Key Dates
13th Century First mention of Guild of Merchants in Bristol
1445 Guild of Mariners founded to erect chantry and almshouse for a priest and 12 poor seamen
1467 Bristol Corporation drew up Ordinances for Guild of Merchants
1497 Guild financed John Cabot’s voyage in Matthew which discovered Newfoundland
1552 Edward VI granted Royal Charter to Master, Wardens and Commonalty of Merchant Venturers of City of Bristol giving them a monopoly of seaborne trade from and to Bristol
1553 Society took over the almshouse in Marsh Street, which still exists as Merchants’ Almshouse and established original Merchants’ Hall on the site of the chantry next door
1566 Elizabeth I granted Royal Charter to the Society confirming the earlier one
1595 First record of school for mariners’ children founded by Society
1622 John Guy, first Governor of Newfoundland in 1610, becomes Master
1631 Capt James equipped by Society for expedition in Henrietta to seek North West Passage
1639 Charles I granted Royal Charter to Society setting out the constitution and fixing November 10th as the date of the election of Master and Wardens
1676 Manor of Clifton acquired
1696 Colston’s almshouses founded
1708 Colston’s School founded by Edward Colston. Society appointed manager of the charity’s estates
1737Mathematical and Navigational School started by Society
1754William Vick bequeathed £1,000 to Society and directed that the interest should accumulate until the sum of £10,000 was reached and then to build a bridge over the Avon Gorge
1756War with France. Society fitted 60 privateers carrying up to 36 guns and many prizes were gained
1763Treaty of Paris. Owing to Society’s advice Labrador transferred from Quebec province to government of Newfoundland
1807Act of Parliament abolishes the slave trade in Britain and her colonies
1809Floating Harbour completed by Bristol Docks Company after pressure and assistance from the Society
1830Bill for bridge over Avon Gorge received Royal Assent. Vick’s legacy, now £8,700, handed over to trustees
1832Inaugural meeting of the Great Western Railway Company held in Merchants’ Hall. Much supported by Society and its members
1861Wharfage lease relinquished by Society after 309 years and management of pilots relinquished after 249 years
1864Brunel-designed Suspension Bridge over Avon Gorge finally opened
1885Bristol Trade and Mining School becomes known as Merchant Venturers’ School
1891Colston’s Girls’ School founded
1909Bristol University receives its Charter. Merchant Venturers’ Technical College engineering department becomes Faculty of Engineering
1922St Monica Trust formed
1925St Monica Home of Rest opened in Cote Lane site
1940Merchants’ Hall destroyed during the Blitz
1945Fern House, Clifton Down acquired as temporary Hall
1953Fern and Auckland House, Clifton Down joined together to become the new Merchants’ Hall
1989Queen Elizabeth II granted Charter to the Society increasing the size of the Standing Committee to 15
1991Through merger Colston’s School became co-educational as Colstons Collegiate School
2003First women merchants elected
2003A new 60-bed care home, the Garden House, is added to the original nursing home at the Cote Lane HQ of the St Monica Trust
2003Westbury Fields retirement village opened by St Monica Trust
2006Signing of Academy Funding Agreement for the establishment of the Merchants’ Academy in Withywood
2007Merchant Venturers join the Lord Mayor of Bristol and other civic representatives in signing a statement regretting Bristol’s role in the Slave Trade
2008Signing of Academy Funding Agreement for Colstons' Girls’ Academy
2008Planning concept published for new residential development at Cote House
2008In September, two Merchant Venturer sponsored academies opened – Merchants’ Academy in Withywood and Colston’s Girls’ School