Never noticed this before. However, a lot of you have!
Amongst your comments, some extra pictures from Karen Harrowing show some more internal peacock decorations.
Karen also pointed me towards a web page from the Open University Geological Society which describes a visit to Bath and some observations on the Jolly’s exterior.
To quote from https://ougs.org/southwest/event-reports/134/the-building-stones-of-bath/
Walking up Milsom Street it was obvious that no expense had been spared in the cladding stones used on building fronts and columns.
The most striking being the stunning columns and pilasters outside Jolly’s department store. These eye-catching structures are of Shap granite from Cumbria. Large, salmon-pink orthoclase feldspar crystals had crystalised first out of a viscous ‘soup’ of other silicate minerals.
Changes in the environment meant that the rest of the matrix cooled more quickly, forming smaller crystals of quartz and micas which interlock and surround the jewel-like pink feldspar phenocrysts.
The beauty of the pillars is enhanced by the lack of joints; each is made of a solid 2.5 metre length of granite. Other rocks used as cladding include dark, green Serpentine, marbles, granites and gabbros.
One particularly unusual granite is a Swedish one known as Blaubrun. The brown feldspars being interspersed with striking blue crystals of altered quartz, indicating that some time after formation it had undergone later changes due to deformation or strain.”
Some of the detail went over my head but l do appreciate that cladding would not have been cheap!
I am sure the new occupants of the old Jolly’s will want to keep as many features as they can.
They talk about restoring it to its “former glory.”
The store is apparently due to open in two phases: an initial launch in March 2026, followed by a full completion and grand opening in October of that year.
I did hear they will also – in the meantime – have a presence behind one shop front where people can learn more about the history of Jolly’s and what plans Morleys Ltd have for its future.”
Beautiful.! Could you persuade the new firm to give us updates on progress on this all-important building for Milsom Street/Bath?sue
Wonderful – hope the new owners keep it. I wonder what happened to the sign that used to hang over the door in my youth and which read: ‘By Appointment to Her Late Majesty, Queen Mary’? Now that would be worth preserving!