Beckford’s Tower on Lansdown Road was the creation of William Beckford who inherited a fortune generated by the transatlantic slave trade. Its restoration ignores none of these realities, and is more rewarding for it, says Emma Clegg.
The profits of Britain’s transatlantic slave trade funded so much of our country’s infrastructure and taking a look at individual lives in this period can unravel the reality. The story of William Beckford (1760-1844), who inherited the immense fortune generated by the family’s sugar plantations, which provided him with a liberal income over his lifetime, is a good example. This money funded the building of Beckford’s Tower in 1827 and the purchase of the collection of precious paintings, furniture and other objects housed there.
The £3.9 million restoration project, which saw Beckford’s Tower reopen in June this year, has been at pains to recognise this association and all its unsettling realities. The three-year project has gone beyond essential repairs to encompass reimagining the museum and creating new interpretation, as well as installing renewable energy sources.
Dr Amy Frost, Senior Curator at the Bath Preservation Trust, explains. “Fundamental to the project has been bringing the story of William Beckford’s complex and controversial life to a wider contemporary audience. Beckford’s behaviour was inexcusable – that amount of money gave him a level of privilege which allowed that behaviour. So we’ve tried to create a balance between celebrating this unique building and the extraordinary collection, alongside talking about what funded it. One was made possible because of the other, and that’s what makes it such a fascinating, challenging and dramatic story.”
The shadows of Beckford’s past do not just lurk within his family’s wealth. He also had an abusive relationship with William Courtenay, the future Earl of Devon of Powderham Castle, who was very young when they met. The exposure of that relationship led to Beckford leaving the country and living in exile for 10 years – not because it was abusive but because they were both male. “So that is a problematic storyline and its one that we had to tell and tell safely for visiting young people and families.”
Beckford’s exile was important because his buildings and collections were driven by his need to create a safe space. “The tower building was built for one person – he doesn’t sleep here, it’s a retreat, where he keeps his favourite things, where he can walk and be in nature. But it’s built on Lansdown Road, the busiest road in and out of Bath, so he also wants everybody to talk about him and know that he’s got the power to come and preside.”
New displays showcase pieces from Beckford’s varied collections, including furniture, such as an oak coffer cabinet and stand commissioned by Beckford for the tower; design objects, with over 30 silver teaspoons bearing the Beckford family crest; and fine art, such as a Willes Maddox painting commissioned by Beckford’s daughter after his death, depicting a combination of rare historic pieces and new designs by skilled craftspeople.
The clear-sighted interpretation of the past follows through to the restoration work. “The thing that has linked the whole project together is the idea of honesty” says Amy. “How we tell the story of the tower is very linked to the building itself – we wanted to tell it with honesty and integrity and through multiple voices. So with conservation and construction we’ve tried to show where it’s new so you can see the changes. ”
The conservation work has removed the building from the Heritage At Risk register and secured its sustainable future. This includes the restoration of the external window grills and significant work to the top of the building, replacing rotten timber and adapting the building to cope with increased rainfall. The building has also had solar panels and air source heat pumps installed to convert the Grade I listed building to renewable energy sources. Outside, visitors can see the excavation of a hidden grotto in the landscape, and accessible footpaths reconnecting the tower to its surrounding landscape. There is also a step-free accessible interpretation space in the tower’s vault and digital enhancements allowing the visualisation of some of the spaces and objects.
The spaces in the museum have a new presentation. “The museum used to have red carpet and red walls, and the idea of honesty is significant here too. Beckford’s building had these elaborate interiors, richly furnished with his collection. After his death the building was stripped and many of the contents were sold. There was also a fire in 1931 which took out what remained, so we can never restore the original interiors. That meant from the beginning we could treat it like a museum and invest in infrastructure so that the stories we tell can continually be changing.”
The one original interior at the top of the tower, which has never been open to the public, was created as a viewing platform for Beckford to sit and read and view the landscape, a space for just one person. Amy says, “We have worked to create an expansive, interesting and inclusive experience; this tower used to be a space reserved only for one privileged man, now we want everyone to feel welcome here.”
Beckford’s Tower Museum, Lansdown Road, Bath; beckfordstower.org.uk