If you have been following this story, you will know that yesterday the council’s Charitable Trust Board met to consider the future of number 4, the Circus.
A Grade 1 listed house that forms part of the earliest segment of this unique Georgian architectural feature.
It’s been empty for some years, and at its rear is ‘The Georgian Garden’, which was, in its heyday, one of the most accurate recreations of a Georgian town garden in the country.
Yesterday, our councillors – who make up what is known as the Charitable Trust Board – had the job of appointing trustees to wind up the Frances Georgina Cooke Trust that manages the building and decide how to dispose of the property.
B&NES – and Bath City Council before it – appear to have had two 21-year leases of number 4 over the last 50 years – and at a peppercorn rent of one pound per annum – but it seems the aims of its former owners have never been completely fulfilled.
The intention of the previous owner, Frances Georgina Cooke, and her husband, prior to the creation of the charity, was that the house should be passed to Bath Preservation Trust. However, 50 years ago, when this was being discussed, BPT was busily involved in acquiring Number 1 Royal Crescent and turned down the offer.
Frances Cooke still wanted it to be exhibited to the public as a place of historic and architectural interest. After her death, the Charity Commission created a charitable trust in her name to manage number 4.
The house was once open one day a year, with accompanied viewings, on National Heritage Open Days starting in 1994 but stopping in 2018.
Over the years of the council’s involvement, it would appear the building has had many uses. Items from the Fashion Museum have been stored there, Heritage Services had offices within it, and Bath Spa University’s textile department was resident for some time.
The amazing thing is that the Trust currently has no trustees and has never had a bank account! Just as well then that there is no evidence of any major attempt to generate income, though the university must have paid some form of rent.
Well, yesterday they decided to appoint four trustees who will have the job of deciding what to do with the house.
One trustee is known. He is Cllr Oli Henman.
I approached B&NES this morning and asked for the names of the trustees and for a comment on how the house will be sold and what the future holds for the Georgian Garden.
Cllr Paul Roper, cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said : “We’ll be in a position to confirm the appointment of the trustees in due course when the process has concluded. It is up to the independent trustees, once appointed, to decide on the future of No. 4 the Circus.”
If all four trustees turn out to be councillors, I am not sure how they can be regarded as independent, but we will wait to hear.
It also just kicks the can a little further down the road. My concerns are how much the house fetches and who gets the money. Also, what fate awaits the Georgian Garden?
Meanwhile, another statement. This time from Malcolm Baldwin, who is Chair of the Circus Area Residents Association. He said: “The regularisation and resolution with regard to the current status of the Frances Georgina Charity has been a matter of some considerable concern to the Circus Area Residents Association for some time.
Indeed, we have discreetly but persistently lobbied to hopefully gain an elegant solution to the status of its sole asset 4 the Circus, bearing in mind its important position within our central residential heritage area.
We are pleased that the content of the Charitable Trust Board meeting of the 9th December indicates a significant willingness by B&NES Council to move towards a resolution to what we fully recognise has been a somewhat complicated situation in respect of the Frances Georgina Charity’s sole asset.
We remain confident that with a little imagination, options exist commensurate with the aims of Mr and Mrs Cooke, previous residents and generous benefactors of 4 the Circus, together with appropriate independent mechanisms to ensure the permanency of the original benefactors’ intentions as well as those of the Frances Georgina Charity.”
In my opinion, it won’t work as yet another museum, and anyway, who would pay for that?
I think B&NES mean to dispose of the property as soon as possible. I still feel a body like the Landmark Trust would be the best to buy it with some sort of guarantee for the restoration of the Georgian Garden and maintaining its accessibility to the general public.
I feel we are going to have to wait until the new year for any sort of resolution.
Thanks for revealing this sad storey. It would be very sad if the Trust sold this property and would not comply with the aims of the Charity.
Perhaps they could appoint a guardian a la National Trust Properties?
It’s a sorry tale. A Grade 1 listed building generously bequeathed by it’s owners for the public to enjoy apparently used as general storage/office space etc
Under the current circumstances the most practical use would be to provide accommodation to the increasing homeless population. But suggesting a kind option and expecting it to be considered by local government or the rich upper class neighbours is of course ridiculous
How appalling that a building has been left empty
It could have been housing the homeless – outrageous not to use it.
A similar case not that long ago was the house in St James’ Square that was owned by a charity and left empty and effectively derelict for 20 years. I imagine the Charity Commissioners would have taken a dim view but I don’t know whether they were ever told.