Beckford Tower on Historic England At-Risk Register: major fundraising required
Historic England has today published the 2019 Heritage At Risk Register, and has this year included Beckford’s Tower on the list. Standing at 120ft and enjoying panoramic views, the early C19th grade I-listed tower has been included on the Register because it is exposed to increasingly severe weather and is suffering from water penetration. The cost of the work required to repair the lantern and windows exceeds the resources of the Beckford Tower Trust.
The Bath Preservation Trust became sole trustee of Beckford’s Tower in 1993 and carried out extensive structural repairs in the late 1990s, opening the building as a museum in 2001. The Trust are now preparing for another phase of major repairs and public engagement to create sustainable solutions to water penetration, restore original features including the Grotto Tunnel, to extend and re-imagine the museum interpretation, and make more areas of the building and landscape publicly accessible. The scope of the programme is dependent on a £3m National Lottery Heritage Fund bid (outcome awaited) and a fundraising campaign. Whatever happens to the Lottery bid, significant funds will need to be raised in order to undertake the conservation work.
The Trust’s full press release can be read here
If you are interested in helping the Beckford Tower Trust please look at our How to Donate page here or contact Caroline Kay (ckay@bptrust.org.uk or 01225 338727) to discuss.
Historic England Heritage at Risk Register
Main image ©TomBurrows
