ABOVE: The completed project presented a stunning, premium apartment building.

Mossfords Memorial Masons’ construction division was contracted by Speller Metcalfe to assist with the renovation of Bristol’s harbourside.

Standing proudly in this modernised, historic area of the city, a striking apartment building has emerged from the remnants of a long-forgotten gasworks – a seamless blend of heritage and contemporary design. Crafted by Mossfords’ outstanding masonry artisans renowned for their mastery in stone and restoration, the project breathes new life into Bristol’s industrial past.

Through meticulous craftsmanship and respect for the site’s history, Mossfords have transformed the old gasworks ruins into a premium living space that celebrates both Bristol’s character and the enduring beauty of traditional stonemasonry.

ABOVE: The ruins of the gasworks required extensive renovation and architectural planning to make it habitable.

Acorn Property Group

Speller Metcalf

Pennant Stone

£16m

July 2017

Acorn Property Group

Speller Metcalf

Pennant Stone

£16m

July 2017

DEVELOPER

MAIN CONTRACTOR

MATERIAL

PROJECT VALUE

DATE

BRANDON YARD – A HISTORY

Brandon Yard has been built upon the Canon’s Marsh gasworks site, once flourishing with industrial endeavour it has languished alongside Bristol’s disused waterways derelict for over 50s years. The site now serves as a pinnacle of luxury accommodation in the city.

It was in the mid 19th century that Bristol saw the arrival of its floating harbour, then packed with factory buildings fed by the freight of the endless string of ships jostling for space in the harbour.

Originally a timber yard, the growing popularity of gas lighting in Britain saw the development of buildings built solely for gas production. This saw the emergence of the two buildings standing at Brandon Yard today; Purifier House that took care of purifying the gas before Engine House equipped with its boilers and steam engine pumped it into the city’s pipe network.

BELOW: A small snapshot of the extensive renovation work commencing in the building’s interior.

The buildings are constructed from Pennant stone with a detached brick chimney, a detail that now serves as the central feature of the new development. The boundary wall, as it suggests served as a safeguard from coal thieves. Both the buildings and the boundary wall are grade II listed.

A grand assignment for the Mossfords masons and all partner contructors involved.

ABOVE: The roof of the ruined building had long perished. Here you can see the initial framework in place to make the building structually sound.

BELOW: Immense construction work to the side of the building.

BRANDON YARD – THE SITE

The site is home to the historic Purifier House and the Engine House, which are the last gas works buildings on the harbourside to be renovated. The buildings were to be developed into 58 modern homes, formed of one, two and three bedroom apartments. Having sat derelict for over 40 years, this restoration project marks the final pieces of the regeneration of the city’s floating harbour.

Our team were brought in to carry out enabling works on the site for construction to safely take place. The first part of this task was to enable easy access to the buildings, which required our workers to create a hole in the exterior stone wall of the site. Due to the Grade II listing of the buildings and the grounds, the facework stone from the wall needed to be carefully recorded and stored, ready to be rebuilt at a later date.

BELOW: A view of the beautiful circular window and renovated chimney stack.

We then needed to secure the building with the use of large steel supports, which were wrapped around the exterior to ensure the safety of the workers. The project then involved taking down coping stones, taking down one of the gable ends and removing loose stonework from the top of the building prior to the construction team working on the site.

All of the removed stonework was recorded, put into storage and then reinstated into the restoration of the building.

BELOW: A magnificent building with rich history – unquestionably worthy of its premium.