The Society of Merchant Venturers' historical timeline

All eight Venturers Trust schools join the national multi-academy trust E-ACT.

Colston’s School changes its name to Collegiate School; and Venturers Trust announces that it will merge with E-ACT in 2024.

Merchants’ Academy Primary and Venturers’ Academy Withywood move into brand new buildings, co-located with Merchants’ Academy Secondary.

Colston’s Girls’ School votes to change its name to Montpelier High School; and The Dolphin School votes to change its emblem.

Venturers’ Academy expands to a second site in St Anne’s Park, co-located with The Kingfisher School.

Colston’s Girls’ School launches V6, its co-educational sixth form.

Venturers Trust is established, combining the schools from Merchants’ Academy Trust and CGS Trust; and St Monica Trust opens The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham.

The Cote Charity opens Griffiths House; Barton Hill Academy joins CGS Trust; Merchants’ Academy Trust is established; and Venturers’ Academy opens and is granted approval for a new-build, purpose-built school.

Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC is founded; Fairlawn Primary School opens and, with Bannerman Road Community Academy, joins CGS Trust.

The Kingfisher School joins CGS Trust; and Bristol & Bath Regional Capital is launched.

The Dolphin School opens and joins CGS Trust.

Katherine House, a purpose-built retirement home for older people opens in the grounds of Cote House in Westbury-on-Trym; and St Monica Trust opens Sandford Station Retirement Village.

Merchants’ Academy opens (formerly Withywood Community School); Colston’s Girls’ School becomes an academy; and Colston’s Girls’ School Trust is established.

The Society of Merchant Venturers joins the Lord Mayor of Bristol and other civic representatives in signing a statement regretting Bristol’s role in the slave trade.

Signing of Academy Funding Agreement for the establishment of Merchants’ Academy in Withywood.

Westbury Fields retirement village opened by St Monica Trust.

A 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.

Through merger, Colston’s School became co-educational as Colston’s Collegiate School.

Queen Elizabeth II granted Charter to the Society increasing the size of the Standing Committee to 15.

Fern and Auckland House on Clifton Down are joined together to become the new Merchants’ Hall.

Fern House on Clifton Down is acquired as temporary Hall.

Merchants’ Hall destroyed during the Blitz.

St. Monica Home of Rest opened on Cote Lane site.

St. Monica Trust formed.

Bristol University receives its Charter. Merchant Venturers’ Technical College engineering department becomes Faculty of Engineering.

Colston’s Girls’ School founded.

Bristol Trade and Mining School becomes known as Merchant Venturers’ School.

Clifton Suspension Bridge over Avon Gorge finally opened.

Wharfage lease relinquished by Society after 309 years and management of pilots relinquished after 249 years.

Inaugural meeting of the Great Western Railway Company held in Merchants’ Hall.

Bill for bridge over Avon Gorge received Royal Assent. Vick’s legacy, now £8,700, handed over to trustees.

Floating Harbour completed by Bristol Docks Company after pressure and assistance from the Society.

Act of Parliament abolishes the slave trade in Britain and her colonies.

Treaty of Paris. Owing to Society’s advice Labrador transferred from Quebec province to government of Newfoundland.

William 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 stone bridge over the Avon Gorge.

Mathematical and Navigational School started by Society.

Colston’s School founded by Edward Colston. Society appointed manager of the charity’s estates.

Almshouse on St Michael’s Hill founded.

Manor of Clifton acquired.

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.

Capt. James equipped by Society for expedition in Henrietta to seek North West Passage.

John Guy, first Governor of Newfoundland in 1610, becomes Master.

First record of school for mariners’ children founded by Society.

Elizabeth I granted Royal Charter to the Society confirming the earlier Charter.

Society took over the almshouse in Marsh Street and established original Merchants’ Hall on the site of the chantry next door.

Edward VI grants the first Royal Charter to the ‘Master, Wardens and Commonalty of Merchant Venturers of the City of Bristol’; Bristol merchants finance John Cabot’s voyage in the Matthew, leading to the earliest documented landing on Newfoundland.

Bristol Corporation drew up Ordinances for Guild of Merchants.

Guild of Mariners founded to erect chantry and almshouse for a priest and 12 poor seamen.

First mention of a guild of merchants in Bristol.