Bath Preservation Trust is to host His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO at No. 1 Royal Crescent on the afternoon of Tuesday 22 April.
HRH The Duke of Gloucester, who trained as an architect and retains a strong interest in architecture and conservation, will visit No. 1 Royal Crescent to observe the changes resulting from the restoration project which completed in June last year.
In unifying the main house with its original service wing next door the historic townhouse museum has doubled its number of dressed rooms and spaces on display, revealing more of what life was like for those living here in the late 18th Century – both above and below stairs.
The house will remain open to the public during his visit which falls on Easter Tuesday and is expected to be busy.
Bath Preservation Trust’s Chairman, Edward Bayntun-Coward, says:
“We will be delighted to welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester to No. 1 Royal Crescent to see the fine restoration and authentic interiors. We will also be showing him our current exhibition ‘Saving Bath’ which celebrates the 80th anniversary of Bath Preservation Trust and its tireless work to conserve buildings and spaces in Bath and the surrounding area”.
This is a return visit to Bath Preservation Trust for HRH The Duke of Gloucester; he visited the Building of Bath Collection in 2008.
Built in the latter half of the 18th century, No. 1 Royal Crescent and its service wing were first home to Henry Sandford, a former Irish MP.
Sold off as a separate residence in the 1960s, the service wing was purchased in 2006 by local businessman Andrew Brownsword whose family trust was a major supporter of the £5 million renovation project, alongside the Heritage Lottery Fund and other generous donators.
In reconnecting the two the house has been restored to its original Georgian splendour.
