News / Old Market
Historic building in Old Market set to undergo major redevelopment
A historic grade II listed building in Old Market is set to undergo redevelopment.
Kingsley Hall is currently home to 1625 Independent People (1625ip), a charity that offers support to young people leaving care or experiencing homelessness.
The organisation supports over 1,500 young people a year, with services ranging from the provision of accommodation to supporting access to education, training, and jobs.
is needed now More than ever
However, the charity’s Kingsley Hall base has fallen into disrepair and last year was added to Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk Register’.
Since then, a grant has been secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in order to enact much needed repairs to the historic building. These changes will create space for increased accommodation, facilities and spaces for young people.
But 1625ip aim to extend this project beyond physical repairs and are using the opportunity to launch a heritage project that explores the history of the building and the area.
Kingsley Hall in 1860 – image: Bristol Archives
Kingsley Hall has a rich and diverse history. In 1911 it opened as the headquarters of the Independent Labour Party.
It has also long been a site of social change and activism, serving as a meeting point for suffragettes and has housed debates about working conditions, housing, and gentrification.
The heritage project aims to connect young people to this inspirational history, empowering them to enact social change.
Mary, a young person supported by 1625ip said: “I feel like I have a connection. Just by walking into the building and knowing that this was used as a place to implement social change, I, myself feel yes I can also create social change.”
The young people will be involved in every stage of the redevelopment process, participating in the building design, the business plan and undertaking construction work.
Main photo: 1625ip
Read more:
- 1625 independent people continue to support young people facing homelessness in South West
- ‘Connecting to people and local communities is gold for us’
- Is Old Market’s status as Bristol’s ‘gay village’ a thing of the past?
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