Glen Avon And Glen Avon Lodge

656-1/16/1496

SION ROAD (South side) No.10 (Glen Avon) and No.8 (Glen Avon Lodge)

05/08/75

II

Eclectic Italianate villa, formerly a detached house, now two dwellings. 1858-60 by the architect James Wilson for his own occupation.

MATERIALS: Limestone ashlar, slate roofs.

EXTERIOR: Two storey L-shaped block to right with three storey belvedere to left; four storey octagonal turret placed between them. Gabled projection to right hand block with deep eaves and projecting central section with pierced panel to apex, first floor semicircular arched recesses with impost band to two/two-pane sash windows with horizontal glazing bars and full height two-leaf four-pane casement window under raised shouldered arch with segmental arch top and keystone. Set back range to left of gable has similar arch over six/six-pane sash window to first floor with pierced stone balustrade on projecting enclosed porch. Painted porch has coved cornice with dog-tooth motifs, roll-edge arris and impost band to semicircular three-pane fanlight over three-vertical-panelled door. Porch continues to left with two margin paned semicircular arched windows, fronts central block and forms balcony to three storey belvedere with timber finial to pavilion roof, flat arched recess over paired semicircular arched two/two-pane second floor sash windows and narrow canted full height bay with timber colonnettes to first floor. Rising from left of porch, the octagonal turret with wrought iron weather vane, elaborate eaves cornice, narrow semicircular arched windows, moulded string courses to impost, sill, and blind pierced apron of upper window and raised arches to those below. with wide bracketed eaves and wide gabled and machicolated stacks to the rear and right return. To rear bellcote of similar design to chimney stack. Lower range to left, separate dwelling called Glen Avon Lodge, has large C20 additions.

INTERIOR: Not inspected.

HISTORY: Sion Road (originally Alma Road) was laid out in the mid-1850s on part of the former estate of William Beckford. This house is first listed in the Bath Directory for 1860. It was built by James Wilson for his own occupancy, and is a notable example of the Goodridge-inspired picturesque Italianate style so popular in early Victorian Bath, and of which Wilson was an adept practitioner. He lived there until his death in 1900. He is buried in Lansdown Cemetery (qv). SOURCES: Neil Jackson, 'Nineteenth Century Bath. Architects and Architecture' (1991), 113-6.

Listing NGR: ST7453566311