News / ashton court
Major refurbishment plans for troubled historic mansion
A trust could soon take over the historic and largely derelict Ashton Court Mansion with an ambitious programme of repairs.
The mansion is located in the sprawling Ashton Court grounds to the west of Bristol and parts are used for events and functions.
The Grade-I listed building has been owned by Bristol City Council since 1959. But Historic England believes the mansion is at risk due to its deteriorating condition.
Now the council is considering handing over the mansion on a long lease to a trust who will carry out the repairs.
It is feared Ashton Court Mansion is at risk due to its deteriorating condition – photo: Betty Woolerton
The proposals put forward by the Bristol Historic Buildings Trust will be considered by councillors on the strategy and resources policy committee on October 13.
A committee report set out the details of their plans, including how to fix the leaky roof.
The report said: “Their vision is to create a sustainable future for Ashton Court Mansion to benefit the community and all who visit and use the wonderful spaces.
“Their mission is to curate a range of uses and activities that generate funds to both preserve the heritage and future of Ashton Court Mansion.”
Urgent maintenance work is also taking place. The council is commissioning a specialist surveyor to look at immediate issues like the walls, roof and windows not keeping the elements out.
This involves a list of all the defects of the building and recommended repairs, as well as flying a drone over the roof to identify any problems. A plan is expected by the end of the month.
The Lamplighters in Shirehampton was brought back to life by Bristol Historic Buildings – photo: Martin Booth
Bristol Historic Buildings has worked on several other historic sites across the city, such as the 18th-century mansion Kings Weston House, the Lamplighters pub and the St Michael on the Mount Without church. Their efforts include stonework, roofing, internal decoration and landscaping.
In their proposal for Ashton Court, the trust said: “The last 65 years, with very little action and the leaking roof, will be dwarfed by the catastrophic decline that will occur if nothing is done very soon.
“We are now at a critical moment in time. 75 per cent of the building is derelict, and there has already been one fire in the property in recent times.”
As well as repairing the roof, the plans include installing a new heating, hot water and power system, resolving the drainage problems, and decorating the ground floor rooms which are used for events.
The mansion could serve as a pilot project to overhaul the “archaic listed building process”, which ironically has hampered the restoration of the building, according to the trust.
The trust is hoping to get a 125-year lease, with the council keeping the freehold. The first decade would be rent-free, and then they would share 10 per cent of profits with the council.
In the longer term there could even be potential for residential accommodation within part of the mansion. The West Wing top floor, for example, could make “an amazing penthouse flat”.
Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
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