Black Castle, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Castle Public House |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Completed | 1745–1755 |
| Client | William Reeve |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Halfpenny or James Bridges |
The Black Castle Public House is a special building in Brislington, a part of Bristol, England. It is also known as Arno's Castle. This building is a public house (a pub) and is listed as a Grade I building. This means it is very important and protected.
Contents
History of the Black Castle
When Was the Castle Built?
The Black Castle was built between 1745 and 1755. It was made to look like a castle, but it wasn't a real one. This type of building is called a "folly." Follies were popular in the past. They were built just for fun or to make a landscape look more interesting.
Who Designed the Castle?
The building might have been designed by William Halfpenny or James Bridges. It was built for a rich local businessman named William Reeve. His home, Mount Pleasant, is now the Arno's Court Hotel. The castle is separated from his old home by a busy road.
What Does the Black Castle Look Like?
Building Materials and Style
The Black Castle is quite unique because of its look. It is built from special black blocks. These blocks are made from pre-cast copper-slag, which came from William Reeve's own factory. The castle is designed in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like old medieval castles.
Towers and Walls
The building has a balanced shape. It has round towers at each corner. These towers connect to two-story sections. Together, they form a square space in the middle, like a courtyard. The front and back parts of the castle have bigger towers. These towers have arched entrances.
Special Details
Above the front arch, there is a blank panel. The walls have windows with special patterns. The top of the walls has light-colored battlements. These look like the tops of real castles. The corner towers have outside entrances with arches. You can also see white panels on the towers. Some of these panels are shaped like crosses. Others look like arrow slits, which were used in real castles for archers.
Other Parts of the Building
A smaller building, called a coach house, sticks out from the right corner tower. It also has arches and small windows. Many of the stone carvings on the castle are said to have come from old medieval gateways in Bristol. They might also have come from St Werburghs Church.
A Protected Building
The Black Castle is a Grade I-listed building. This means it is very important and protected by Historic England. Another famous arch, the Arno's Court Triumphal Arch, used to stand in front of the castle. But it was moved in 1912 to a spot about 100 meters away.
