A ‘call to arms’ – from Bath Preservation Trust – for other heritage groups to join them in persuading B&NES to protect the historical assets of The Min – the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases – which is currently up for sale.
This follows the rejection – by the Council – of the heritage watchdog’s bid to register the Grade 2 listed building as of public importance through an Asset of Community Value application.
BPT’s Chief Executive – Caroline Kay – told Bath Newseum that the Trust was not trying to put a spanner in the process but genuinely felt ‘ that this was an important building with an absolutely intrinsic role in the Georgian city that should be recognised in any future use’.
I asked her to explain the background to the bid – and how the battle for protecting The Min’s historical assets was not over.
The Min has been put up for sale by the Royal United Hospital which is building a new facility at its main site to handle all current services.
The building – designed by John Wood Senior – was originally Britain’s first General Hospital. It was erected so that the visiting poor could receive mineral water treatment.
It also houses the Bath Medical Museum which will be looking for a new home.
Though l have heard rumours of a sale a spokesperson for the RUH would only tell me that ‘the position hasn’t changed – the Trust continues to be in the process of selling the Mineral Water Hospital’.
