Collected papers relating to the building, upkeep and use of the eighteenth-century Guildhall, Bath

Reference Number

BC/6/9/1/1

Level of Description

Sub-section

Title

Collected papers relating to the building, upkeep and use of the eighteenth-century Guildhall, Bath

Date

1775-1875

Extent

Extent: 1 box

Description

Records relating to the building of the Guildhall between 1775 and 1778, with plans and elevations by the architect Thomas Baldwin, together with an account book recording payments to him. Thomas Baldwin (c.1750-1820) was the City Architect and Surveyor and later became Deputy Chamberlain. He was later dismissed for financial irregularity in 1793. For related material see the City General Committee memorandum book, 1774-1779 (BC/2/1/172).

Later papers relate to the upkeep of the building and include reports, letters and plans relating to suggested changes to the courtroom provision, proposed alterations to offices, repairs to the flooring and roofing, gas lighting, the cleaning of the chandeliers, designs for decorations and curtains, and a petition to use the Banqueting Hall for the ladies of Bath to hear the Chartist Henry Vincent speak. Included are letters and plans from the City Architects George Manners, Alfred Mitchell and Charles E. Davis and from the City Surveyor George Parfitt together with letters from Francis Kitt, proprietor of the Bath Gas Works, James T. Irvine (who worked with Davis on the uncovering of the Roman Baths), curtain designs by Peter Aust and letters from Prince Hoare relating to the bust of Ralph Allen. Many of the items are addressed to the Mayor of Bath or the Borough Property and Market Committee.

Contents

• BC/6/9/1/1/1 - Account book recording payments to Thomas Baldwin for the building of the Guildhall and Markets, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/2 - Detailed elevations of doorways, windows, and staircase for the Guildhall, Bath, drawn by Thomas Baldwin
• BC/6/9/1/1/3 - Floor plan of the Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/4 - Mounted engraved elevation of the west front of the New Guildhall at Bath, engraved by J. Collyer after T. Baldwin
• BC/6/9/1/1/5 - Floor plan of the Guildhall, Bath, with proposed courtroom provision
• BC/6/9/1/1/6 - Floor plan of the Guildhall, Bath entitled 'Guildhall improvements' showing the proposed re-arrangement of the ground-floor rooms
• BC/6/9/1/1/7 - Plan of archway and dais, Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/8 - Floor plan of the Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/9 - Plan of watering troughs in the Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/10 - Reports, floor plans and elevations for a proposed extension to the Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/11 - Copy of a report on the ventilation problems in the Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/12 - Reports and letters relating to the banqueting hall floor of the Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/13 - Reports on the floor of the banqueting hall, Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/14 - Petition for the provision of gas lighting in the banqueting hall, Guildhall, Bath, on the grounds that some meetings are held in the evenings
• BC/6/9/1/1/15 - Letter from Francis Kitt to the Borough Property Committee, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/16 - Correspondence relating to the cleaning and repair of the chandeliers in the Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/17 - Report by Charles E. Davis on the lighting in the Magistrate's Clerk's Room, Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/18 - Floor plan showing the proposed coal cellar in the Guildhall, Bath, adjacent to the Old Police Station
• BC/6/9/1/1/19 - Report on the state of the Guildhall Roof, Bath, by James T. Irvine
• BC/6/9/1/1/20 - Specification and plan of work required to be done to the roof of the Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/21 - Tracing of the interior of the banqueting hall, Guildhall, Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/22 - Three designs for curtains in the banqueting hall of the Guildhall, Bath, by Peter Aust
• BC/6/9/1/1/23 - Letter from Prince Hoare to Charles Crook presenting a bust of Ralph Allen to the Mayor and Corporation of Bath
• BC/6/9/1/1/24 - Copy of the City and Borough of Bath Report of the Suveryor of Works on the pictures at the Guildhall
• BC/6/9/1/1/25 - Petition for the use of the Banqueting Room in the Guildhall, for a meeting of ladies of Bath to hear an address from Henry Vincent, 1813-1878, chartist, on the benefits of political knowledge