Blue Coat House

Blue Coat House

Former school, now used as local government offices. Built 1859–1860 by G.P. Manners and J. Elkington Gill.

The building is constructed of coursed and squared dressed stone with slate roofs and terracotta cresting to the ridges. It is a prominent freestanding structure in eclectic Northern Renaissance style, comprising a main block with two deep connected gabled wings, arranged across two storeys with attic and basement levels.

The entrance front to Saw Close consists of four bays. To the left stands a five-stage square turret with engaged columns flanking arced openings to the lowest two stages. The third stage contains a two-light mullioned window on each face; the fourth stage displays a clock dial; the fifth stage features a slatted belfry-like ventilation opening beneath a leaded spire with concave sides. The tall curved gable adjoining the tower rises to meet it, containing six-light mullion and transom windows to the ground and first floors, and a four-light window within the gable to the attic, enriched with strapwork. A projecting entrance porch, more classical in style, projects forward with square columns at its corners and arched openings to each face with imposts. A shield with strapwork surround sits above the west side; the entrance on the north side has a panelled door and fanlight set in an arch with deep keystone, reached by a short flight of steps with ornate cast iron railings. Two further bays to the right contain mullioned windows, with a smaller gable featuring an oculus and finial to the right. The south-facing gabled roof incorporates a stack, and the sloping site allows for insertion of a lower ground floor level at the south-west corner.

The long front to Upper Borough Walls features three large gables, each topped with a large ornamental octagonal stack on a square base positioned above two-light casements on the ground and first floors. Between these stand large four-light windows with transoms, enriched beneath with rich open strapwork to the projecting centre bay. The plinth contains seven recessed lights. The centre band of the middle bay displays an embellished strapwork panel including the letters R and N, representing Richard Nelson, founder of the school. A turret to the right repeats the front detail but includes a blocked doorway on steps to the ground floor. The return to Bridewell Lane features a wide central canted bay beneath a Flemish gable, with four-light casements and transoms to the lower levels. The rear has a broad eaves stack to the outer wing and high gables with three-light windows with transoms in simpler detail than the remainder; crenellated leadwork detail runs along the gutter across part of the rear face.

The interior comprises mainly large classrooms of plainer character than the exterior. A central staircase with concrete treads provides access between levels.

The site has a significant history as a charity school. A subscription for such a school was opened by Robert Nelson, a prominent Low Church Anglican, in 1711. Work began on a school building designed by William Killigrew in 1722, which stood until its demolition in 1859. During the construction of the present building, a Roman tessellated pavement was discovered and is reputed to be preserved within the building. The structure represents an assertive and highly characteristic High Victorian public building, challenging the dominant classicism of the city. Its rebuilding, together with the westward expansion of the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, formed part of a major programme of civic improvements to this area of Bath. The school was sold in 1921 and purchased by the Bath Health Department in 1924, opening as offices. An infant welfare centre was constructed to the rear in 1927. The building is now used as local government offices.