Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a unitary authority created on 1 April 1996, following the abolition of the County of Avon, which had existed since 1974.[1] Part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset occupies an area of 220 square miles (570 km2), two-thirds of which is green belt.[2] It stretches from the outskirts of Bristol, south into the Mendip Hills and east to the southern Cotswold Hills and Wiltshire border.[2] The city of Bath is the principal settlement in the district, but BANES also covers Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and the Chew Valley. The area has a population of 170,000, about half of whom live in Bath, making it 12 times more densely populated than the rest of the area.[2]
In the United Kingdom, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical, or cultural significance; Grade I structures are those considered to be "buildings of exceptional interest".[3] Listing was begun by a provision in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Once listed, strict limitations are imposed on the modifications allowed to a building's structure or fittings. In England, the authority for listing under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990[4] rests with English Heritage, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; local authorities have a responsibility to regulate and enforce the planning regulations.
Bath and North East Somerset has 663 Grade I listed buildings, one of the highest concentrations in the country,[5] covered by about 100 English Heritage listings. The oldest sites within Bath are the Roman Baths, for which the foundation piles and an irregular stone chamber lined with lead were built during the Roman occupation of Britain,[6][7] although the current building is from the 18th century.[8] Bath Abbey was a Norman church built on earlier foundations, although the present building dates from the early 16th century and shows a late Perpendicular style with flying buttresses and crocketed pinnacles decorating a crenellated and pierced parapet.[9][10][11] The medieval era is represented by the remains of the city walls in Upper Borough Walls.[12]
Most of Bath's Grade I listed buildings are made from the local golden-coloured Bath Stone, and date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Their dominant architectural style is Georgian,[13] which evolved from the Palladian revival style that became popular during the early 18th century. This led to the entire city's designation as a World Heritage Site.[14] Much of the development, and many of the buildings, were the vision of John Wood, the Elder. The Circus is seen as the pinnacle of Wood's work. It consists of three long, curved terraces that form a circular space or theatre intended for civic functions and games. The games give a clue to the design, the inspiration for which was the Colosseum in Rome.[13] The best known of Bath's terraces is the Royal Crescent, built between 1767 and 1774 and designed by Wood's son, John Wood, the Younger.[15] Around 1770 the neoclassical architect Robert Adam designed Pulteney Bridge, a three-arched bridge spanning the Avon. He used as his prototype an original, but unused, design by Palladio for the Rialto Bridge in Venice.[16] The heart of the Georgian city was the Pump Room, which together with its associated Lower Assembly Rooms was designed by Thomas Baldwin, a local builder responsible for many other buildings in the city, including the terraces in Argyle Street.[17] Great Pulteney Street, where Baldwin eventually lived, is another of his works: this wide boulevard, constructed c. 1789 and over 1,000 feet (305 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) wide, is lined on both sides by Georgian terraces.[18][19] Outside the city of Bath most of the Grade I listed buildings are Norman- or medieval-era churches, many of which are included in the Somerset towers, a collection of distinctive, mostly spireless, Gothic church towers. Manor houses such as Claverton Manor, which now houses the American Museum in Britain,[20] and the 18th-century Newton Park, which has a landscape garden designed by Capability Brown, also appear in the list;[21] Newton Park now forms part of the Bath Spa University. The most recent building is the agricultural Eastwood Manor Farm Steading, completed in 1860.[22]
