Beckford’s Tower, on top of Lansdown Hill, is a key landmark for the city of Bath.
Now, following a major overhaul, the multi-windowed cupola that sits on top of it will – once again – be illuminated at dusk. Making the building a prominent feature on the landscape – both day and night.
However – when it reopens to the public next weekend, after a major re-fit – it will also be shining a light on the darker side of the wealthy man who gave it its name.
A man who inherited a fortune from his family’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. Profits from the Beckford sugar plantations in Jamaica and the cruel and inhuman labours of nearly two thousand African people forced to live, work and often die there.
William Beckford had the 120-foot – now Grade 1 listed – tower built in 1827 when, at the age of 66, he decided he wanted to escape the world of late-Georgian society. It would also provide somewhere he could display his most treasured possessions – a retreat he would ride up to on his horse every morning from his home a mile away in Lansdown Crescent.
The tower is operated by Bath Preservation Trust as a museum and breathtaking viewpoint – once you have climbed the 154 steps to the top. It’s been closed for nearly two years while capital works were underway to transform the museum, restore the tower and reconnect the landscape.
It’s been a multi-million pound project – funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and others – to repair and conserve the structure and also to re-curate the museum to enable visitors to explore the stories of Beckford’s relationships, understand his life in exile and confront the reality of his wealth gained from the transatlantic slave trade.
The site will re-open to the public on Saturday June 29th and will also include access to the ‘grotto’ – part of a tunnel William Beckford built underneath the road to enable him to access his tower complex and private garden on the other side.
I caught the Lansdown Park and Ride bus up for a sneak preview today – a number 31 from Milsom Street. It was both quick and easy. The Trust are hoping the majority of visitors will do the same thing as there is only a small car park on site.
Timed-entry tickets are on sale now via the BPT website – and advance booking is recommended.
There is disabled parking on site and even a virtual tour facility for those who can’t make the stairs or steps as part of a full range of accessible resources.
I was able to have a pretty brief and snatched conversation with BPT’s Senior Curator, Dr Amy Frost – who is a leading expert on Beckford – and Alex Sherman who is Chief Executive of the Trust.
A stunning restoration – can’t wait to visit. And a shining example of how a difficult and controversial historical situation can be contextualised, and presented in a positive light. Far better than ‘cancellation’, which would have been an absolute and unforgivable tragedy.
There are stunning views from the top – you can see both the Cherhill and the Westbury white horses – but it would be nice to have the chance to see them on occasion on a clear winter’s day without the trees being in leaf.