Issue 42 summer 24 web - Flipbook - Page 36
The long-lost grotto tunnel was excavated and now forms
a focal point at the new eastern entrance to the site,
formed of a rough stone vault atop roughly carved
bedrock walls, excavation also revealed the original steps
- also carved into the rock. Little needed to be done to
consolidate the stonework, and so interventions were limited to soil stabilisation, some bedding and pinning of the
steps along with hoggin infill, and the construction of a
short flight of new steps above the bedrock to connect it
to the landscaped level. New handrails and railings were
installed to make the site safe for public access, of a simple
yet bespoke design which is legibly modern.
ate the grandeur of his private retreat. Instead of being
restricted to interpretation, this approach is carried
through from the largest to the smallest fabric interventions and from highly visible areas to those that will be
noticed by only the closest observers.
Beckford’s Tower is open weekends and Bank Holiday
Mondays. For more information visit
beckfordstower.org.uk
Authors
Sophia Robson & Clive England of Thomas Ford &
Partners, with Amy Frost of the Bath Preservation Trust
Along with the grotto steps, further surprises abounded
on site with the discovery of the original stone coursed
apse roof to the west façade, hidden by later render. This
fragile roof will be consolidated and protected by a new
conical stainless-steel roof covering, which can be
removed if required at a future date.
Conclusion
The Tower is a place where both its intangible and
tangible significance weigh very heavily on the present,
the former considering the challenging legacy of Beckford,
and the latter the building’s exposure, leaks, and weathering to the historic materials. What links the approach
to both within the ‘Our Tower’ project is the desire for
honesty, firstly in respect of what funded the construction
of this building, and secondly in how it is repaired. The
associated challenges of working with this building are not
denied, and the steps that need to be taken to address
these are not concealed. The conservation approach
seeks to repair, alter, and present the building and collection with transparency, with necessary and justified interventions of their time based on robust evidence, and in
doing so to avoid celebrating Beckford or seeking to recre-
Below, Grotto Tunnel, 1844 Beckford's Tower and Museum copy
Above, Beckford's Tower landscape view, photograph
by Casper Farrell.
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