Wool Hall, Bristol facts for kids

The Wool Hall
General information
Architectural style	Neoclassical
Town or city	Bristol
Country	England
Coordinates	51.4522°N 2.5894°W / 51.4522; -2.5894
Completed	1830
Cost	£4400
Design and construction
Architect	Richard Shackleton Pope

The Wool Hall is a historic building in St Thomas Street, Redcliffe, Bristol.

History

Wool had been a popular trade in Bristol since the 11th century, but the smell generated by fullers softening wool in urine meant the trade was banished from the city centre and forced to relocate to Redcliffe.

The building was constructed in 1830 to house the city's wool market, as Bristol Bridge had become too congested by sheep farmers travelling across it. It was designed by Richard Shackleton Pope and has been described as 'the first quasi-industrial building in Bristol to attempt a real architectural facade'. It was designed in the classical style with a symmetrical front. Internally, the building included a Pennant-flagged ground floor and staircase. The ground floor served as a weighing house, while upstairs was used for storage. The total cost was £4,400 (now £321200). The premises was not a success as it was too far to travel from the farmer's markets at Temple Meads, and the wool trade moved to the Corn Exchange in 1834.

The building survived the bombing of Bristol during World War II, unlike several 17th-century buildings adjacent to it which were hit and subsequently demolished. In 1980, the building was modified to include new doors. It now houses offices and a pub, appropriately named The Fleece. The pub has been a popular small live music venue in Bristol, hosting gigs by Oasis, Pulp, Emeli Sande, Radiohead and Amy Winehouse.

The Wool Hall was awarded grade II listed building status by English Heritage in 1975.