It’s happy 50th birthday to Number 1 Royal Crescent this weekend. Yes – half a century ago Bath Preservation Trust’s first museum opened to the general public in what was the first house to be built as part of John Wood Junior’s elliptical architectural 18th-century masterpiece.
It also happens to be seven years ago – tomorrow (Sunday, June 2lst) – since Bath’s own Mary Berry cut the ribbon to declare the refurbished building – now reunited with its servant’s wing – reopen.
Well, the lockdown has meant the building is currently closed – along with all the Trust’s other museums – but l have had a chat about the anniversary with Caroline Kay – who is Chief Executive Officer of the BPT.
Seems No 1 will not be opening any time soon – as the Trust wants to be very cautious about how to handle health and safety issues first and will look to other bodies to take the lead.
More about that in the interview during which we also talked about the Trust’s online presence and its continuing role as heritage watchdogs for the city – which brought up the controversial subject of student accommodation.
Keep up to date via https://www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk
Margaret Jones came though to ask if the Trust knew how many visitors they had welcomed at Number 1 over those fifty years.
Caroline told me- via email:
It would have been good to know how many visitors have been to No 1 in the 50 years it has been operating. Cheers.
(We bought a farm from Cayzer).
Dear Caroline and Richard Excellent interview – many thanks to both for the updates . All good wishes Marian
Sent from my iPhone
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