Black Castle Public House

Infobox Historic building


caption=
name=Black Castle Public House
location_town=Bristol
location_country=England
architect=William Halfpenny or James Bridges
client=William Reeve
engineer=
construction_start_date=
completion_date=1745-55
date_demolished=
cost=
structural_system=
style=
size=

Black Castle Public House (located at coord|51|26|36|N|2|33|39|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title) is a historic building in junction Rd, Brislington, Bristol, England. It is also known as Arno's Castle.

It was built in 1745—1755 as a folly sham castle and office, but may have originally been a stable block and laundry for the lord of the manor. [cite web | title= The Black Castle | work=Pub Explorer | url=http://www.pub-explorer.com/somerset/pub/blackcastlebrislington.htm | accessdate=2007-03-19] The building was probably designed by either by William Halfpenny or James Bridges, for William Reeve of Mount Pleasant, now the Arno’s Court Hotel from which it is now separated by a major road junction. [cite web | title= The Black Castle of Arno’s Vale | work=Stories of Bristol | url=http://weldgen.tripod.com/bristol-history-com/id50.html | accessdate=2007-03-19] . Reeve was a prominent local Quaker and business man.

It is built from pre-cast black copper-slag blocks from Reeve's foundry at Crew's Hole. They were cast from waste, solving the problem of disposing of the large amounts of waste produced by the industry, and made more profit for the brassworks. [cite web | title= Locally supplied goods:brass industry | work=Port Cities: Bristol | url=http://www.discoveringbristol.org.uk/showNarrative.php?sit_id=1&narId=9&nacId=13 | accessdate=2007-03-19] Reeve went bankrupt in 1775 and his house and business were sold to a member of the Tonge family, who were important slave traders.

Much of the freestone carving and dressings are reputed to have come from the city's demolished medieval gateways, and St Werburghs Church , rebuilt by James Bridges in 1758—1761. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building. [cite web | title= Black Castle Public House | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=379848 | accessdate=2007-03-16] Arno's Court Triumphal Arch used to stand in front of the building but was moved in 1912 approximately 100 metres away.

The building is now a public house and immediately adjacent to the car park of a large Sainsbury store.

References

ee also

* Grade I listed buildings in Bristol