The Pleasant Crescents of Bath
As a property buying agency and property finder, it is important for us to know as much as possible about the properties available in the area where we work. By good fortune, my role as a buying agent enables me to operate in the beautiful Georgian city of Bath. Bath is renowned for its fine Georgian architecture, which is much to admire.
Foremost for many residents and visitors alike are the Georgian crescents, of which there are eight. The guidebooks and a swift online search will list seven of Bath’s Georgian crescents, but as property consultants, we have to be aware of the complete property choice available to our clients, be it a townhouse in one of Bath’s crescents, a country house, cottage, castle, a farm or an estate.
The Georgian city of Bath was planned, its streets were laid out and its buildings were designed, all promoting the era’s new-found love of classical architecture and the health advantages of its spa water. The crescents we enjoy today were constructed outside the existing medieval city and its walls.
From the 1760s, Bath was very much in fashion, in demand and growing in size.
Crescents were an important part of Bath’s cityscape and landscape, designed to be seen and celebrated and to be ‘stand out’ features among neighbouring terraces, parades and squares. Each crescent had open land to the front, thus ensuring they could be seen and the residents enjoyed fine views from the crescents themselves. Today these area of open land are communal or residents’ gardens and parks.
The planning and design of the properties governed the facade only. Anyone purchasing a property could employ their own architect to design and a builder to construct a house behind the facade, in a style and arrangement that suited their purposes. This resulted in differences between neighbouring properties and the variety is most evident when the properties are viewed from the rear. Any initial differences were compounded by later additions and alterations during the 19th and early 20th centuries. As buying agents, we are able to advise clients of how neighbouring properties may differ from one another and draw upon the appropriate property professionals, including architects, planning advisers, architectural historians, and contractors, if alterations or improvements are required.
In no particular order, the eight Georgian crescents of Bath are:
Foremost The Royal Crescent, or The Crescent as it was originally known. A terrace of 30 houses designed by the architect John Wood the Younger was constructed between 1767 and 1774. Approximately one-third remain as townhouses, with the other houses arranged as flats or The Royal Crescent Hotel. All properties are designated Grade I Listed Buildings, and the ashlar (Bath) stone facade is of the Palladian style. The lawn in front of the crescent is for the private use of residents and borders Royal Victoria Park. The road retains its stone cobbles and is a ‘no-through road’ with residents’ parking. If you want to live in the biggest and the best, look no further than The Royal Crescent.
Lansdown Crescent was designed by John Palmer and constructed between 1789 and 1793, standing(along with Somerset Place) at the northernmost boundary of Georgian Bath. It provides superb views across the city and the undulating Somerset countryside beyond. Flanked by Grade II Listed Lansdown Place East, and Lansdown Place West and, when viewed from a distance, they appear as a whole. However, the Grade I Listed Lansdown Crescent is a concave crescent, whilst its flanking neighbours are convex. In addition, the properties in Lansdown Crescent are significantly larger buildings than their neighbours, with a mixture of single houses and flats. The sloping lawn to the front of the crescent remains as pasture land, on which sheep have been grazed for over 200 years. Considered by many to be the most appealing crescent, once discovered, it very quickly became a firm favourite.
Somerset Place was designed by John Eveleigh and constructed between 1790 and the 1820s. The protracted build was due to his becoming bankrupt. Originally intended to be 20 houses, only 16 were built. The crescent was used for education from the mid-twentieth century before being sold to developers in 2013, who returned it to residential use. One additional house was built (No. 4), totalling 17. The crescent is a ‘no through road’, and the lawn has been laid out as a private residents’ garden. The properties are Listed Grade I and comprise a mixture of houses and flats and are a very popular choice with easy and stylish living; demand always outweighs the supply.
Cavendish Crescent was designed by John Pinch the Elder and extends to 11 houses. The building was undertaken by William Broom, who became bankrupt in 1825, resulting in the crescent not being completed until 1830. Listed Grade I, the crescent is notable for having one of the plainest facades. The lawn to the front is now a delightful residents’ garden. A significant attraction is the elevated location above the Royal Crescent, with uninterrupted views across the public park opposite the south and west of the city and open countryside beyond.
Camden Crescent, designed by John Eveleigh in 1788, originally extended to 20 houses. However, in 1889, a landslide demolished nine houses at the eastern end of the crescent. The lost houses were not rebuilt. Numbers 16 and 17 were the original centre of the crescent, marked with a grand pediment supported by Corinthian columns, but following the landslide, they no longer mark the centre. This has also resulted in the numbers 6 to 21 being designated as Grade I Listed Buildings, with the other buildings listed as Grade II. The extensive lawn is now used as a residents’ and community garden. These are popular choices for those seeking crescent living, with the appeal of neighbouring Camden and Larkhall ‘village’ life, with arguably the best views over the city's centre.
Norfolk Crescent was built between c.1793 and c.1822 and was also designed by John Palmer, with minor later alterations by John Pinch. Originally on the city's western edge, 18 houses were built, all now listed Grade II*, notable as being built on level ground close to the River Avon rather than in an elevated position as with all of the other crescents. The open lawn to the front is now a park, which retains the old watchman’s hut. The properties are arranged as flats with Numbers 1 to 7, known as Cumberland House. Each property has a balcony at first-floor level (rare for Bath), and the level walk into the city is appealing.
Widcombe Crescent was designed by Thomas Baldwin and built in 1808. Extending to 14 houses, all designated as Grade I. The listed buildings have fine views westward across the city. The lawn is a private garden for residents, and the rear service road provides useful vehicle access, enabling garaging and easy garden access. These houses are extremely well placed for walking to Bath Spa mainline station and the popular ‘village’ centre of Widcombe Parade.
Bloomfield Crescent was designed by Charles Harcourt Masters and built between 1793 and 1795, originally eight houses. However, during the 19th century, Numbers 4 and 5 were merged, resulting in the seven houses seen today. Listed Grade II*, the crescent was originally known as the Cottage Crescent, partly due to its construction on what would have been open countryside outside the city. Sometimes referred to as “the secret crescent”, it has a north-facing facade which provides The Royal Crescent, Lansdown Crescent, Cavendish Crescent, and Norfolk Crescent, with a view of a fellow crescent to the south. It is pleasing to think that the largest and grandest crescents look directly at the smallest and vice versa. It is popular due to its ‘hidden’ charm and ideal for those seeking the smaller of the crescent houses. It is perhaps fitting that the often-overlooked Bloomfield Crescent has at its centre a niche that contains a statue believed to represent Euterpe, one of the nine muses of Apollo, and the one representing rejoicing and delight. I, for one, am happy to rejoice and be delighted by Bath’s eight Georgian crescents.