The Bath Preservation Trust has appointed architects Thomas Ford & Partners and quantity surveyors Stenning & Co for the design work required on a £3.3 million project at Beckford’s Tower.
The Our Tower project, which is being funded by Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will address urgent repair and conservation works required to the almost 200-year-old Grade I listed tower, which is the only museum dedicated to William Beckford in the world.
Born in 1760, William Beckford was a controversial character. At just 10-years old he inherited his father’s fortune, which included the Fonthill estate and several sugar plantations in Jamaica. His wealth gave him the freedom to pursue his interests in art, architecture, writing and music.
In 1782, Beckford undertook a Grand Tour, which inspired his travel writing and passion for collecting which continued throughout his life – especially when exiled to Europe for 10 years following the exposure of his relationship with William Courtenay in 1784.
In 1826 William Beckford commissioned a landscape back home in Bath; a garden between his Lansdown Crescent home and the retreat now known as Beckford’s Tower, where he could escape from the city within the natural environment.
The tower was created to house his library, art collection and every day Beckford would ride up there from his home, accompanied by his pack of spaniels. This expanse became known as Beckford’s Ride, a mile of interlinked gardens.
Beckford’s Tower stands in an exposed location and, like many historic buildings, almost two centuries of exposure to weather, pollution, and the challenges of climate change, now threaten the fabric of the building.
There is now an urgent need for repair and conservation, particularly to address water ingress at high level within the belvedere & lantern.
Beckford’s Tower was added to Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ Register in October 2019.
The Our Tower project will bring new parts of the tower into use, and upgrade services and visitor infrastructure.
The Bath Preservation Trust will also use the project as an opportunity to develop the visitor experience, engage wider audiences and reconnect the tower with its lost landscape, through new experiences, interpretation, and access.
A development grant awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund is also enabling Bath Preservation Trust to re-examine the way in which they share the story of William Beckford’s links to the transatlantic slave trade.
The project is scheduled to be completed in winter 2023.
BPT Capital Works Director Simon Butler said: “We are delighted to welcome Thomas Ford & Partners and Stenning & Co to the project.
“Both bring huge conservation experience to this nationally important building, and we look forward to securing an exciting new future for this Bath landmark.”
Clive England from architects Thomas Ford & Partners said: “We are delighted to be involved with BPT’s Our Tower project. Beckford’s Tower is a unique building, in a spectacular setting, with a fascinating history – exactly the type of project that every conservation architect dreams about!”
Adrian Stenning of Stenning & Co added: “I am very pleased to continue my relationship with the Bath Preservation Trust and in particular Beckford’s Tower with which I have been involved for over 20 years.
“I look forward to this opportunity to not just repair the Tower, but to also open up & show its’ story for a wider audience.”
Urgent fundraising is now needed to ensure vital conservation work to the building and landscape takes place, to ensure today’s visitors and future generations can continue to explore and enjoy the iconic Bath landmark.