Explore the city’s darker side with this spine‐tingling guided walk
Kate Mosse
We interview the bestselling author and feminist champion
Mushroom Magic
Unlock the mysterious world of fungi
Interiors Guide
The definitive directory to elevating your home this season
In an exclusive interview, artist and designer Lady Deirdre Dyson reflects on 25 years at the helm of her luxury rug atelier, creating timeless, hand-crafted works of art
Great events to look forward to this month
Local marine life activist Liz Sandeman on her love of Bath and the charity Marine Connection
WINTER FASHION
Stay warm, cosy, and fashionable with Jigsaw’s latest winter looks to add to your wardrobe
20 DEIRDRE DYSON ON ART AND LIFE
Read our exclusive interview with Lady Deirdre Dyson as she reflects on 25 years at the helm of her luxury rug atelier
28 WHET YOUR APPETITE FOR THE MACABRE
With Halloween almost here, we explore Bath’s dark past on the Death Walk 38 BATH LITERATURE FESTIVAL
This month’s literary events you can look forward to 40 JETHRO MASSEY
The award-winning film director shares how Bath shaped his love of film and where he finds creative inspiration
48 FEMINIST CHAMPION KATE MOSSE
Explore how the bestselling author is helping to shine a spotlight on female unsung heroes, past and present
52 AUSTEN AND ABOLITION
To mark Black History Month, Professor Robert Morrison explores whether Jane Austen had sympathy with the abolitionist movement
54 SUNDAY ROAST DONE RIGHT
We sharpen our knives and forks and head to The George in search of roast-day perfection
64 REVITALISING BATH ABBEY
Ali Vowles meets CEO Frank Mowat to learn more about managing the Abbey’s £21m Footprint project
76 WINTER BEAUTY TREATS
The best treatments to invest in over the cooler months
80 WALK THIS WAY
Andrew Swift takes us to Bristol this month to explore the National Trust’s Tyntesfield
86 THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP
Why your mattress and environment matter more than you think
100 THE MAGIC OF MUSHROOMS
Explore the mysterious world of mushrooms unlike anything you’ll find in your garden
On our cover this month
Lady Deirdre Dyson on 25 years at the helm of her luxury rug atelier. Photography by Paul Grover. Read our exclusive interview on page 20. Follow us on social media @thebathmagazine
It seems astonishing that, in 2025, women still have such a long way to go when it comes to visibility. Did you know that women occupy just 0.5% of recorded history? Or that across the UK, only one in five statues honours a woman? These are sobering statistics indeed.
As a mother to a young daughter, this imbalance is something I think about often; it feels personal, urgent, and vital to address. Which is why I am especially delighted to bring you a feature with Kate Mosse, bestselling author and feminist champion, who is appearing at this month’s Bath Children’s Literature Festival. In our interview, she shares insights into her latest novel and her mission to spotlight overlooked female heroes, both past and present.
We continue this celebration of female empowerment with our cover story, the fabulous Lady Deirdre Dyson, who we interviewed at her home in South Gloucestershire. From aspiring artist to internationally recognised designer, she shares her inspiring journey with us.
Another female featured in this issue is Liz Sandeman, a local Bath resident and co-founder of Marine Connection. We delve into her tireless work in protecting dolphins, whales, and porpoises, and how she draws inspiration from the city.
We also turn our attention to the world of film, meeting award-winning director Jethro Massey, who has recently returned to his home city of Bath to host a Q&A at the Little Theatre for his debut film, Paul & Paulette Take a Bath
And, with October upon us, we couldn’t resist embracing the season’s darker side, with our feature on Bath’s free guided Death Walk, which promises a fascinating glimpse into our city’s more macabre past.
As always, there is so much more to discover within these pages: beauty, food, gardens, city news, and our curated guide to the very best events not to be missed. Finally, our extensive interiors directory brings you the finest companies and designers in Bath, to inspire your next project.
British brand NRBY has opened its latest store in Bath at 32 Milsom Street. Founded by Jo Hooper, whose 30-year career spans senior roles at Debenhams and John Lewis, NRBY was created from a simple idea: clothes for life as it’s really lived. With more women working flexibly, Jo saw the need for pieces that were as comfortable as they were beautiful. Together with co-founder Cornelia Smith, she built a female-led brand that celebrates “One-Mile-Wear – the three inches of your wardrobe that you actually wear.” The result is a collection of relaxed silhouettes in natural fabrics and timeless design. From soft cashmeres to fluid silks, every garment moves seamlessly from morning to evening, city to countryside. Sustainability is central to every decision, from fabric sourcing to thoughtful production. Visit nrbyclothing.com
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Award-winning heritage developer City & Country has unveiled a selection of four-bedroom townhouses now available to buy at the historic site of the former Pitman Press Printing Works. The portfolio includes eight townhouses, two of which are already under offer. Construction work on the properties is expected to be completed this winter.
