Bath Abbey’s Victorian chandeliers have had a new lease of life thanks to a donation of £63,700 from the Friends of Bath Abbey and a further grant of £8,000 from Business West’s Improving Your Resource Efficiency (IYRE) programme.
As part of the Abbey’s long-term development project, Footprint, the chandeliers have been restored to their original Victorian design intent and also now incorporate new state-of-the-art LED lights.
First designed by Francis Skidmore in 1870, the chandeliers were adapted at the turn of the 20th century when new gas fittings were added. Further modifications followed and, in 1978, the lights were changed to electric fittings which obscured the view of the chandeliers themselves. These reduced the aesthetic impact of the chandeliers and also provided inadequate lighting.
Charles Curnock, Footprint Project Director said: “We’re immensely grateful for the continued generosity of the Friends of Bath Abbey and support from Business West, and are delighted with our new, improved chandeliers.
“By taking the design of the lights back to the original intent of the eminent Victorian lighting designer, Francis Skidmore, the chandeliers are now not only more beautiful, they’re a much better light source, are far more energy efficient and enhance the overall appearance of the Abbey.”
Dr John Wroughton, Chairman of the Friends of Bath Abbey, said: “The role of the Friends is to support the conservation and refurbishment of this iconic building. We have loved being part of this project. The newly transformed chandeliers will provide a much improved light source for all who visit and worship in the Abbey, as well as the chance to appreciate the original design for the first time in a hundred years.”
Phil Smith, Managing Director of Business West, said: ‘‘As part of our IYRE (Improving Your Resource Efficiency) programme, we were keen to work with Bath Abbey on identifying and delivering environmental improvements. This particular project has meant that the Abbey has been able to restore and adapt their existing chandeliers so that they are now much more energy efficient, saving money as well as reducing their carbon footprint.”
The design for the new-look chandeliers was developed by Bath-based architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, while chandelier experts Madson Black, assisted by Bath company Enlightened Lighting, had the delicate job of adapting and installing the chandeliers, working late into the evening when the Abbey was closed to the public in order to minimise disruption to Abbey life.
All 15 newly adapted chandeliers have been successfully installed, and with final testing complete, are now lighting the Abbey once again.
