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

• Historic England Listing
• 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

• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)