Nos. 6-21 And Attached Railings And Vaults

Sixteen terrace houses forming an incomplete symmetrical composition. Built circa 1788–1794 by John Eveleigh with 19th- and 20th-century alterations. Constructed in limestone ashlar.

The design features a pedimented four-bay central pavilion spanning Nos. 16 and 17, with a pavilion at the left end (No. 6), both projecting slightly forward. The right end was never completed. The pavilions have rusticated arcades at ground floor forming a base for a giant order of engaged Corinthian columns (three or four per pavilion) rising through two storeys and supporting an entablature. The remaining houses have plain ground floors with rusticated doorcases and a giant order of Corinthian pilasters. The horizontal elements of the design rise continuously towards the centre, and windows step up in groups of three at each house.

The arms of Charles Pratt, Marquis of Camden (Recorder of Bath, after whom the crescent was named) appear in relief in the tympanum of the central pediment, while his elephant's head crest appears in relief on the keystones of the rusticated doorcases. The crescent remains incomplete because landslips forced abandonment of all projected and partly built houses not on solid rock. The end house on the east side was built and stood isolated for many years until its eventual demolition following a landslip in 1828, as depicted in a view by J. Nattes circa 1806.

Attached railings and vaults extend to each house. The vaults span the full width of the roadway and pavement opposite, bounded by wrought iron railings with shaped heads (some filed to points), with more substantial uprights at intervals featuring urn finials (some now missing) and curved backstays on limestone bases corbelled out from limestone railing bases.

No. 6

A house now converted to flats. Limestone ashlar front with ashlar and rubble rear. Double pile parapeted mansard roof, Welsh slate to front and double Roman tiles to rear, with two ashlar stacks with early clay pots rising from the coped party wall to the left. Staircase at rear.

Three storeys, attic, basement and sub-basement, three-window range. The first floor has three six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The second floor has three three-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two six-over-six sashes with fan-glazed semicircular heads in recessed plain reveals with stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush beaded and fielded panels and fanlight matching the window heads in a recessed semicircular-headed plain reveal with moulded impost. Two steps lead to a pennant-paved crossover. The basement has two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The opening to the sub-basement below the right-hand window has a wrought iron grille. A 20th-century half-glazed door sits under the crossover, with one glazed and one blocked opening to the vaults and 20th-century area steps with wrought iron handrail. One double dormer with six-over-six sashes.

The ground floor features a rusticated arcade with moulded impost forming the base for an applied giant order of four Corinthian columns with stone troughs for plants between the column bases, full entablature with enriched modillion cornice. Dies survive to left and right of the former balustraded parapet; the balustrade is now gone.

The rear elevation has plate glass and six-over-six sashes, six-over-six sashes to single and double dormers, and a small 19th-century ashlar extension.

Interior not inspected, but noted as having fielded panelled shutters and an elliptical arched opening to a sideboard recess with fluted pilasters on the ground floor front.

Attached cast iron railings and gate of baluster form with shaped heads on limestone bases, with lower parts of former lamp standards flanking the crossover.

No. 7

A house. Limestone ashlar front with ashlar and rubble rear. Double pile parapeted roof, mansard to front and raised to full third floor to rear, Welsh slate to front and asbestos slate to rear, with two ashlar stacks (with early clay pots to front) rising from the coped party wall to the left. Staircase at rear.

Three storeys, attic, basement and sub-basement, three-window range. The first floor has three plate glass horned sashes in splayed reveals with stone sills. The second floor has three plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush reeded and fielded panels and plate glass overlight in a rusticated stone doorcase now painted, with elephant's head crest to the keystone and fluted pilasters with enriched consoles to the moulded cornice. One step leads to a crossover paved with a pennant slab approximately 2 by 2.5 metres, with a pair of 19th-century cast iron footscrapers. The basement has two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with splayed jambs and stone sills with wrought iron bars with shaped heads. The opening to the sub-basement below the right-hand window is now blocked. A door of six flush panels with three-pane overlight sits in ashlar infilling under the crossover, with pennant area steps and wrought iron handrail.

A band course at the offset over the ground floor forms the base for an applied giant order of three Corinthian pilasters supporting a full entablature with enriched modillion cornice.

The rear elevation has two-over-two and plate glass horned sashes, and an ashlar extension off the staircase up to the second half-landing.

Interior not inspected. Sale particulars from 1974 in the National Monuments Record report the presence of a stone staircase and some fireplaces, with a wine cellar in the basement.

