Heritage experts have raised the alarm internationally over the state of a historic building deteriorating in the centre of Bath.
The old King Edward’s School building in Broad Street | Photo © Stephen Sumner
Bath Preservation Society has applied to the World Monument Fund to put the old King Edward’s School building on Broad Street on its watch list.
The site has been empty since 1990 and is known today for the signs which are frequently put up at the building, shaming its owner for leaving it unused.
The Bath charity, which runs No. 1 Royal Crescent and the Herschel Museum, said: “Despite superficial repairs, it continues to visibly deteriorate.
“The grade II* listed building remains on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register – a damning indictment for the double-inscribed World Heritage Site famed for its Georgian architecture and town planning.”
The World Monument Fund works to “safeguard irreplaceable cultural heritage” in 112 countries around the world.
Every two years, individuals and organisations are asked to nominate sites in need of protection to be placed on its watch list. It will announce which sites have made it onto the list in 2027.
The old King Edward’s School building was built by Bath architect Thomas Jelly in 1752. After the school moved out to new premises in Bathwick in 1990, the building was bought by Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery to be turned into a pub. More than 35 years later, it remains empty and increasingly dilapidated.
Bath Preservation Trust said: “King Edward’s School is symbolic of a global phenomenon which sees historic architecture neglected and left to deteriorate.
“Generating significant local and national interest, the building has the potential to be an exemplar of community engagement to bring it back into condition.
“We have spoken to scores of people who have expressed their frustration with the ongoing disregard, offering help and support. And we have written to the owners, Samuel Smith’s Brewery on several occasions, to ask for the building to be shown the respect and care it deserves but have received no reply.”
Since 2024, Bath-based circus performer Scott Harrison (also known by circus alias Stanley Sprocket), who attended the school in the 1970s, has put up various signs at the building calling attention to its condition.
His most recent work calls out Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery owner Humphrey Smith by name, stating: “Shame on you.”
Mr Harrison has urged Mr Smith to sell him the building so he can turn it into a circus school. He said: “I think it’s my right as an old boy of this school to say: ‘If you’re not going to do anything with it, can you just give me the key.’”
Bath & North East Somerset Council has also attempted to force the brewery to take action over the deterioration of the building.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
