Grade II* listed · Bristol, City of

Dorset House (formerly Alva House and Dorset House) and attached terrace and balustrade

Dorset House (formerly Alva House and Dorset House) and attached terrace and balustrade is a Grade II* listed building in Bristol, City of, first listed on 4 March 1977. It is one of 212 Grade II* entries among 2,145 listed buildings in Bristol, City of; 32% of Bristol, City of’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
FieldValue
NameDorset House (formerly Alva House and Dorset House) and attached terrace and balustrade
GradeGrade II* — particularly important, more than special interest
List entry number1282215
Date first listed4 March 1977
Local planning authorityBristol, City of
Location51.45789, -2.62515 (map)
Official recordHistoric England list entry 1282215

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Bristol, City of will require for your works on Dorset House (formerly Alva House and Dorset House) and attached terrace and balustrade, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest — about 5.8% of listed buildings. Applications for listed building consent are notified to Historic England.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Dorset House (formerly Alva House and Dorset House) and attached terrace and balustrade

NameGradeDistance
Number 6 and 7 and Attached Front Basement Area Railings, Garden Walls, Piers and GatesII36 m
St Angela'S Convent, Attached Front Basement Area Railings and Garden WallII73 m
Engineer'S HouseII*104 m
Number 3 and Attached Front Garden Walls and Piers Riversleigh and Attached Front Garden Walls and PiersII108 m
Litfield House and Attached Front Basement BalustradesII*145 m
Promenade House and Attached Basement Area Railings and WallsII*145 m
Piers, Railings and Gates to Litfield HouseII152 m
Clifton ObservatoryII*170 m
Harley Villa and Attached Front Piers, Gates and RailingsII174 m
Taylor Maxwell House and Attached Front BalustradeII*178 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Dorset House (formerly Alva House and Dorset House) and attached terrace and balustrade listed?
Yes. Dorset House (formerly Alva House and Dorset House) and attached terrace and balustrade is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building, list entry number 1282215, first listed on 4 March 1977. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.
Do I need consent for works to Dorset House (formerly Alva House and Dorset House) and attached terrace and balustrade?
Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Bristol, City of, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.
Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.