The History of The General: From 19th Century Hospital to Million-Pound Apartments

The History of The General: From 19^th Century Hospital to Million-Pound Apartments

The General has won an award for its incredible transformation.

Dating back to 1856, The General is a building steeped in history, still standing after world wars and decades of social change in Bristol.

But its purpose is very different now than what it was even some ten years ago.

Up until 2012, The General was known as The Bristol General Hospital, but when the planned South Bristol Community Hospital opened the services were transferred, and the building became apartments.

Ever since, The General has forged a reputation as one of the most exciting new developments in Bristol, having won an award for its incredible transformation.

But how – exactly – did it ger there?

An iconic building brimming with history

The deadly cholera epidemics of the 1830s – and the political unrest which erupted from the Bristol Riots of 1831 – were both issues to influence, indirectly, the growth of Bristol’s General Hospital.

In 1858, the hospital was designed by W.B Gingell, Henry Crisp and George Herbert Oatley, Bristol’s most renowned architect.

According to developers City & Country, who eventually acquired the site in 2012, during WWII the hospital suffered severe bomb damage which all but destroyed much of its original fabric, leaving the building in a poor state.

The hospital finally closed its door in 2012 when the planned South Bristol community Hospital opened and the services were transferred. City & Country acquired the site in June 2012.

The restoration and conversion of The General has been a vast project spanning more than three years, and work on the building is still ongoing.

The developers used a team of specialist historians and architects, who unearthed a vast library of original photographs and historical documents that were studied closely, revealing much of the original plans and layouts for the building.

Teams spent time researching the most appropriate methods to restore aspects of the building, including the most effective way to clean the Penant and Bath stone dressings to the external facades.

Significant original features that have been fully restored and reinstated include a stone fountain and ornamental sculpture, which now take pride of place once again in the courtyard.

Work to reinstate the Ogee Dome was completed in 2017, meaning the building has been returned to the proportions, scale and appearance of its original design.

Luxury apartments with period features

The Grade II listed building is now two and three bedroom luxury apartments that have retained features appropriate to the period.

According to the developers, the homes benefit from the setting of not only the historic buildings, but also the restored central courtyard and new landscaped gardens.

The development also features numerous commercial units including a Michelin starred restaurant.

Not to mention its location. The impressive development sits on Guinea Street in Redcliffe, overlooking the River Avon and the Bathurst Basin.

But apartments don’t come cheap, with pries ranging from £345,000 to £1,050,000.

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