Hill Coach House, 23A Bathwick Hill, Bathwick, Bath

Hill Coach House is a Grade II mid-19th century coach house situated within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It functioned as the ancillary coach house for the Grade II early 19th century 23 Bathwick Hill until the 1970s, now functioning as an independent dwelling. However, part of the special historic and architectural value of Hill Coach House derives from the group value shared with 23 Bathwick Hill in their associated historic use, complementary use of Greek Revival-inspired architecture, and their interrelated visual relationship within the streetscape.

The existing window openings are attributed to permitted 1971 works. The reinstatement of door openings at ground floor level would therefore result in very limited harm to historic fabric and the associated significance of the listed building. The use of timber double doors would be more in keeping with the building’s historic function as a coach house rather than a domestic building. The central glazed doors are slightly domestic in character but the practicality of getting light into the ground floor is acknowledged and overall it settles with the symmetry of the two flanking pairs of doors. We strongly recommend that further details such as the proposed joinery finish are provided to ensure the new doors are appropriately sensitive in appearance (eg. painted in a recessive colour with a matt, non-reflective finish).

The removal of the upper floor windows and infill of the incised panels on the north-west elevation would address previous unsympathetic additions to the building and positively reinstate historic detailing. We suggest appropriate stone samples are provided to ensure a good match.