The sugar refinery of businessman and philanthropist Conrad Finzel dominated the centre of Bristol in the 19th
century, until the late 1870s, on the site now being redeveloped as
Finzel’s Reach. Sugar refining was among the most significant
industries in Bristol in the 18th and 19th
centuries, but Bristol Museums & Galleries has little in the way of
artefacts in its collections to reflect this. Finzel made a major
contribution to the technology of the industry and ran the largest
refinery in the city. His philanthropic work included supporting the
Muller Orphanage.
This large bust was carved by ‘G. Papworth of London’ in 1856 and
stands on an oak pedestal, made from timber reclaimed from the 17th century Fourteen Stars tavern demolished to make way for the refinery.
