The Central Police Station, also known as the

Bridewell Bridewell Palace in London was built as a residence of King Henry VIII and was one of his homes early in his reign for eight years. Given to the City of London Corporation by his son King Edward VI in 1553 as Bridewell Hospital for use as a ...

is a historic building on Nelson Street, Broadmead,

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. It was opened in 1828 and finally closed in 2005. It is a grade II

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

History

Prior to the construction of the present building, the Central Police Station had been located in Bridewell Street. In 1880, the watch committee were involved in the setting up of an independent fire brigade and a site was chosen adjacent to the police station. A steam fire engine was purchased and arrangements were made to stable the horses needed to pull the fire engine in the yard of the police station. The Nelson Street building was built in 1928 by Ivor Jones and

Percy Thomas Sir Percy Edward Thomas OBE (13 September 1883 – 19 August 1969) was an Anglo-Welsh architect who worked in Wales for the majority of his life. He was twice RIBA president (1935–37 and 1943–46). Biography Percy Edward Thomas was born o ...

and opened as a

police station A police station is a facility operated by police or a similar law enforcement agency that serves to accommodate police officers and other law enforcement personnel. The role served by a police station varies by agency, type, and jurisdiction, ...

in November 1930 near the site of a previous station. Neighbouring buildings housed law courts and a fire station. It closed as a working police station in August 2005. The building has been designated by

English Heritage English Heritage (officially the English Heritage Trust) is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. These include prehistoric sites, a battlefield, medieval castles, Roman forts, historic industrial sites, Lis ...

as a grade II

. English Heritage describes it as having an "axial plan with wings at each end. Stripped Neo-Georgian style with Mannerist detail. 2 storeys; 12-window range. A near-symmetrical front has curved ends and short returns, with a fluted frieze and parapet."

Current and future uses

In December 2007 a graffiti exhibition was held in the Old Bridewell Police Station building to raise funds for

Bristol Children's Hospital Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, also known as the Bristol Children's Hospital, is a paediatric hospital in Bristol and the only paediatric major trauma centre in South West England. The hospital is part of the University Hospitals Bristol ...

. 70 artists took part and an artwork was donated by

Banksy Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist, and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation. Active since the 1990s, his satirical street art and subversive ep ...

to the cause. Currently the building is known as The Island. It became home to Artspace Lifespace by agreement the property developers

Urban Splash Urban Splash is a UK-based Real estate development, property development business. It was founded in 1993 by chairman Tom Bloxham and creative director Jonathan Falkingham. Headquartered in Castlefield, Manchester, it also has regional bases in ...

whilst a new use for the site was found. The current owners of the building are the Creative Youth Network, who also run The Station from the complex.

References

{{reflist Grade II listed buildings in Bristol Grade II listed government buildings Police stations in England Government buildings completed in 1928 Percy Thomas buildings 1928 establishments in England