Bath: Salvage Hunter Drew Pritchard embarks on an extensive renovation of a Grade I listed Georgian townhouse in St James’ Square, set to premiere on February 5th. Collaborating with local experts, he aims to restore its historical features and explore the nuances of Georgian architecture.
Salvage Hunter Drew Pritchard is embarking on a significant renovation project of a Grade I listed Georgian townhouse located in the historic city of Bath, Somerset. The latest series of the popular show, “Salvage Hunters,” featuring this renovation journey, is set to premiere on Wednesday night, February 5th, showcasing the early stages of the project.
Pritchard, who closed his antiques store in Conwy in May 2022, purchased the considerable five-storey property, situated in St James’ Square, during an open viewing in the summer of the same year. Despite its prestigious location, he described the property as “the worst house in the best location,” highlighting that it had suffered from “bodged repairs” and extensive damage that necessitated urgent and costly repairs. Pritchard noted that every inch of the house had been covered in white gloss paint, masking its historical features which he is determined to restore.
The building, constructed in the 1790s, once served as a grand single-family home before being converted into five separate flats in the 1970s. The current restoration project presents significant challenges, with Pritchard admitting it is his “most exciting” yet financially risky undertaking. Pritchard is collaborating with local architect Rhys Brookes in an effort to bring the townhouse back to its original splendour, focusing on period accuracy throughout the renovation. He intends to restore original paint finishes, install reclaimed radiators, and incorporate period-style bathroom fittings.
To guide his restoration efforts, Pritchard sought the expertise of Charles Brooking, an architectural historian and collector associated with The Brooking Museum in Whitchurch, Hampshire. In contributions noted in the Cranleigh Magazine, Brooking described how the museum holds several historical examples of door handles and locks from the 1790s, which could be beneficial for Pritchard’s project. He has already photographed relevant artefacts and hopes to locate similar examples for the Townhouse.
St James’ Square, where the property is situated, has its own rich history, having originally been developed on orchards and gardens used by residents of the nearby Royal Crescent. Most of the buildings in the Square were completed by 1794, arcading around a sizeable grassed area which was historically grazed by sheep until 2002. Notably, Number 35 in St James’ Square was once the residence of poet William Savage Landor, a friend of renowned literary figures such as Robert and Elizabeth Browning and Charles Dickens.
The new series will delve into the nuances of Georgian architecture, with art historian Dan Cruickshank exploring these historical structures in greater detail, filmed at his Spitalfields home. Pritchard’s previous renovation projects include a Methodist chapel obtained in 1995 and a Regency cottage just outside Conwy, which he lovingly transformed despite its initial disrepair.
As he prepares to outfit the grand townhouse, Pritchard plans to source period fixtures and fittings from across the UK, promising to use only reclaimed, salvaged, recycled, and antique materials for the restoration. With his established flair for design and keen eye for detail, many anticipate that he will successfully revive the poetic essence of this historic Georgian building. The series “Salvage Hunters: Georgian House Restoration” will air at 10 pm on Quest TV for a total of five episodes.
Source: Noah Wire Services
