Description

CHELTENHAM

SO9422SE BATH ROAD 630-1/13/154 (North West side) 12/03/55 Nos.47-55 (Odd) including Playhouse Theatre (Nos.49-53) (Formerly Listed as: BATH ROAD Nos.47-53 (Odd) (Montpellier Slipper Baths and Civic Playhouse) and No.55)

GV II

Includes: Playhouse Theatre ORIEL ROAD. Originally Montpellier Baths, now playhouse, and corner shop with house. c1800-1810 with later additions and alterations. Baths built for Henry Thompson, altered 1869 for Edward Holmes. EXTERIOR: main range: single storey with 3 Doric entrances and 10 window-range; with shop to left of 2-low storeys, 1+2 first-floor windows and range to right of 3 storeys, 1 first-floor window. Entrances have double doors and are recessed with 2 Doric columns and pilasters in antis, with panelled pilasters to either side surmounted by frieze (missing except to left), continuous cornice and low parapet with crowning central upshot with acroteria and central coat of arms. Central 3 windows (now blocked) have tooled architraves, 6/6 sashes where original, otherwise blocked or part-blocked, all in plain reveals. Range to right has 6/6 sashes to ground and first floors and 3/3 sash to second floor, all in plain reveals; continuous sill bands to first and second floors; entrance at left a 4-panel door. Crowning blocking course and copings, gable end ramps upwards to stack at right. Range to left has pilaster strips between windows and first-floor band; plate glass shop window to left; blind opening and replacement to first floor. Entrance to angle a plate glass door with blind window above. Left return: 2-storeys, 5 first-floor windows. Plinth. 2/2 horizontal-pane sashes with lugs in plain reveals and with sills; central entrance a 6-panel door with fanlight and tooled arch on consoles. Further opening a segmental-arched carriage opening with double plank doors. INTERIOR: 1983 List notes inscription: 'Laboratory for the real Cheltenham Salts', no longer visible. Otherwise not inspected. HISTORICAL NOTE: Henry Thompson built Hygeia House, now

Vittoria House, Vittoria Walk (qv) for his own occupation, in which he started the original Montpellier Spa. A remarkably early and complete example of its type. (The Buildings of England: Verey D: Gloucestershire: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: London: 1970-: 144).

Listing NGR: SO9500422043

External Links

• The Playhouse at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7757456

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments