Bath Preservation Trust

The Bath Preservation Trust is an independent organisation based in Bath, Somerset, England which exists to safeguard the historic character of the city of Bath, which is the only complete city in the UK that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with its environs, and to champion its sustainable future. The Trust is funded by entirely by public membership, donations and corporate sponsorship. It also owns or runs four independent museums in Bath: Number One Royal Crescent; the Building of Bath Museum; Beckford's Tower and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy.

In addition to its campaigning role, the Trust provides limited financial assistance towards the repair or reinstatement of architectural features (railings, window glazing bars, urns, vases, gateposts etc.) that may be missing from listed buildings in Bath.

History

The Trust was founded in 1934 as a small pressure group with the specific aim of fundraising to buy properties in preparation to resist the Bath Bill, set up to drive a new east to west road through the centre of Georgian Bath. As a result of this victory the status of the Trust was considerably enhanced and it was able to propose its own agenda for preserving the city. This included restoring The Prior Park Palladian Bridge and the Lansdowne Greville Monument. Following damage to buildings in the city during the Baedeker raids on 25 and 26 April 1942 of World War II, the Trust worked with the War Damage Commission to assist people to restore their buildings. A further campaign against the "Sack Of Bath" in 1967–1968 reduced the replacement of heritage buildings with modern structures. [cite web |url= http://www.brlsi.org/proceed05/lunch090605.htm|title=Preserving Bath |accessdate=2007-10-02 |format= |work=BRLSI ]

Since its first successful campaign, the Trust is now an independent registered charity and continues to campaign to save listed buildings (of which Bath has some six and a half thousand) and ensure a sustainable future for Bath in the context of its status as a World Heritage Site. The Trust now has some thirteen hundred members and a number of corporate sponsors. Its Patron is HRH Prince Charles.

Work

The Trust contributes financially to remedial works that enhance the city’s Georgian character. It has rescued properties as diverse as the cottages in Widcombe which once housed the artisans who built some of the great Georgian architectural set pieces, and the historically significant Beckford's Tower, now owned by the Bath Preservation Trust and run as a museum. A significant part of the Trust’s work is reviewing and responding to all planning and listed building consent applications submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council. It also owns and runs four independent museums; Number One Royal Crescent, the Building of Bath Museum, [cite web | title=Trinity Presbyterian Church (Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel) and Chapel House, forecourt wall, gatepiers and gates | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=443914 | accessdate=2007-10-02] Beckford's Tower [cite web | title=Beckford's Tower & Mortuary Chapel, Lansdown Cemetery | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=442844 | accessdate=2007-10-02] and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy. [cite web | title=Nos 18-19 New King Street | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=443114 | accessdate=2007-09-30]

Trust headquarters

The Trust's headquarters are in Number One Royal Crescent, [cite web | title=No 1 Royal Crescent | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=443488 | accessdate=2006-11-14] which was built by John D Wood. It is the cornerstone of one of the most significant urban architectural achievements of the 18th century and represents the highest point of Palladian architecture in Bath. Most of the house has been restored and furnished to represent life in one of the great houses of 18th century Bath. The Trust's offices are on the upper floors.

References

External links

* [http://www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/ The Bath Preservation Trust]