1-15, Bladud Buildings

Bladud Buildings comprises a terrace of fifteen houses on the east side, attached to the Paragon to the left. Built between 1755 and 1762, probably by Thomas Jelly or Thomas Warr Atwood, the terrace has undergone alterations in the 19th and 20th centuries. The buildings are constructed in limestone ashlar with double pitched slate mansard roofs featuring two dormers and moulded stacks to party walls. Each house is double depth with three storeys and attics over basements, and each front is three windows wide. When first built, the terrace enjoyed largely unobstructed views over riverside meadows.

The front elevations are characterised by continuous coped parapets, modillion cornices and friezes, ground floor platbands and plinths. Windows are predominantly six/six pane sashes with moulded architraves to the upper floors. Pediments crown the central first floor windows, flanked by windows with cornices. Doors are set in pedimented door cases with engaged columns. The first floor window sills have mostly been lowered. Numbers 1 to 8 have 19th century projecting shops at ground floor level.

The rear elevations follow similar composition, with continuous coped parapets, modillion cornices, moulded ground floor platbands, and double lintel friezes. Moulded architraves frame the second, first and ground floor windows, the first floor windows featuring alternate cornices and pediments. The centre of the row is emphasised with a pediment at parapet level.

Individual variations are substantial. Number 1 is stepped slightly forward with horned plate glass sashes, balconettes to the first floor, and a pedimented doorcase with eight panel door to the left and plate glass shop window to the right. Number 2 has a Welsh slate roof and a mixture of 20th century sash windows, with three semicircular arched windows in Gibb's surrounds. Number 3, built as a projecting shop around 1900 by C. Wibley, Builders, features cast iron cresting of circles between spearhead rails. Number 4 displays late 19th century alterations (modified 1932 by Spackman and Son) with four semicircular arches to its projecting shop. Number 6 contains an early 19th century full height segmental bow with reeded mullions and crown glass over two right hand bays, with trellised balconettes to tripartite windows. Numbers 7 and 8 feature projecting mid 19th century shops with dentil cornices and semicircular arches. Number 8 is stepped slightly forward and pedimented. Numbers 9 and 10 have pedimented doorcases with Corinthian and Tuscan columns respectively. Numbers 12 and 15 retain original sill levels to their first floor windows. Number 15, stepped slightly forward, features a taller Corinthian doorcase with pediment above the platband and the number "15" carved into the keystone of a semicircular arch over the fanlight.

Number 3 has particular historical significance. It was occupied in 1871 by Gustav Horstmann, inventor and patentee of the perpetual self-winding clock and founder of Horstmann Engineering, one of Bath's most important companies, which later diversified into car manufacture. The Post-Impressionist painter Walter Richard Sickert (1860–1942) occupied a studio here in 1917. From 1846 to 1861, the house functioned as the Bath Eye Infirmary.

Interiors were not inspected at the time of listing.