To reopen Saturday 29th June following £3.9 million restoration project.
Beckford’s Tower and Museum in Bath is reopening Saturday 29 June following a £3.9 million refurbishment funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other public and private funders. The project, which began in October 2022, has gone beyond essential repairs to encompass reimagining the museum and creating new interpretation, installing renewable energy sources, plus a full excavation of a hidden grotto, which visitors can now experience for the first time ever.
New displays showcase pieces from Beckford’s varied collections, including, furniture, design objects and fine art, such as a Willes Maddox painting commissioned by Beckford's daughter after his death. Fundamental to the project has been bringing the story of William Beckford’s complex and controversial life to a wider contemporary audience.
Accessible visitor experiences and digital resources have been created alongside a new school learning programme, all offering fresh opportunities for volunteering and community engagement.
Key highlights of the project include:
- Excavation of a hidden grotto in the landscape, now open to visitors for the first time ever
- New step-free accessible interpretation space in the tower’s vault
- Solar panels and air source heat pumps installed to convert a Grade I listed building to renewable energy sources.
- Reimagined museum spaces and new digital enhancements exploring the complexity and creativity of William Beckford, revealing the brutality behind the beauty of his collection, buildings and landscapes.
- Conservation works to remove the building from the Heritage At Risk register and secure its sustainable future.
- Restoration of lost historic design elements showcasing the work of highly skilled heritage craftspeople
- Reconnecting of the tower to its surrounding landscape through accessible footpaths and new interpretation
Further Information: Beckford's Tower (beckfordstower.org.uk)