His son born in 1664, also named Thomas, prospered as a grocer and in 1694 leased a country house in Clifton, now known as Goldney Hall.

[2] In 1724 the earlier house was partially demolished to be replaced by a grander building, possibly built for Goldney by George Tully,[3] a Bristol merchant who was a partner of William Champion in the Coalbrookdale Works.

The current house was built in 1724, and occupies a hilltop position overlooking the city of Bristol and Brandon Hill.

[8] The house also contains an ornate mahogany parlour complete with original wooden panelling dating back to 1725, which is reserved for meetings and special events.

The historic English Landscape Garden style grounds, designed by Thomas Goldney III, include an orangery, gothic tower and grotto.

The grounds include a statue of Hercules, which is Grade II* listed[17] and is suspected to be a second hand purchase by Thomas Goldney III, predating everything else on the site.

The ornately decorated grotto was created between 1737 and 1764 (dated 1739) and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.

The central chamber houses a life size plaster of paris lion with a lioness sitting in a den behind.

[22] The roof of the central hall is composed of closely fitting blocks of Bath stone carved into pseudo-stalactites.

[23] The grotto is opened to the public during Garden Tour days organised by the University's Conference Office and to students at various points through the academic year.

Previous artists to headline and perform at the Ball include Hot Chocolate (1998), Roni Size (1999), Shy FX, DJ Hype, BodyRockers, Ninja Tune, Jools Holland, and the Scratch Perverts, as well as illusionist Derren Brown and entertainer and DJ Paul Chuckle.

They are current holders of the Bristol University Intramural Division 3 title, under the name The Wanderers, following their success in the 22/23 season.

[26] Its latest appearance is in the BBC series Sherlock, as the venue for the wedding of John Watson and Mary Morstan in the second episode of the third season, "The Sign of Three".