Attached cast iron railings and gate of baluster form with shaped heads on pennant bases, with lower parts of former lamp standards flanking the crossover.

No. 8

A house now converted to flats. Limestone ashlar front (painted to basement) with ashlar and rubble rear. Double pile parapeted mansard roof, Welsh slate to front and artificial slate to rear, with two ashlar stacks rising from the coped party wall to the left.

Three storeys, attic and basement, three-window range. The first floor has three plate glass horned sashes with a further fixed pane added below, in plain reveals with lowered stone sills. The second floor has three plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush reeded panels with voided corners and roundels, fielded and glazed panels, and plate glass overlight in a rusticated stone doorcase now painted, with elephant's head crest to the keystone and fluted pilasters with enriched consoles to the moulded cornice. One step leads to a pennant-paved crossover. The basement has six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, a 20th-century door and window in ashlar infilling under the crossover, a 20th-century door to the vaults, and 20th-century area steps with wrought iron handrail. Triple dormer with plate glass sashes.

A band course at the offset over the ground floor forms the base for an applied giant order of three Corinthian pilasters supporting a full entablature. Dies survive to left and right of the former balustraded parapet; the balustrade is now gone.

The rear elevation has plate glass and two-over-two sashes, most with horns.

Interior inspected by City of Bath in 1979: the stairs to the second floor have Doric colonnettes; the front hall has an inner arch with plain fanlight and three-panel screen to either side; double window with original sashes and shutters but no glazing bars.

Nos. 9 and 9b

A house now converted to flats. Limestone ashlar front with ashlar and rubble rear. Double pile parapeted roof, mansard to front and built-out mansard to rear, Welsh slate to front and rear. Two ashlar stacks with some early clay pots rising from the coped party wall to the left.

Three storeys, attic, basement and sub-basement, three-window range. The first floor has three six-over-twelve sashes in splayed reveals with lowered stone sills and wrought iron balconettes. The second floor has three six-over-six sashes in splayed reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two six-over-six sashes in splayed reveals with stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush beaded and fielded panels and plate glass overlight in a rusticated stone doorcase now painted, with elephant's head crest to the keystone and fluted pilasters with enriched consoles to the moulded cornice. Two steps lead to a crossover paved with very large pennant slabs, with a 19th-century cast iron footscraper. The basement has two six-over-six sashes in splayed reveals with stone sills, a blocked opening to the sub-basement under the right-hand window, a six-pane door under the crossover, no visible openings to the vaults, and 20th-century area steps. One double and one single dormer with plate glass horned sashes.

A band course at the offset over the ground floor forms the base for an applied giant order of three Corinthian pilasters supporting a full entablature. Dies survive to left and right of the former balustraded parapet; the balustrade is now gone.

The rear elevation has an eight-over-eight sash with wrought iron balconettes; otherwise six-over-six sashes (in roof with horns) and an ashlar extension.

Interior divided into three flats, partially inspected by Bath City Council in 1983: large dresser built into a wall recess with four Doric colonnettes in the basement front room, along with built-in cupboards; magnificent Adam-style fireplace in the back room of the attic; first floor front has replacement fireplace.

Attached cast iron area railings. No. 9 'Upper Crescent' was advertised on 18 December 1794 as a 'new-built stone residence'.

No. 10

A house now converted to flats. Limestone ashlar front (painted to basement) with ashlar and rubble rear. Double pile parapeted mansard roof, Welsh slate to front and rear. Two ashlar stacks with early clay pots rising from the coped party wall to the left.

Three storeys, attic, basement and sub-basement, three-window range. The first floor has three six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The second floor has three six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush reeded and fielded panels and three-pane overlight in a rusticated stone doorcase now painted, with elephant's head crest to the keystone and fluted pilasters with enriched consoles to the moulded cornice. Two steps lead to a pennant-paved crossover with cast iron footscraper. The basement has two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, an opening with grille and 20th-century glazing to the sub-basement below the right-hand window, a 20th-century glazed door in infilling under the crossover, a plank door to the vaults, and limestone and pennant area steps with wrought iron handrail. One single and one double dormer with six-over-six sashes.

A band course at the offset over the ground floor forms the base for an applied giant order of three Corinthian pilasters supporting a full entablature. Dies survive to left and right of the former balustraded parapet; the balustrade is now gone.

The rear elevation (partially visible) has six-over-six sashes, plate glass sashes to a triple dormer, a 20th-century rooflight, and double Roman tiles to the roof of a small ashlar extension.

Interior: first floor partially inspected by City of Bath in 1979, revealing an early 19th-century fireplace and many fairly elaborate original features.

