2, Manvers Street

MANVERS STREET (West side) No.2 (Formerly Listed as: MANVERS STREET Nos.1 AND 2) 11/08/72

GV II

House, now bank, in the Greek Revival style. c1845. Possibly by Henry Underwood, see below. MATERIALS: Limestone ashlar, roof hidden from street. PLAN: Double depth plan. . EXTERIOR: Three storeys, with full attic and basement, two-bays. Ground floor has horizontal rustication, three windows in architraves, late C19 plate glass sashes, plain, central one alteration from original entrance door. Cast iron area railings, basement features destroyed by bank security. Two fluted Ionic columns support entablature with dentils, which forms first floor balcony. Left hand has grooved paired pilaster which rises to become giant pilaster with vertical sunk panel above. Upper floors have only two windows. First floor ones tall French windows with architraves and cornice heads. Open onto balcony with wrought iron railing. Second floor has six/six sashes with architraves and sill band. Cornice with paired consoles to pilaster head. Attic has small three/three sashes, blocks with segmental pediment stand on cornice. INTERIOR: Not inspected. HISTORY: Part of Manvers Estate, but this particular part of development got no further than 1 and 2. Intended to be west range of Kingston Square. Severe Greek revival town houses of this date are rare in Bath, but much commoner in Bristol and Cheltenham. The architect Henry Underwood is known to have designed adjacent and contemporary New Church in Henry Street (qv). His practice was also nearby in Pierrepont Street, and hence a tenant of Manvers Estate; he may also have been their Surveyor and hence had a hand in this prominent building. Probably architect is Henry Underwood who is known to have designed the adjacent and contemporary New Church in Henry Street (qv). His practice was also nearby in Pierrepont Street, tenant of Manvers Estate, may also have been their surveyor. SOURCES: (Orbach J: Card Index of Bath Architects and Streets: 1978-).

Listing NGR: ST7522964570