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Sitting in the heart of the World Unesco Heritage city of Bath, seconds from its majestic abbey and Roman Baths, is this exceptional Grade II-listed three-bedroom apartment. Extending over 1,600 sq ft, it has been meticulously restored by the current owner, who has celebrated the building’s original Georgian features. At the rear of the apartment is a picturesque west-facing courtyard garden, which is wonderfully private and the perfect sun trap in the summer.
Setting the Scene
The apartment, set over two floors of a classic Georgian townhouse built circa 1780, has undergone a series of renovations. These focus on both the decorative scheme, adding panelling to many of the rooms, and block parquet floors to the sitting room, as well as improving the courtyard garden and upgrading the bathrooms. The apartment’s lease officially allows the apartment to be run as a holiday rental, a rarity in Bath. For more information, please see the History section.
The Grand Tour
Entry is from a pretty cobbled street through a green-painted door into an incredible communal space, defined by a grand staircase that winds up the building. The front door of the apartment opens from here to an internal hallway. This, in turn, opens into a light-filled kitchen with cabinetry painted in Little Greene‘s ‘Tracery II’ set against a marble splashback. Oak floorboards run underfoot, while ornate plasterwork crowns the room, extending into the sitting room; both of these rooms also feature beautiful original marble fireplace surrounds.
The wonderfully bright sitting room is at the front of the apartment, separated from the living room by two tall double doors which can be left open to create a voluminous open-plan space. Here, reclaimed block parquet floors have been installed, adding warmth and texture. The current owner has carved out a generous cupboard on one side of the room as a cloakroom and another on the other to conceal a television. An open fireplace sits on one side of the room, creating a pretty focal point, and original shutters frame tall sash windows.
A pretty WC is lined with William Morris wallpaper and has the original Grade-II listed sink. Floor-to-ceiling French doors open from here directly into the courtyard garden.
Stairs descend to the lower-ground floor hallway which leads to three bedrooms and a lovely shared bathroom. Stone floors run throughout most of this level, referencing the original Pennant stone floors that would originally have been found in these houses. At the front of the apartment is the principal bedroom. A generous space, the combination of tall sash windows and a glazed door mean the room is bathed in light. Built-in wardrobes line one wall, adding useful storage. Porcelain tiles from Mandarin Stone decorate the walls and floor in the en suite, some cleverly set in an intricate herringbone pattern. A fluted glass shower screen divides the space.
At the rear of the apartment are two further bedrooms, both overlooking a light well with beautiful established Camellia. Both rooms are wonderfully characterful, each with its own colour scheme. The middle bedroom is painted a rich ‘Livid’ by Little Greene, contrasting beautifully with the original sandstone fireplace. The back bedroom is a lighter ‘Green Stone Pale’. The shared bathroom is fitted with a luxurious freestanding bath by Arroll, and sink, rainfall shower and tap sourced from Burlington.
The Great Outdoors
A west-facing courtyard sits at the rear of the apartment. Surrounded by stone walls, the space is wonderfully peaceful and private. With ample space for tables and chairs, it is the perfect place for eating plein-air in the summer months. Paved, it can be filled with potted plants, and two mature olive trees will remain in situ.
Out and About
Bath is exceptionally well served by outstanding retailers and restaurants, with a particular focus on independent provisors. The Beckford bistro & bottle shop, Colonna and Small’s, Corkage, Landrace Bakery and the weekly Farmer’s Market are of particular note. The incredible independent bookshop, Toppings, is a stone’s throw from this apartment.
The city’s cultural distractions are plentiful, with brilliant theatres and galleries; The Holburne Museum, the Fashion Museum and The Edge arts centre all hold world-class exhibitions, as well as two brilliant art-house cinemas and The Royal Theatre. The Grade II* listed Cleveland Pools – designed in 1815 by the same architect responsible for Daniel Street and believed to be England’s oldest public outdoor swimming pool – are within easy walking distance. The Bath Recreation Ground, the National Trust’s Skyline Walk and the Roman Baths are also nearby.
In fact, Bath is a city which is arguably the best of both worlds – with all of its incredible amenities and cultural programmes, as well as being minutes from bucolic walks along the canal, the River Avon, and the spectacular views from Bathwick Meadows.
The area is renowned for the quality of its independent and state schooling, including St Stephens’ Primary School, King Edward’s and Prior Park College. Royal High, Royal High Junior School, Kingswood School and Kingswood Preparatory School are also nearby.
Transport links are excellent, with Bath Spa train station at the southern edge of the city centre – under a five-minute walk from Abbey Street – providing a direct line to London Paddington in under 80 minutes. The M4 motorway lies to the north of the city and is quickly reachable by car.
Tenure: Share of Freehold
Underlying Lease Length: approx. 997 years remaining
Service Charge: approx. £4,080 per annum
Council Tax Band: D
History
Bath, the only city in Britain to achieve Unesco World Heritage status, was founded by the Romans as a thermal spa. Their baths, which still flow with hot water today, are adjacent to this apartment. Indeed, due to its incredible position in the centre of Bath, the apartment is within walking distance of its various amenities, from its Abbey, shops and restaurants, to acres of National Trust-owned meadows and ancient woodlands. Uniquely situated in a hollow in the hills, the city is surrounded by the Somerset countryside, which makes an incredible backdrop for the city. Founded in the 1st century AD by the Romans, who famously used the natural hot springs as a thermal spa, it became an important centre for the wool industry in the Middle Ages. In the 18th century, under George III, it developed into an elegant city of predominantly neoclassical Palladian buildings. |
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