Blaise Castle

The Castle was built in 1766 on a site with evidence of human habitation dating back 5000 years to the age of Neolithic Man. It is the centre piece of the Estate and commands considerable views of the surrounding countryside. It was built by Thomas Farr the owner of the estate, who was a prosperous Bristol merchant, who had considerable sugar investments in the Americas.

One theory for the choice of the position was that it enabled Farr to see his ships entering the river Avon on their way to Bristol laden with cargo from his American Estates. This can be seen on a painting in the Blaise Castle House Museum which shows a pilot vessel alongside a sailing ship awaiting navigation through the difficult tidal waters of the River Avon into Bristol. The Castle is clearly shown in the background.

Due to the effects of the American War of independence., Thomas Farr was declared bankrupted in 1778 and was forced to sell the Estate. It was eventually bought by John Scadrett Harford in 1789. The possible original use for the Castle no longer existed and it became a summer house for the new owners and their guests.

Certainly the interior of the first floor with wooden panelled walls and impressive period furniture, as shown in the only photographs available, indicate its use of entertaining and pleasure. It would appear that this was the sole use of the Castle for about 150 years until the First World War. By this time, house parties and entertaining on a grand scale were in decline, and little use was made of the Castle.

The only definite information on its use after the War is its occupation by an Estate worker, Mr Castell and his family, who lived in the ground floor rooms for about four years in the 1920’s. A harsh and difficult environment with no modern household facilities. A description of what his life was like can be read from a display in the Castle.

Following the purchase of the Estate by Bristol Corporation the building had no real use and was therefore allowed to deteriorate and suffered from vandalism, culminating in a serious fire in the early 1960’s.After considerable interest and pressure from local people a restoration programme between City Council and the Friends of Blaise resulted in saving the building from destruction and the installation of a spiral staircase.

The views for which it was originally built again became available and can be enjoyed by the public on some afternoons in the summer when Friends of Blaise open it to the public.

Written by Friends of Blaise Castle.