A historic mansion in Bath, originally intended by its late owner to be open to the public, has instead been used by the local council for almost five decades—raising concerns about neglect and misuse.
Number 4 The Circus, an elegant Georgian townhouse, was bequeathed by Frances Cooke upon her death in 1970 to a charity tasked with preserving the building and making it accessible for public appreciation of its architectural and historic significance. However, rather than serving this purpose, the property has been leased at a nominal rent to Bath and North East Somerset Council for its own use.
Local resident Peter Scott voiced frustration, accusing the council of having ‘used and abused’ the property, prioritizing its interests over those of the charity. The charity’s trustees, all appointed by the council and including councillors themselves, operate without a bank account and have overseen the building’s management for 50 years without fulfilling the original mission.
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Mr. Scott’s concerns were amplified after observing the deteriorating condition of the adjoining Georgian Garden, a free public historic site that has suffered from overgrowth and loss of original features. After discovering governance irregularities, he contacted the Charity Commission, which provided regulatory guidance to improve accountability.
In late 2023, the council reappointed trustee councillors with the ostensible goal of dissolving the charity, despite lacking directive power over the trustees’ future decisions. A council report acknowledged that use of the house had only “tangentially” met the charity’s objectives. While the garden was accessible to visitors, the house itself has rarely been open, except for one annual Heritage Open Day. Although the public theoretically could request interior access, this provision was never promoted.
Originally envisioned as a Georgian exhibition space, Number 4 The Circus was deemed unsuitable for museum use in the 1970s due to its narrow structure and instead was leased for administrative purposes, including as overflow space from the Museum of Costume and later to Bath Spa University. This arrangement, according to Mr. Scott, amounts to a “scandal,” with the council now seeking to discard the charity after decades of self-serving use.
He argues the council’s reasoning is weak, citing other successful museums in similar houses in Bath, and calls for independent trustees to be appointed to revive the charity’s mission. Designed by John Wood the elder and completed by his son, John Wood the younger—the architect behind the Royal Crescent—the building holds significant architectural value that could enrich Bath’s cultural offerings if properly utilized.
In response, Paul Roper, the council’s cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, stressed that the council has followed due process and that independent trustees hold the future decisions for Number 4 The Circus.
Since the council’s lease ended in 2019, the mansion has stood empty, with the council still responsible for costly maintenance estimated at £18.6k last year and a further £6.5k projected for the current year. Additionally, the council owes an as-yet-undetermined amount for building dilapidations incurred during its tenancy. A past survey estimated repairs at nearly £300,000, a figure that is expected to rise with new assessments.
Meanwhile, heritage advocates like the Avon & Gloucestershire Gardens Trust caution that the Georgian Garden is losing its historic character through neglect. Trustee Kay Ross emphasized the importance of restoring the garden’s original planting and features to preserve its heritage.
The fate of Number 4 The Circus now hangs in the balance as the community awaits decisions that will determine whether this architectural gem will be restored and opened fully to the public, honoring the vision of its original benefactor.