Situated between Old Market Street and Redcross Street in the centre of the City of Bristol; Central Hall consists of 42 residential flats and 2 commercial units, split across two buildings with a car park and garden situated between the two (below).
Since 2012 the flats have moved into private ownership. In order to better manage and maintain the buildings, a number of owner/residents created Central Hall Bristol Limited and successfully purchased the Freehold of the building in 2014 (see the note on the for sale/rent page for more details on becoming a freeholder).
The flats vary considerably in terms of layout and across the two buildings there are 34 studio/one bed flats, 7 two bed flats and 1 three bed flat. There are 32 allocated parking spaces in the gated car park accessed via Redcross Street.
The flats vary considerably in terms of layout and across the two buildings there are 34 studio/one bed flats, 7 two bed flats and 1 three bed flat. There are 32 allocated parking spaces in the gated car park accessed via Redcross Street.
Gallery
History
Central Hall was originally built in 1924 as a Methodist Meeting Hall, and was one of around 100 built in major towns and cities across Britain between 1886 and 1945. At the peak of the central halls' popularity, thousands of people would pack in on Saturday nights for cheap concerts, comedy shows and films, interspersed with hymns and prayers.
As Central Hall's popularity and attendance declined the running costs of Central Hall became too high. Various uses and buyers were discussed, however it was eventually purchased and converted into flats in the late 1980's / early 1990's. The main hall (shown below) was demolished and became the car park and gardens between the two sets of flats. |
Picture (above left) credit:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/6846346462/in/photolist-nFzFXp-bqZjhf-bDUfKB-bdf6jz The Construction of Central Hall, Old Market, Bristol in the 1920's. Picture (left) credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/6702115097/in/photolist-nFzFXp-bqZjhf-bDUfKB-bdf6jz/ The inset portrait is the Revd. A. Broadbelt, who was the first Superintendent of the Mission. Picture (below left) credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/2063067788/ Inside the hall, taken in 1962. Picture (below right) credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/63169795@N04/7473322492/ Taken by Phillip Morris, who was in discussion to purchase Central Hall in the 1980's. |
The following link provides an interactive overview of Central Hall's History created by Trinity as part of the Old Market Vice and Virtue project: http://3ca.org.uk/activities/past-projects/heritage/timeline/l2