Kingsmead Square, Bath
Kingsmead Square in Bath, Somerset, England was laid out by John Strahan in the 1730s. Many of the houses are listed buildings.
| Kingsmead Square | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Bath, Somerset, England |
| Coordinates | 51.38124°N 2.36315°W |
| Built | 1730s |
| Architect | John Strahan |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | Rosewell House (number 12 to 14) |
| Designated | 12 June 1950[1] |
| Reference no. | 442757 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Number 5 to 10 |
| Designated | 12 June 1950[2] |
| Reference no. | 442756 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Number 18 |
| Designated | 5 August 1975[3] |
| Reference no. | 446121 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Numbers 16 and 17 |
| Designated | 5 August 1975[4] |
| Reference no. | 446120 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Number 15 |
| Designated | 5 August 1975[5] |
| Reference no. | 446119 |
  Location of Kingsmead Square in Somerset | |
History
The square was originally the junction of a number of routes entering the West Gate of the medieval city. In 1727 John Strahan started a large scale Georgian expansion in this area of pasture owned by St John's Hospital. The West Gate was demolished in the 1760s, enlarging the road junction. In 1902 the square became part of a Bath Tramways route. In 1925 a street widening scheme to tackle traffic congestion established the modern street lines of the square.[6]
During and after World War II the square became run down. In the mid-1970s the south terrace was restored, saving it from demolition, and starting a revival of the area. In the 1990s, investment in street furniture and on the square, further revived the square, making it an attractive location for cafés.[6]
In September 2018 Bath and North East Somerset Council initiated an informal consultation on a proposal to partially pedestrianise the square.[7]
Buildings
Number 12, 13 and 14 is made up of Rosewell House, which forms one building with Numbers 1 and 2 Kingsmead Street. The house is named after T. Rosewell, who commissioned it from Strahan and whose sign, a rose and a well, can be seen on the baroque facade[8] with the date 1736. It is a three-storey building with a mansard roof. The ground floor has been changed to include shop fronts, but a detached Ionic porch can still be seen. Dr Joseph Butler, the Bishop of Durham and a theologian, apologist, and philosopher died at Rosewell House in 1752.[1] Originally, Rosewell House was situated at the end of a rank of houses, but the neighbouring 11, 12 and 13 Kingsmead Square were demolished to construct New Street on a diagonal alignment out of the square to provide better access to the new Bath Green Park railway station.[9]
At the centre of the square is a large London Plane tree, about 20 metres tall. The square has full public access, with a ground surface of concrete slabs and cobbles.[10]
See also
References
- "Rosewell House". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- "Numbers 5 to 10". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- "Number 18". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- "Numbers 16 and 17". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- "Number 15". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- "The History of Kingsmead Square" (PDF). Bath and North East Somerset Council. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- "Kingsmead Square (informal consultation)". Bath and North East Somerset Council. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- Gadd, David (1971). "III The making of Georgian Bath". Georgian Summer. Bath: Adams and Dart. pp. 51–52. ISBN 978-0239000835.
- Root, Jane (July 2013). Rosewell House, Kingsmead Square, Bath - Historic Building Appraisal (PDF) (Report). Bath and North East Somerset Council. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- Wright, Chris (January 2017). Arboricultural Assessment of a London Plane tree growing within Kingsmead Square, Bath (PDF) (Report). Bath and North East Somerset Council. Retrieved 21 November 2017.