An historic Bristol church hall designed by the architect behind Clifton College is being converted into flats and houses.
The building, which fronts Newfoundland Road, was an Empire Gym for many years and used by Commonwealth Games weightlifter Precious McKenzie before it closed a number of years ago.
A property developer in Bristol is now spending millions on transforming the site into 17 apartments, two maisonettes and three terraced homes.
The PG Group says the building's internal features, including original old oak beams, will be retained. It is also creating hand-rolled cathedral glass windows for the new properties.
“[We are] restoring the building to its former glory," said PG project manager Greg Gaiger.
“The exciting project is a natural progression because the group has almost finished restoring the Newfoundland Road Street scene by building ten homes on the site of the ones destroyed during wartime.”
The building was designed by Victorian architect Charles Hanson and built in 1882 as a hall for St Agnes Church.
During the Second World War the property only narrowly missed being destroyed when bombs demolished a row of houses next door.
Years later the site was converted into a gym and was used by high-profile stars such as ice-skater Robin Cousins, Dave Prowse of Star Wars fame and rugby international Gareth Chilcott.
When the PG Group acquired the site, it donated all its equipment to youth group Broad Plain Boys Club.
The construction work is set to be finished later this year.
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