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Heritage building wins £4.7m grant for revamp

Bristol Post A black and white image of Kingsley Hall as seen from the street in the 1960s. The brick building's upper floors jut out over a pavement below and are supported by five columns. Three old-fashioned cars are parked just outside the building.Bristol Post
Kingsley Hall was built in 1706 and is now used by a youth homelessness charity

A distinctive Grade II listed building in Bristol's Old Market has secured £4.7m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Kingsley Hall, which dates back to 1706, is currently used by youth homelessness charity 1625 Independent People but is on a "heritage at risk" list.

The funds will go towards the charity's existing heritage project, which includes repairs, new accommodation for vulnerable young people, a kitchen and a social enterprise cafe.

Dom Wood, the charity's CEO, said: "We're thrilled to transform our historic home into a vibrant community space, offering hope and opportunities for some of the region's most vulnerable young people."

Mr Wood said the lottery money will help young people to re-engage with education and access training.

He added that he wanted to "acknowledge the incredible role" played by young people in the shaping of the heritage project.

1625 Independent People Modern day Kingsley Hall as seen from the outside. The upper two storeys are made of red brick, with large rectangular white Georgian windows. The top two storeys jut out over the pavement below, resting on five columns. The ground floor, which is in shadow, is set back, in line with other town house buildings on the street.1625 Independent People
The building's upper floors rest on five columns on the pavement below

Kingsley Hall sits among 60 listed buildings in Old Market, once home to a medieval marketplace. Its upper floors extend over the pavement below, resting on five columns.

It is currently on Historic England's heritage at risk register, which says it is in "poor" condition.

Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "It is wonderful to start the new year investing in projects that are saving heritage treasures across the UK.

"With decades of shared memories, these exceptional buildings will be repurposed for the 21st Century at the centre of communities and places."

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