Laura Place, Bath
Historic site in Somerset, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Laura Place in Bathwick, Bath, Somerset, England, consists of four blocks of houses around an irregular quadrangle at the end of Pulteney Bridge. It was built by Thomas Baldwin and John Eveleigh between 1788 and 1794.[1]
| Laura Place | |
|---|---|
| |
  Location of Laura Place in Somerset | |
| 51°23′01.1″N 2°21′22.7″W | |
| Location | Bathwick, Bath, Somerset, England |
| History | |
| Built | 1788 |
| Site notes | |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Baldwin and John Eveleigh |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Official name | Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Laura Place |
| Designated | 12 June 1950[1] |
| Reference no. | 1394773 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Official name | 1–7, Great Pulteney Street; 36 and 37 Henrietta Street; 4, 5 and 6, Laura Place |
| Designated | 12 June 1950 (4, 5 and 6, Laura Place)[1] |
| Reference no. | 1396180 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Official name | Nos. 7, 8 and 9, Laura Place |
| Designated | 12 June 1950[1] |
| Reference no. | 1394783 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Official name | Nos. 10, 11 and 12, Laura Place |
| Designated | 12 June 1950[1] |
| Reference no. | 1394786 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Fountain |
| Designated | 11 August 1972[2] |
| Reference no. | 1394787 |
Numbers 4, 5 and 6 are combined with Numbers 1 to 7 Great Pulteney Street, and others with Henrietta Street.
History
The fountain at the center of the quadrangle was not part of the original plan; it was added in the late 19th century.[2] After completion of the main street in 1877 local residents petitioned and successfully raised significant funds to build a grand column (rather like Nelson's Column in London). However, as construction of the column started, the residents realised that the addition would tower over the area (it would be 50% taller than the houses), and so they then petitioned for it to be cancelled. After some negotiations, the column was pulled down and the much smaller fountain added instead. It consists of a circular stone basin with four radial projections surmounted by an urn with gadrooned bowl.