Bristol General Hospital

BGH was built in 1832. This gate/door is from the ground floor on the long side of the building that faces out onto Bathurst Basin, on the docks. The hospital was built on a sloping site, and this is the lowest side, so actually this door gives access to what is the basement level if you went round the corner and up the hill and in through the main entrance instead.

My best guess is that this is a doorway originally through which coal would be taken in to fire the boilers, and maybe also from which coffins would discreetly be carried under cover of night. It needs a lick of paint.

BGH closed last year and the site is now being redeveloped.