BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS

BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS, SPENCER STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1391731
Date first listed:: 15-Aug-2006
List Entry Name:: BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS
Statutory Address:: BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS, SPENCER STREET

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1391731
Date first listed:: 15-Aug-2006
List Entry Name:: BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS
Statutory Address 1:: BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS, SPENCER STREET

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS, SPENCER STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Warwickshire
District:: Warwick (District Authority)
Parish:: Royal Leamington Spa
National Grid Reference:: SP 31888 65351

Details

ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA

1208-1/0/10018 SPENCER STREET 15-AUG-06 Bath Assembly Rooms

II Dance hall and shop premises designed by Horace Bradley.1926. Red Flemish bond brick and stone with concrete tile roof. Two and three storey. The two storey dance hall is at first floor level above the shop space.

Exterior: The entrance front has a taller, symmetrical portion of three bays at left which has a wide, recessed opening to the ground floor with a fascia above. At left is a portion of later-C20 mosaic tiling, and at right are the half-glazed panelled doors of the dance hall beneath an awning hung from suspension-brackets. To the upper levels there is a prominent architectural display with an ashlar centrepiece which has a recessed triple-window at the centre with a large fanlight, leading out to a bowed balcony with metal balustrade. At either side are tall, shell-headed niches. Heavy brackets support a deep cornice which rises in an arch over the fanlight. Above this centre portion the parapet is also arched and has lettering in relief "THE BATH ASSEMBLY". Below the fanlight is further lettering in relief "1926. HALL . EST". At the apex of the façade is a figure of a classically draped young woman with raised arms, perhaps representing Terpsichore. At either side of this central bay are panels of brickwork with oculus windows and large projecting lanterns. To the right of this is a lower portion of the front of two storeys with two doors and a shop window to the ground floor and two casements with arched heads and blank tympana to the first floor.

Interior: The interior is little altered. The panelled entrance lobby has a cash desk and niche. From this a wider staircase with terrazzo paving and chequered borders leads up to the dance floor at first floor level. This has a balcony at the north, street end and an apsidal stage or band stand at the opposite end. The room has the original sprung floor and there is parquet flooring to the balcony area. The sitting-out areas at either side of the dance floor take the form of large, segmental apses with plaster friezes of putti to their upper walls. The decoration, which all appears to be original, has lion's head masks and Greek-key ornament and there is a barrel-vault over the central space. The triple-light and oculus windows to the sides all have some panels of stained glass, as does the large fanlight at the north, street end.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: As a building type the dance hall flourished in the inter-war period of the C20 and survived through to the 1950s and early 1960s. Cultural changes have meant that the great majority have been demolished or considerably altered when adapted for other purposes. This example, with its boisterous classical decoration, expressed inside and out, survives in a highly intact state. Its façade mirrors the decorative style of the interior which has an integrated and fluid plan.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 494197
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.