An eagle-eyed follower of this website has raised an issue regarding the work being done on Fitzroy House in Great Pulteney Street where 28 luxury flats are being created from five Grade 1 listed townhouses.
Jim Canham writes:
“The central feature of Fitzroy House which has the triangular pediment housing the Pulteney Arms has a restored balcony with a nasty timber plank floor instead of stone! There is a second smaller balcony which has a stone floor and looks fine.”
On the left – stone – and on the right – wood.
Wel, Jim, it seems Longacre – the developers of this part of a Georgian terrace in what must be amongst Britain’s finest formal streets – were well aware of the difference in flooring when it came to approaching Historic England for listed building consent.
This national public body which protects our architectural heritage told them the floor of the greater balcony was wooden at the time they started the conversion and – under its protected status – it should be wooden again.
The newly-refurbished central balcony.
I think there is a feeling here that buildings are allowed to show the effects of the flow of social history and the impact we humans have on the architecture we inhabit.
Incidentally, the two-bedroomed flat which enjoys this outside facility Is still on the market. It’s part of the central house which bears the Duke of Clevland’s arms on the pediment above. It’s being sold by the Bath office of Savills.
