Summerhill, Sion Hill Place, Lansdown, Bath

Summerhill is a Grade II* house, now school, situated within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It forms a 1936 addition to the Grade II terrace at Sion Place by Ernest Cook, which “incorporates as its West front a facade of c1738 by John Wood the Elder, removed from house in Chippenham” (Historic England). The interior is suspected to also include a number of panelled rooms also removed from the same house in Chippenham. The John Wood façade therefore remains of high attributed architectural and historic significance, with the rest of the building being attributed moderate evidential significance as part of the narrative of development. Whilst the 1930s building fabric is of comparatively low historic interest, the coherent use of traditional materials such as Bath stone ashlar and Welsh slate reinforce the established appearance and group value of the listed terrace and conservation area.

We note that the roof is currently in a poor condition and in need of repair works to stabilise the building and prevent further deterioration. We are supportive of the continued use of natural slate for the proposed refurbishment works. We encourage the reclamation and reuse of the existing Welsh slate tiles wherever possible.