NHER 3243 (Building record) - The Bath House

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Summary

A late 17th century garden building that was originally the focus of an avenue in Melton Constable Park. The original building may have been a 'standing' or a hunting tower, and has only been known as the Bath House since the 19th century. The building was Gothicised in the 18th century, perhaps by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, and arched Gothic windows and battlements were added.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet TG03SW
Civil Parish MELTON CONSTABLE, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

Menagerie, kennels and bath house.
Seen only from roof of Hall, not in detail.
2-storeyed building; on east a half octagonal whitebrick bay projects from a red brick side wall. Windows pointed with small panes. Castellated. Central chimneys. Late 18th century?
(S1) marks this as the east end of a crescent-shaped building; perhaps it is a keepers house.
E. Rose (NAU), 29 October 1981.

According to NCC this building at southeast corner of menagerie range is in fact the bath house, converted to cottage. In fact 3 storeys, 3 bay bowed centre with flanking 2 storey single bays and 2 bay returns. Former bathroom ground floor with wooden cornice.
Listed Grade II but remainder of block not apparently listed. See (S2).
E. Rose, 28 January 1986.

S. Heywood (NCC) says that in his opinion this building is contemporary with the Hall, late 17th century and not 18th
century as listed, or Tudor as claimed by the Georgian Society.
E. Rose (NAU), 1 July 1988.

(S3) states that the building is shown in the Kip engraving of 1700.

(S4) states that this is a hunting tower of about 1670, ornamentalised by Brown in the 18th century.
E. Rose (NLA), 15 September 2000.

Architects plans and press cuttings in file.

  • --- Aerial Photograph: TG 0231/ C, G, H.
  • --- Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
  • --- Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 615.
  • --- Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1982. Britain's bath-time heritage. 2 June.
  • --- Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1986. [Sale advertisement - Where 'Henry bathed Queen Anne' for The Bath House]. 10 October.
  • --- Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1989. Minister rejects bath house plan. 21 December.
  • --- Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2001. Great potential in bewitching setting. 25 May.
  • --- Photograph: 1987. Photographic record of Bath House, Melton Constable Hall. Print.
  • --- Photograph: Palfrey, I.. 1993. The Bath House, Melton Constable.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1805-1836. Ordnance Survey Map. One inch to the mile. First Edition.
  • <S2> Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1373811.
  • <S3> Designation: English Heritage. Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England..
  • <S4> Monograph: Williamson, T. 1998. Archaeology of the Landscape Park: Garden Design in Norfolk, England, c. 1680-1840. BAR (British Series). Vol 268. pp 45, 107-108.

Object Types (0)

Record last edited

Aug 13 2018 3:30PM

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