Handmade historic models of some of Bath’s most iconic buildings have been rescued by a local councillor and given on long-term loan to the city’s archives.
Councillor Paul Myers, (Conservative Midsomer Norton Redfield), who is the Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration, spotted the models in well-known Bath shop, Rolfey’s.
The models of Bath’s Holburne Museum, Pulteney Bridge and No1 Royal Crescent are in large display cases, each weighing more than 25kg and measuring more than 2ft 6in.
Their creator Eric M J Walford, from Warminster, painstakingly made them for an exhibition in the Octagon Chapel, in Milsom Street, more than 40 years ago.
Each one took around six to seven months to complete and they were sold by their creator Mr Walford around seven years ago.
Councillor Myers said: “I spotted the models of some of Bath’s best known public buildings in the window of Rolfey’s Emporium one Saturday morning and the first thought I had was – they ought to be on public display they are unique and wonderful.
“They are quite large and, having purchased them, I was delighted to find a home for them on indefinite loan at the Bath Archive in the Guildhall.
“When David Rolf heard that the models were to be loaned to the Bath Records Office, he agreed to deliver them at no charge and they now sit on the filing cabinets and can be enjoyed by members of the public doing their research.”
Mr Walford was a renowned professional model maker of Georgian Houses, mansions and museums. After visiting Bath and its architecture, which he loved, he made the three models for himself – lavishing hundreds of hours on their creation as a labour of love.
The models, made in 1975, are in the Bath Records Office which is at the Guildhall on the High Street in Bath.