-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 23 June 1999 18:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Listed building application
Dear all
I have just been brought in to give my considered views on some
major
proposed interventions into the basements of a particularly
interesting listed building in Bath, a building with some rather
unique archaeological dimensions (possibly).
The site:
No 12 Orchard Street, Bath built as a theatre between 1747 and 1750
with a complete set of vaults used to store the scenery.
It was converted into a Roman Catholic Church in 1809 and appears
to
have been used primarily by expat continental European Catholics,
many
of whom were interred in stone tombs in the vaults, raising ground
level from 4.0m clearance for scenery to a current 2.4m. Whilst
the
mortal remains have subsequently been removed and reinterred
elsewhere, many of the memorial plaques and tombs remain in situ.
It remained in use as a church until 1863. In 1866 the premises
were
bought by three Masonic lodges and the main theatre/church space
was
converted into a Masonic hall as it remains today.
For reasons I will not go into here, we have a LB application to
convert part of the building into offices whilst retaining the
Masonic
hall and associated functions, some of which are proposed for the
basement vaults.
Now this is the crunch.
What they wish to do is restore original ground level in the vaults
and remove three vault walls ( the basement vaults comprise four
parallel vaulted 'corridors' accessed via a 'cross passage') in
order
to accommodate a cafe and ancillary storage/toilets etc.
My view is that the reuse of the vaults as a crypt is highly
significant and a crucial component of the building's archaeology.
Furthermore, it seems to me, that the Roman Catholic dimension is
also
highly significant as is the survival of so many in situ monumental
plaques (at least 30). It is worth knowing that the rest of the
application sits well with my conservation colleagues and indeed is
a
rare sympathetic re-jigging of space within a difficult structure.
It
is very likely that I will recommend that the vaults are retained
as
they are. This will kill the proposal.
My reasons for posting this note, apart from it's intrinsic
interest,
is that in Bath this site is unique and I would like to know how
rare
this is in the national context. I would also be very interested
in
peoples views on the different values attached to this building -
the
vaults, the crypt, the theatre, the Masonic lodge, the Catholic
Church....
Phew!
Bob Sydes
Archaeological Officer
Bath & North East Somerset Council
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