Arno's Court Triumphal Arch

Arno's Court Triumphal Arch
Rear view of Arno's Court Triumphal Arch
General information
Town or city	Bristol
Country	England
Completed	c1760
Client	William Reeve
Design and construction
Architect	James Bridges

Arno's Court Triumphal Arch, Bristol

Arno's Court Triumphal Arch (grid reference ST611717) is in Junction Rd, Brislington, Bristol, England.

Construction

The arch was built around 1760 by James Bridges, for William Reeve, a prominent local Quaker and business man. It is built from Bath stone, of classical proportions but with Gothic and Moorish detail. A plaque on the arch states that it was moved from its original position, as the entrance to the Black Castle Public House, in 1912 and was fully renovated in 1995.

Carvings

File:Arnosarchstat2.JPG

Statue on Arno's Court Triumphal Arch

The niches on each side of the arch once contained carvings from the demolished City Gates. The rear elevation is much simpler than the front, and includes a carving of the City's coat of arms. Originally the building was the gateway to Arno's Castle, and was moved to form the entrance to Arno's Court Bath House in 1912.

The four statues which decorate the archway are 20th-century copies of 13th- and 14th-century originals. The original statues of King Edward I and King Edward III were set in one of the deep niches on the western side that have tent-like canopies. The original statues were taken from Bristol's Lawfords' Gate that was demolished around the time of construction of the arch. Those on the east-side are 13th-century figures from Bristol's Newgate representing Robert, the builder of Bristol Castle, and Geoffrey de Montbray, bishop of Coutances, builder of the fortified walls of Bristol. The originals of all four were removed due to their deteriorating condition in 1898 and they are now in the St Nicholas's Church Museum.

See also

• Black Castle Public House
• Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol