The Red Lodge Museum

About the Red Lodge

The Red Lodge is often described as Bristol's 'hidden treasure' because of its magnificent Tudor rooms. The house, built in 1580, is furnished in Elizabethan, Stuart and Georgian styles and contains the impressive Great Oak Room, with its original Elizabethan plasterwork ceiling, oak panelling and carved chimneypiece. From here you can gaze down on the knot garden below. 

It was built as a lodge for a Great House, which once stood on the site of the present Colston Hall. It was subsequently added to in Georgian times. It has had several uses in its past, including a reform school for girls.  This was set up in 1854 by Mary Carpenter and a room is dedicated to her memory.

What can I see there?

There are seven rooms over two floors.

They tell the history of the house, from its Tudor origins to its role as a Victorian girls reform school.

Tudor rooms:

• Great oak room.
• Small oak room.
• Bedroom.

Georgian rooms:

• Print room.
• Parlour.
• Reception room.

Exhibition room:

• Contains a small display on the Red Lodge Girls Reform School.

The Knot Garden:

• The walled garden at the Red Lodge is an excellent example of a re-created Elizabethan-style knot garden with herbaceous borders. All the plants grown here could have been found in English gardens by 1630.

Access information

• Access is limited because of the age and layout of the house.
• The house has several flights of stairs and no lift.
• No toilet.

School and group visits

School and educational groups

All learning sessions are undertaken by the museum learning department.

Contact: Rita Youseph, Learning Administrator
Telephone: 0117 922 3567
Email: rita.youseph@bristol.gov.uk

Adult group tours

To book contact the Curator of Applied Art.

Contact: Karin Walton
Telephone: 0117 922 3588
Email: karin.walton@bristol.gov.uk

Venue hire

It is possible to hire the Red Lodge for small drinks receptions and events. Please contact the Events Officer to discuss your event and requirements.

Contact: Events Officer, Simon Kelly.
Telephone: 0117 903 6173
Email: simon.kelly@bristol.gov.uk

Getting there

Please use the Related Links to find out how to get to the Red Lodge by public transport and car.