Attached cast iron area railings. The Bath Chronicle records No. 10 'Camden Place' as 'nearly complete' in April 1794.

No. 11

A house now converted to flats. Limestone ashlar front (painted to basement) with ashlar and rubble rear. Double pile parapeted roof, mansard to front and built up to full third floor to rear, Welsh slate to front and double Roman tiles to rear. Two ashlar stacks rising from the coped party wall to the left. Staircase at rear.

Three storeys, attic and basement, three-window range. The first floor has three two-light casements with two-pane tilting lights above in splayed reveals with lowered stone sills and wrought iron balconettes. The second floor has three two-light casements in plain reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two six-over-six horned sashes in splayed reveals with stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush reeded and glazed panels and plate glass overlight in a rusticated stone doorcase now painted, with elephant's head crest to the keystone and fluted pilasters with enriched consoles to the moulded cornice. Two steps lead to a pennant-paved crossover with cast iron footscraper. The basement has two six-over-six horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, a 20th-century glazed door and window in infilling under the crossover, a 20th-century door to the vaults, and limestone area steps with pennant refacing to treads and wrought iron handrail. Triple dormer with three six-over-six sashes (to left with horns).

A band course at the offset over the ground floor forms the base for an applied giant order of three Corinthian pilasters supporting a full entablature. Dies survive to left and right of the former balustraded parapet; the balustrade is now gone.

The rear elevation (partially visible) has casements to the first floor, off the staircase and in the third floor, paired six-over-six sashes to the second floor and a six-over-six sash to the third floor, and a flat-roofed extension to the ground floor.

Interior: basement inspected by Bath Council in 1985.

Attached cast iron area railings.

No. 12

A house now converted to flats. Limestone ashlar front (painted to basement) with rubble rear. Double pile parapeted mansard roof, artificial slate to front and double Roman tiles to rear, with two ashlar stacks with some early clay pots rising from the coped party wall to the left. Staircase at rear.

Three storeys, attic and basement, three-window range. The first floor has three plate glass horned sashes in splayed reveals with lowered stone sills. The second floor has three plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two plate glass horned sashes in splayed reveals with stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush reeded, moulded and glazed panels and decorative overlight in a rusticated stone doorcase now painted, with elephant's head crest to the keystone and fluted pilasters with enriched consoles to the moulded cornice. One step leads to a pennant-paved crossover with wrought iron footscraper. The basement has a six-over-six sash in plain reveal with stone sill to the right; the window to the left is now largely obscured by 20th-century steps. A 20th-century half-glazed door sits under the crossover with a plank door to the vaults beneath it, and a further 20th-century door under the 20th-century area steps. One double and one single dormer with six-over-six horned sashes.

A band course at the offset over the ground floor forms the base for an applied giant order of three Corinthian pilasters supporting a full entablature. Dies survive to left and right of the former balustraded parapet; the balustrade is now gone.

The rear elevation has six-over-six sashes to first and second floors. A large parapeted rubble extension has glazing bar casements and horned sashes; horned glazing bar sashes sit in one single and one double dormer.

Interior: first floor flat recorded by Bath Preservation Trust in the 1990s. The Victorian extension at the rear, circa 1840, has a back staircase with broadleaf moulding, square balustrades and a gunstock newel post. Extensive renovations were carried out in the same period, including remodelling the main staircase and replacing fireplaces.

Attached cast iron area railings.

No. 13

A house now converted to flats. Limestone ashlar front (painted to basement) with ashlar and rubble rear. Double pile parapeted mansard roof, Welsh slate to front, with double Roman tiles to upper slope and artificial slate to lower slope to rear, with two ashlar stacks rising from the coped party wall to the left. Staircase at rear.

Three storeys, attic and basement, three-window range. The first floor has three plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with splayed jambs and lowered stone sills. The second floor has three plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with splayed jambs and stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush reeded, fielded and glazed panels and single-pane overlight in a rusticated stone doorcase now painted, with elephant's head crest to the keystone and fluted pilasters with enriched consoles to the moulded cornice. Two steps lead to a pennant-paved crossover with wrought iron footscraper. The basement has two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, a six-pane door under the crossover, a plank door under the crossover, a window and doorway to the vaults, and area steps now with concrete and slate treads and wrought iron handrail. Large triple dormer with plate glass sashes.

A band course at the offset over the ground floor forms the base for an applied giant order of three Corinthian pilasters supporting a full entablature. Dies survive to left and right of the former balustraded parapet; the balustrade is now gone.

