John Nelson Meredith

Wartime planning Meredith's early years in Bristol were dominated by the Second World War. Following the heavy bombing raids of 1940 and 1941, which destroyed the historic heart of the city including the Castle Street and Wine Street shopping areas, he became a central figure in the planning for reconstruction. As early as 1941, he publicly advocated a rebuilding programme that rejected imitation historic styles in favour of simple, dignified architecture using local materials. Scholar of urban planning John V. Punter placed him among a generation of municipal architects who were sceptical of late Victorian revivalism and stylistic pastiche, instead promoting functional civic design and improved hygienic standards in building.

During the war, Meredith experimented with alternative construction methods to address material shortages, presenting plans for timberless houses to the Housing Committee as early as 1940. At the same time, wartime planning in Bristol combined modernisation with an early conservation impulse. Schedules of streets and squares considered architecturally important were compiled, anticipating later national listing practices while Meredith worked with the city engineer’s department on the Bristol Central Area Replanning Scheme, unveiled in 1944. His department was responsible for the design and supervision of the Broadmead shopping centre, which replaced the destroyed Castle Street district as Bristol's primary retail hub.

He championed the preservation of specific historic structures within the new development, such as John Wesley's New Room and the Quakers Friars, intending them to be set within tranquil piazzas. He also successfully campaigned for the restoration of the Lower Arcade. However, his comprehensive vision for a fully pedestrianised precinct with continuous canopies was frequently compromised by budget cuts and the demands of individual retailers who insisted on distinct store frontages. While early developments focused on low-density estates in outer areas like Henbury and Lockleaze, the scarcity of land eventually necessitated a shift toward high-rise living. Meredith oversaw the redevelopment of Barton Hill, a project that included the construction of Barton House. At 15 storeys, it was the tallest block of local authority dwellings in England outside of London at the time of its completion. His department's output included the design of high-density accommodation such as John Cozens House and Tyndall House in the St Jude's Estate, constructed in the late 1950s. The buildings in the Redcliffe Estate were also designed under Meredith’s department around this time, employing reinforced concrete construction with in-situ columns and partially precast beams. The earliest phases combined mid-rise slab blocks with towers of up to thirteen storeys. He was also responsible for a massive school building program, resulting in over 60 new schools, including Ashton Park School and Henbury Court Primary School.

In 1951, Meredith completed the reconstruction of the interior of the Colston Hall after it had been gutted by fire in 1945. His design was praised for its acoustic qualities and contemporary style, utilising materials such as African hardwood and fibrous plaster to create a space that typified the Festival of Britain era architecture.

His department also designed the original terminal building at Bristol Airport, which opened in 1957. The design prioritised functionalism and included a concourse with a convex curved roof and contemporary interior color schemes. Other notable public buildings designed under his leadership included the River Police Station at The Grove (1954) and various clinics, fire stations, and libraries. By 1940, Meredith was serving in a national professional capacity within the Royal Institute of British Architects' governance, being listed among those connected with the Institute's Council in contemporary reporting.

Meredith was known for his interest in "good manners in architecture" and the integration of buildings with their environment. He was an advocate for smoke abatement, arguing in 1948 for the use of smokeless fuels and district heating to protect public health and building fabrics. He also influenced the visual landscape of the city through color. Notably, he campaigned for the Clifton Suspension Bridge to be painted silver-grey, arguing it was a "bright, clean, cheerful yet restful colour", a change that was implemented in the late 1950s.

He retired in October 1957 and was succeeded by his deputy, Albert H. Clarke. In his private life, Meredith was an amateur painter and sketch artist. J. Nelson Meredith died on 18 January 1971 at the age of 78, at 2, Penavon, The Promenade in Clifton.