Buildings
Name |
Year completed[note 1] |
Architect |
Location |
Grid Ref[note 2] |
Ref(s) |
Bath Abbey |
17 !Early 16th century |
99 !Unknown |
Abbey Church Yard, Bath |
ST751647 |
[10] |
Marshal Wade's House |
20 !c. 1700 |
99 !Unknown |
Abbey Church Yard, Bath |
ST751647 |
[23] |
Grand Pump Room[note 3] |
59 !1799 |
16 !Thomas Baldwin: completed by John Palmer |
Abbey Church Yard, Bath |
ST751647 |
[24][25][26] |
Roman Baths[note 4] |
02 !2nd century |
99 !Unknown |
Abbey Church Yard, Bath |
ST751647 |
[8][27] |
1 to 8 Bath Street |
53 !1791 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Bath Street, Bath |
ST749647 |
[28] |
Royal Baths Treatment Centre |
53 !1791 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Bath Street, Bath |
ST749647 |
[29] |
The Cross Bath |
51 !1789 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Bath Street, Bath |
ST749647 |
[30] |
10 Bathwick Hill |
61 !Early 19th century |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Bathwick Hill, Bath |
ST762645 |
[31] |
6 to 21 Camden Crescent |
54 !1792 |
25 !John Eveleigh |
Camden Crescent, Bath |
ST749657 |
[32] |
1 to 13 Cavendish Place |
65 !1808 |
65 !John Pinch the elder |
Cavendish Place, Bath |
ST744657 |
[33] |
St John's Hospital |
24 !1727 |
40 !William Killigrew and John Wood, the Elder |
Chapel Court, Bath |
ST749647 |
[34] |
14 Cheap Street |
23 !c. 1720 |
99 !Unknown |
Cheap Street, Bath |
ST750648 |
[35] |
1 to 30 The Circus |
38 !1759 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder and John Wood, the Younger |
The Circus, Bath |
ST747652 |
[36] |
Georgian House and part of Southbourne Hotel |
34 !1748 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
Duke Street, Bath |
ST753646 |
[37] |
6 to 11 Duke St |
34 !1748 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
Duke Street, Bath |
ST753646 |
[38] |
Gay Street[note 5] |
27 !1735 to 1750 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
Gay Street, Bath |
ST747651 |
[39][40][41] |
Great Pulteney Street[note 6] |
51 !1789 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Great Pulteney Street, Bath |
ST754651 |
[18][19] |
Grosvenor House |
52 !1790 |
25 !John Eveleigh |
Grosvenor Place, Bath |
ST760662 |
[42] |
1 to 35 Henrietta Street |
57 !c. 1795 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Henrietta Street, Bath |
ST752651 |
[43] |
1 to 15 Johnstone Street |
52 !c. 1790 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Johnstone Street, Bath |
ST753649 |
[44] |
Rosewell House |
28 !1736 |
80 !John Strahan |
Kingsmead Square, Bath |
ST748647 |
[45] |
Lansdown Crescent[note 7] |
49 !1778 |
60 !John Palmer |
Lansdown Crescent, Bath |
ST746660 |
[46][47] |
Beckford's Tower and Mortuary Chapel |
69 !1827 |
30 !Henry Goodridge |
Lansdown, Bath |
ST737676 |
[48] |
1 to 12 Laura Place |
55 !1794 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin and John Eveleigh |
Laura Place, Bath |
ST753650 |
[49] |
37 to 42 Milsom Street |
40 !1762 |
50 !Thomas Lightholder |
Milsom Street, Bath |
ST749650 |
[50] |
Octagon Chapel |
42 !1767 |
50 !Thomas Lightholder |
Milsom Street, Bath |
ST749650 |
[51] |
Partis College[note 8] |
69 !1827 |
30 !Henry Goodridge |
Newbridge Hill, Bath |
ST727654 |
[52] |
Cumberland House |
60 !1800 |
60 !John Palmer and John Pinch the elder |
Norfolk Crescent, Bath |
ST743649 |
[53] |
North Parade[note 9] |
30 !c. 1741 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
North Parade, Bath |
ST752646 |
[54][55] |
Portland Place[note 10] |
50 !1786 |
99 !Unknown |
Portland Place, Bath |
ST747656 |
[56][57] |
Pulteney Bridge |
44 !1770 |
05 !Robert Adam |
Bath |
ST752649 |
[58] |
Queen Square[note 11] |
26 !1730 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder and John Pinch the younger |
Queen Square, Bath |
ST747649 |
[59][60][61][62] |
1 to 30 Royal Crescent |
47 !1775 |
90 !John Wood, the Younger |
Royal Crescent, Bath |
ST745653 |
[63] |
Summerhill |
67 !1820 |
