city of Bristol and north of the Ashton Court estate. It has been designated as a National Nature Reserve. Small mountain biking circuits are present in the woods and the area is a...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.