6 Widcombe Crescent, Widcombe, Bath

6 Widcombe Crescent forms part of a Grade I early 19th century crescent terrace of townhouses, some of which are now subdivided into residential apartments, by Charles Harcourt Masters, situated within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. The crescent presents a balanced, 3 ½ storey principal façade with alternating single and three bay window treatments across all floors, although there have been later alterations to the southern end which somewhat visually unbalance the homogenous architectural interest of the crescent. The terrace retains a uniform boundary treatment with a shared raised pavement, front lightwells with wrought iron railing surrounds, and external stepped access to the lower ground floor and pavement vaults.

BPT is supportive of the proposed works to the vaults to remove impermeable tanking finishes back to the original stonework. We maintain that the management of damp levels in historic properties is best addressed by targeting the causes of damp rather than the symptoms, such as leaking services, vegetation growth, and eroded pointing and surfaces. We therefore encourage the package of works to address issues of damp at 6 Widcombe Crescent. We encourage passive means of damp mitigation such as natural ventilation and the facilitation of the permeable qualities of historic fabric, such as Bath stone.

We note the intention to bring the vaults “back into use” and emphasise that use should be ancillary to the domestic function of the main building, rather than for principal domestic use such as bedrooms or bathrooms.

We recommend collaboration with Highways regarding the proposed laying of a DPM beneath the pavement flags and ongoing maintenance works such as weeding and repointing.