The distinctive Art Deco fire station adjacent to Cleveland Bridge in Bath, described as “classically beautiful,” will not receive listed status, the government has decided. This rare 1930s building, designed initially by Alfred J Taylor and later completed by his daughter, Molly Gerrard—a pioneering female architect—is set to be demolished despite its architectural and historic significance.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service has argued that the station’s narrow bay doors cannot accommodate modern fire engines, and the facility lacks critical features such as decontamination units and adequate welfare spaces for firefighters. Due to these practical limitations and concerns over the building’s age and structural instability, the fire service is pursuing plans to replace the station with a new, state-of-the-art facility at the same location.
The Twentieth Century Society, dedicated to preserving exceptional architecture from the 20th century, had actively sought to have the fire station granted Grade II listed status. Historic England supported this proposal, recognizing both the building’s architectural merit and its association with one of the few female architects of the era. However, the culture minister, Baroness Twycross, has overruled the recommendation, stating that while the station possesses some historical interest, it does not meet the stringent criteria for listing.
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The Twentieth Century Society has expressed concern that factors related to operational practicality may have influenced the decision, which ideally should be based solely on architectural and historic significance. They have requested a review of this and similar recent rejections, emphasizing that such considerations should come into play during planning consent processes rather than during listing evaluation.
Though the fire station continues to serve the community, the cramped design frequently causes modern fire engines to scrape the structure. Additionally, relocation is complicated by the necessity for on-call firefighters to reside within a five-minute radius, making continuity and staffing a critical issue.
The planned redevelopment will incorporate elements of the historic station into the new design, including the preservation and reintegration of the original fireman’s pole and the crest from the building’s facade, which will be prominently displayed at the entrance.
The proposal is currently under review by Bath and North East Somerset Council, with public comments welcomed as part of the planning process.