Georgian House, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Georgian House Museum |
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The Georgian House Museum
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| General information | |
| Town or city | 7 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′14″N 2°36′12″W / 51.45391°N 2.60337°W |
| Construction started | 1788 |
| Completed | 1791 |
| Client | John Pinney |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Paty |
The Georgian House is a special old building in Bristol, England. It was built around 1790 for a rich merchant named John Pinney. He made his money from sugar plantations, which used enslaved people to work. Today, the house looks just like it did in the late 1700s. It's now a museum where you can see how people lived back then.
The museum has many rooms to explore. You can see a drawing room, an eating room, and a study. There's also a kitchen, laundry, and a housekeeper's room. The museum also has a small display. It teaches visitors about the history of slavery and sugar plantations. The Georgian House became part of Bristol City Council in 1937. That's when it was given to the city as a museum.
The museum is open from April 1st to December 31st. You can visit on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. It is open from 11 AM to 4 PM. In 2019, over 32,000 people visited the museum.
Contents
A Glimpse into the Past
The Georgian House is a great example of a home from the late 1700s. It is a very important historical building. English Heritage has given it a special Grade II* listing. This means it is a building of more than special interest.
Who Lived Here?
The house was built for John Pinney, a wealthy sugar merchant. He owned plantations where enslaved people were forced to work. Two famous poets, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, are believed to have met here for the first time. The house was also home to Frances Coker. She was a freed slave who worked as a maid. Pinney's enslaved servant, Pero, also lived here. Pero's Bridge at Bristol Harbour is named after him.
What Can You See Inside?
The museum still has some of its original furniture. You can see a special desk and bookcase in the study. There's also a rare cold water plunge bath. This was like an early swimming pool for quick dips! The house has even been used for TV shows. It was a filming location for the BBC series A Respectable Trade. This show was about the history of the slave trade.
Exploring the Rooms
When you visit the Georgian House, you can explore many different areas. Each room shows a part of life in the 1700s.
- The Dining Room: This is where families would eat their meals.
- Pinney's Study: This was John Pinney's office.
- The Drawing Room: A place for guests to relax and socialize.
- Library and a Ladies' Withdrawing Room: Rooms for reading and quiet time.
- The Bedroom: See how people slept long ago.
- A hidden staircase: Discover secret passages.
- A small lift (dumb waiter): An old-fashioned way to move food between floors.
- The Housekeeper's Room: Where the person in charge of the house worked.
- The cold water plunge pool: A unique feature for bathing.
The Georgian House on Screen
The Georgian House has appeared on television. On July 5, 2010, Amanda Vickery filmed scenes here. She was working on her series called At home with the Georgians.
More to Explore in Bristol
If you enjoy the Georgian House, you might like these other places in Bristol:
- The Red Lodge Museum
- Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
- Blaise Castle House Museum
- Kings Weston House
- Bristol Archives
