St Matthias, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Matthias |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°29′04″N 2°31′48″W / 51.4845°N 2.5299°W |
| Construction started | 1851 |
| Completed | 1852 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Bevan |
St Matthias, often called St Matts, was once a campus for the University of the West of England (UWE). It is located in the area of Fishponds in the city of Bristol, England. This historic site has a long and interesting past, starting as a college for teachers.
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History of St Matthias Campus
The St Matthias campus began its life as a special college for training teachers. It was first known as the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Training Institution for School Mistresses. This college opened its doors in 1853. Later, it became a campus for UWE Bristol, focusing on subjects like history, literature, and arts.
Building Design and Age
The first buildings at St Matthias were built between 1851 and 1852. The main architects were John Bevan and Jonathan Clarke. They designed the buildings in a style called Gothic Revival. This means the buildings look like older, grand Gothic churches and castles. The campus was made bigger in 1903. Today, the main building is a special Grade II* listed building. This means it is very important and protected because of its history and architecture. The smaller lodge building is also protected as a Grade II listed building.
Campus Life and Studies
For many years, St Matthias was a busy place for students studying creative arts, humanities, and education. It was home to several departments. Students could study subjects like media, drama, history, philosophy, politics, English, and communication. The campus had many Victorian Gothic buildings. These buildings were set around a central open area, which is often called a quad.
Closure of the Campus
The University of the West of England decided to close the St Matthias campus in September 2014. The last day of operations was July 4, 2014. This was part of a plan to move all departments to the main Frenchay campus. Before closing, UWE and the student union held a three-day farewell party. This event celebrated the campus's history, its staff, and all the students who had studied there over the years.
Future Plans for the Site
In March 2014, it was announced that the St Matthias site would be sold. A company called Barratt Developments planned to build new homes there. The historic listed buildings on the site were planned to become a Steiner School. This type of school uses a special teaching method.