Rear elevation not visible.

Interior not inspected.

Attached cast iron railings and gate of baluster form with shaped heads on limestone bases, with lower parts of former wrought iron lamp standards flanking the crossover.

No. 14

A house now converted to flats. Limestone ashlar front (painted to basement) with ashlar and rubble rear. Double pile parapeted mansard roof, Welsh slate to front and rear, with two ashlar stacks with early clay pots rising from the coped party wall to the left. Staircase at rear.

Three storeys, attic and basement, three-window range. The first floor has three six-over-six horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills and 20th-century balconettes. The second floor has three three-over-six horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two six-over-six horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, and to the right a six-panel door with flush beaded, fielded and glazed panels and three-pane overlight in a rusticated stone doorcase now painted, with elephant's head crest to the keystone and fluted pilasters with enriched consoles to the moulded cornice, with a 19th-century light wrought iron gate to the doorcase (compare 20 Camden Crescent). One step leads to a pennant-paved crossover paved with four very large slabs, with cast iron footscraper. The basement has two six-over-six horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, a nine-pane door under the crossover, a plank door under the crossover to the vaults and two unglazed barred openings, and limestone area steps with pennant treads and wrought iron handrail. One double and one single dormer with six-over-six sashes.

A band course at the offset over the ground floor forms the base for an applied giant order of three Corinthian pilasters supporting a full entablature. Dies survive to left and right of the former balustraded parapet; the balustrade is now gone.

Rear elevation not visible.

Interior inspected by Bath City Council in 1984: moulded panelling to either side of the front door; the door possibly original with Victorian glass. Many original details retained.

Attached cast iron railings and gate of baluster form with shaped heads set on buns on pennant bases, with lower parts of former wrought iron lamp standards flanking the crossover.

No. 15

A house now converted to flats. Follows the standard design except: plain plate glass sashes to basement; similar sashes with dropped sills to first floor; three three-light casements to second floor; artificial slate roof with two flat-topped eight-over-eight dormers and pots.

Interior not inspected.

Nos. 16 and 17

Two houses now converted to flats. Follow the standard design except: the pair is crowned by a pediment forming the centrepiece, four bays wide, with five columns to the giant order including a central column. The ground floor of the centrepiece features rusticated arched openings. The houses are three bays wide; No. 17 has an additional plain bay to the right of the centrepiece. All windows are plate glass sashes, including the original front door of No. 17 (now a window). First floor windows have wrought iron balconettes. Welsh slate roof with flat-topped dormers, only partially visible behind the pediment. Stacks with pots, those to No. 16 mostly patent ones. Full-width three-storey rear extension in ashlar.

Interiors: basements of both buildings partially inspected by Bath City Council in 1983. Stone stairs in No. 16, blocked off at the top. The Bath Chronicle recorded on 23 October 1794 that the centre house of Upper Camden Place was now finished.

No. 18

A house now converted to flats. Follows the standard design except: all windows are plate glass sashes, those to the first floor with wrought iron balconettes. Welsh slate roof with quadruple flat-topped dormer with six-over-six sashes. The rear elevation has been altered by the addition of a full attic in ashlar.

Interior partially inspected in 1985: the second floor has early 19th-century marble fireplaces in both rooms.

No. 19

A house now converted to flats. Follows the standard design except: the front door has two glazed panels. All windows are plate glass sashes with small wrought iron balconettes, except to the second floor which has cross casements. Original balustraded parapet survives. Welsh slate roof with dormer hidden.

Interior not inspected.

No. 20

A house now converted to flats. Follows the standard design except: front door with two glazed panels. All windows are plate glass sashes, with wrought iron window guards. Welsh slate roof with a five-light cross-framed dormer and stacks with pots. Large dormer on rear elevation.

Interior partially inspected by City of Bath in 1979: original double connecting doors on first floor and elaborate fireplace in the front room.

No. 21

A house now converted to flats. Follows the standard design except: six-panel front door. All windows are plate glass sashes. Welsh slate roof with chimney pots. The end elevation is highly visible along Camden Road, entirely in ashlar, with a string course to each floor. Small and large window to each floor. Double mansard roof. Rear elevation has a large dormer.

Interior partially inspected by Bath Council in 1983: basement retains its original windows; modern fireplaces.

Historical Context

The substantial vaulted substructure supporting the roadway at the southern end of the crescent, reminiscent of Roman structures, is visible from the east and emphasises the massive nature of this undertaking on so steep a site.