65 !John Pinch the elder |
Sion Hill Place, Bath |
ST741662 |
[64] |
5 to 20 Somerset Place |
55 !1793 |
25 !John Eveleigh |
Somerset Place, Bath |
ST743660 |
[65] |
South Parade |
32 !1743 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
South Parade, Bath |
ST753646 |
[66][67] |
1 to 45 St James's Square |
55 !1793 |
60 !John Palmer |
St James's Square, Bath |
ST744656 |
[68] |
35, 36 and 37 Stall Street |
55 !1793 |
60 !John Palmer |
Stall Street, Bath |
ST750646 |
[69][70] |
Sydney Place[note 12] |
57 !1795 and 1808 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin and John Pinch the elder |
Sydney Place, Bath |
ST756652 |
[71][72] |
Holburne of Menstrie Museum[note 13] |
58 !1796 |
55 !Charles Harcourt Masters |
Sydney Place, Bath |
ST756652 |
[73][74] |
Ralph Allen's Town House |
24 !1727 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
Terrace Walk, Bath |
ST751647 |
[75] |
1 to 21 The Paragon |
43 !1768 |
10 !Thomas Warr Attwood |
The Paragon, Bath |
ST750653 |
[76] |
Trim Street[note 14] |
21 !1707 |
35 !Thomas Greenway |
Trim Street, Bath |
ST749649 |
[77] |
Medieval Wall of City |
04 !Medieval |
99 !Unknown |
Upper Borough Walls, Bath |
ST750649 |
[12] |
Widcombe Manor House[note 15] |
24 !1727 |
35 !Thomas Greenway |
Widcombe, Bath |
ST759639 |
[78][79][80][81] |
1 to 14 Widcombe Crescent |
63 !c. 1805 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Widcombe Crescent, Bath |
ST757640 |
[82] |
Wood Street[note 16] |
49 !1778 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
Wood Street, Bath |
ST748649 |
[83] |
Assembly Rooms |
45 !1771 |
90 !John Wood, the Younger |
Assembly Rooms, Bath |
ST749652 |
[84] |
Church of St Paul |
70 !1844 |
65 !Scoles and Son |
Prior Park, Bath |
ST762627 |
[85] |
The Guildhall |
49 !1778 |
15 !Thomas Baldwin |
Guildhall, Bath |
ST752649 |
[86] |
Prior Park, Bath[note 17] |
32 !1743 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
Prior Park, Bath |
ST762627 |
[87] |
Palladian Bridge |
32 !1743 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
Prior Park, Bath |
ST762627 |
[88] |
Shockerwick House |
36 !c. 1750 |
85 !John Wood, the Elder |
Bathford |
ST789669 |
[89] |
Church of St James |
07 !Late 12th century |
99 !Unknown |
Cameley |
ST610575 |
[90] |
Church of St Peter |
14 !15th century |
99 !Unknown |
Camerton Park, Camerton |
ST686574 |
[91] |
All Saints Church |
39 !1761 |
90 !John Wood, the Younger |
Wooley, Charlcombe |
ST749685 |
[92] |
St Mary Magdalene's Church |
05 !12th century |
99 !Unknown |
Langridge, Charlcombe |
ST748674 |
[93] |
Church of St Andrew |
05 !12th century |
99 !Unknown |
Chew Magna |
ST576632 |
[94] |
Claverton Manor[note 18] |
67 !1820 |
95 !Jeffry Wyatt |
Claverton |
ST784640 |
[95] |
Combe Hay Manor |
26 !1730 |
80 !John Strahan |
Combe Hay |
ST735598 |
[96] |
Church of St Michael the Archangel |
05 !12th century |
99 !Unknown |
Compton Martin |
ST545570 |
[97] |
Eastwood Manor Farm Steading |
72 !1860 |
75 !Robert Smith |
East Harptree |
ST576554 |
[22] |
Church of St Peter |
07 !Late 12th century |
99 !Unknown |
Englishcombe |
ST716628 |
[98] |
Church of St Margaret |
11 !13th century |
99 !Unknown |
Hinton Blewett |
ST594570 |
[99] |
Hinton Priory[note 19] |
13 !14th century |
99 !Unknown |
Hinton Charterhouse |
ST777592 |
[100][101][102] |
Keynsham Abbey |
05 !12th century |
99 !Unknown |
Keynsham |
ST655685 |
[103][104] |
Dundas Aqueduct |
63 !1805 |
70 !John Rennie the Elder |
Monkton Combe |
ST784625 |
[105] |
Newton Park[note 20] |
13 !14th century and 1785 |
45 !Stiff Leadbetter |
Newton St Loe |
ST695641 |
[106][107][108] |
Church of St Luke and St Andrew |
05 !12th century |
99 !Unknown |
Priston |
ST695605 |
[109] |
Church of All Saints |
13 !14th century |
99 !Unknown |
Publow |
ST623642 |
[110] |
Midford Castle |
47 !1775 |
20 !John Carter |
Southstoke |
ST760614 |
[111] |
St Catherine's Court |
18 !16th century |
99 !Unknown |
St Catherine |
ST776702 |
[112] |
Church of St Bartholomew |
11 !13th century |
99 !Unknown |
Ubley |
ST529582 |
[113] |
Church of St Julian |
13 !14th century |
99 !Unknown |
Wellow |
ST741584 |
[114] |
|
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