Evening star., 1912-09-13
BATHS "BLACK CASTLE"
Strange Structure Built by an Ec.
centric Quaker.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.

From the Pail Mall Gazette.
The Quakers of the oIden time were
chiefly known for their level-headedness
and simplicity. There were few excep-
ton, of course, and one of them was
William Reeve Of Bristol.
merchant In large way Of business
lie was master OF the Merchant Ventur-
ers in 1765-he had occasion frequently
to visit the continent, and during his
travels he saw on the Arno a castle
which so pleased his fancy that he de-
termined as far as possible to build
reproduction in this country.
For this purpose he engaged the serv-
ices of an Italian architect. and at Bris-
lington. outside Bath, erected the curious
structure which to this day is known as
Amos, or the Black Castle. For many
years it has been utterly neglected, but
recently 1t was acquired by some deal
ers in antiques. and 1t is now being
opened as a salesroom for their wares.
It is said that Reeve never lived in the
castle, but occupied house opposite the
grounds, with which 1t was connected
by an underground passage. Through this
the merchant passed every morning 10
bathe in a Roman bath which had been
constructed.
Described by a cOtemporary as "an
Industrious picker-up Of medieval trifes.
William Reeve sought to embellish his
strange structural whim with mementoes
OF local antiquities which at that time
were falling into decay or were being re-
moved. In 1857 the Church of st. Wer-
burgh, Bristol. underwent extensive al
terations and portions of the more an
cient parts Of the building were incor-
porated in the Black Castle.
Over the chief entrance to the castle
Reeve placed two interesting statues re-
moved in 1766 from Newgate. Bristol.
when 1t was partially demolished, and
three years later he acquired in the same
way the statues from Lawfords Gate.
another ancient entrance to Bristol.
The castle is mentioned by Horace Wal
pole. who dubbed it 'the Devils Ca
thedral." and even in its palmy days its
appearance must have been of the
quaintest, with its strange mixture OF
architectural styles and its old statues
of different periods.
William Reeve, even from his early
days, seems to have been un-Quakerlike
in many OF his doings, for 1t is stated by
DR.. Newton. Bishop of Bristol. that dur
ing the assizes in 1850 William Reeve.
considerable Quaker merchant, was cross
examined by Robert Henley tafterward
Lord Chancellor Northington) with much
raillery and ridicule." Reeve suDse-
quently demanded satisfaction and q pub
lie apology, duel being one OF the al
ternativeS suggested. :.
It is also recorded that Reeve was the
owner of the tithes OF Brislington. an
extraordinary proceeding, as the Quakers
were among the earliest to resist the
payment Of tithes.
The Quaker merchants eccentriclties
and his extravagances later in his lfe
reached such pitch that in ITO he
failed in business. A committee OF local
Friends was appointed to inquire into the
case, as being one which might bring the
society into disrepute. December is, ITO,
there was a report from those who had
inquired into the failure. They found
the causes unsatisfactory. and that Reeve
had been extravagant, especially so re-
garding the building at Brislington." AS
a result he was disowned by the society.
September %. 177S, he died. and now,
a century and a half after its erection,
his BLACK Castle" Is probably for the
first time being put to utilitarian pur-
pose.