Blaise Hamlet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blaise Hamlet
Circular Cottage (left), with Sweetbriar Cottage immediately beyond
Blaise Hamlet
OS grid reference	ST555785
Unitary authority	Bristol
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRISTOL
Postcode district	BS10
Dialling code	0117
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	Great Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Bristol North West
List of places UK England Bristol 51°30′26″N 2°38′08″W / 51.507218°N 2.635608°W / 51.507218; -2.635608

Blaise Hamlet is a special group of nine small cottages. They are built around a green area in Henbury, which is now part of Bristol, England. All these cottages, plus a sundial on the green, are very important historic buildings. They are called Grade I listed buildings. This means they are protected because of their special history and design. Blaise Hamlet is also listed as Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England. This means the whole area, including the gardens, is also very important. A famous expert, Nikolaus Pevsner, once said Blaise Hamlet was the "ne plus ultra" of beautiful design. This means it's the best example of its kind!

The History of Blaise Hamlet

Blaise Hamlet was built around 1811. It was created for people who used to work for John Scandrett Harford. He was a Quaker banker and a kind person who helped others (a philanthropist). Mr. Harford owned a big house nearby called Blaise Castle House. He wanted to provide nice homes for his retired employees.

Who Designed the Hamlet?

The hamlet was designed by John Nash. He was a famous architect known for his "Picturesque" style. This style made buildings look like they fit perfectly into a beautiful, natural landscape. Nash had worked for Mr. Harford on other buildings before. Blaise Hamlet was the first place to truly show what a "garden suburb" could be like. It set the example for almost all garden suburbs that came after it.

What Makes the Cottages Special?

Each cottage in Blaise Hamlet is unique. They have interesting brick chimneys and special windows called dormer windows. Some even have charming thatched roofs made of straw. They are great examples of the Picturesque style. This design idea became popular in England around 1782. An oval path connects all the cottages. It goes around the village green where the sundial is. The gardens around the cottages are planted in a style popular during the Victorian times, like a traditional cottage garden.

Blaise Hamlet Today

Since 1943, the cottages have been owned by the National Trust. This is a charity that protects historic places and natural beauty. People still live in the cottages today. Because they are private homes, you can't go inside them. However, you can walk around the green and admire the beautiful buildings from the outside. One of the cottages, Rose Cottage, can even be rented as a holiday home from the National Trust.

The Unique Buildings of Blaise Hamlet

Each cottage in Blaise Hamlet has its own special look. Here's a list of them:

Building	House number	Grade	Photo
Circular Cottage	8	I	Circular Cottage, House Number 8
Dial Cottage	7	I	Dial Cottage, House Number 7
Diamond Cottage	2	I	Diamond Cottage, House Number 2
Double Cottage	4 and 5	I	Double Cottage, House Numbers 4 and 5
Dutch Cottage	3	I	Dutch Cottage, House Number 3
Oak Cottage	1	I	Oak Cottage, House Number 1
Rose Cottage	6	I	Rose Cottage, House Number 6
Sweetbriar Cottage	9	I	Sweetbriar Cottage, House Number 9
Vine Cottage	10	I	Vine Cottage, House Number 10