“New build homes of this design and calibre are a rare find in Bath city, where much of the comparable housing stock comprises beautiful but hard to maintain Georgian properties,” says Shelley West, group sales and marketing director at City & Country.
The townhouses have been constructed using traditional Georgian limestone, complete with sympathetically designed stepped roofs in a nod to the architecture of the original building. Set across three floors, each home includes an open-plan kitchen and living area on the ground floor, a separate living room with a private balcony on the first floor, and four generously sized bedrooms, including two with ensuites. Each property is heated using air source heat pumps, a more sustainable alternative to traditional gas boilers. Visit cityandcountry.co.uk
Cappella Nova, the Bath-based chamber choir has appointed Marysia Górska-Saj as musical director and conductor from September 2025. Marysia takes over from Tony Shield who retired with a farewell concert in June having conducted the choir since it was formed in 2001. She brings a wealth of musical experience, and choir members are looking forward to working under her leadership. “Finding a new musical director who could build on Tony Shield’s legacy was a daunting task,” says Paul Cartwright, chair of Cappella Nova. “Two mornings of auditions and interviews later, however, we knew we had found the right candidate. We were delighted that Marysia put her name forward and agreed to take us on, and we look forward to singing with her in this new chapter for Cappella Nova.”
Marysia adds: “Leading a choir of such musicianship is a delight and I’m very much looking forward to sharing this musical journey with the choir members; together we can discover new ways of choral craftsmanship.”
Rehearsals started last month for Marysia’s first concert A Journey Through Light and Shadow, which explores humanity's eternal journey through darkness toward light in music from the 16th century to the present day. The concert will take place at 7.30 pm on Saturday, 25 October in St Alphege’s Church, Oldfield Park. Visit cappellanova.org.uk
Jax Masako, a 14-year-old tennis enthusiast, is raising money for Bath Mind through an innovative T-shirt project.
Jax, who has been playing tennis since he was four, set up the Double Fault Club this summer, offering a tennis inspired T-shirt that is designed to encourage people to embrace mistakes and failure rather than fear them. Each T-shirt serves as a reminder that every setback is an opportunity for growth and development.
Jax, who attends Kingswood School in Bath, was inspired to develop the T-shirts after he started to struggle with the stress, pressure, and nerves before a match.
“Every match, win or lose, has taught me something valuable about resilience, selfbelief, and what it means to keep going when it’s tough.
I’ve created The Double Fault Club T-shirts to share that message,” explains Jax.
All profits from the T-shirts go to support the work of Mind Bath, a local and independent mental health charity in Bath & North East Somerset that works to support the wellbeing of individuals across the local area.
“The main idea of the design is to attract attention through The Double Fault Club title, a well-known tennis mistake, while a ‘Club’ provides a sense of community,” Max says. “It’s a reminder that making mistakes is part of learning and when you face challenges with courage and hard work, you can turn setbacks into comebacks!” T-shirts are priced at £20.
Visit tenniswithjax.com
British lifestyle brand Piglet in Bed, which has a store on 20 Old Bond Street, has unveiled a new bath and body brand called Wallow. Rooted in the brand’s ethos of thoughtful, slow living, the made in UK collection marks a considered evolution, offering an unapologetic approach to self-indulgence.
The collection features two signature scents: Untamed Moss and Eternal Sun. Untamed Moss is a grounding and moody scent blended from patchouli, geranium, bergamot, lavender, and lemon essential oils. Eternal Sun is an emotionally restorative and gently euphoric scent composed from coconut oil, calendula oil, vitamin E, lemon, grapefruit, ylang ylang, petitgrain, and jasmine oils. Products include washes, creams, bath oils, and candles
“We felt there was something missing in the bath and body space – less prescriptive with a touch of defiance,” explains Jessica Hanley, Wallow and Piglet in Bed founder and CEO. “So much of what is on the market is targeting self-improvement in one form or another, but what if your evening routine wasn’t about achieving anything at all, but simply about how you want to feel. We wanted to create products that don’t demand anything of you. No strict rituals or expectations, just a gentle invitation to pause, breathe, and wallow in the joy of your own company.” Visit pigletinbed.com
A landmark collaboration between internationally acclaimed Bristolbased artist Luke Jerram and woodland creation charity Avon Needs Trees will see 365 native trees planted to form a vast living sculpture called Echo Wood at the heart of the new Lower Chew Forest. Set between Bristol and Bath, this publicly accessible artwork will be formed entirely from living trees. Over time, its 110-metre-wide design will emerge, featuring several features including pathways and avenues of seasonal blossom and a central circular gathering space made from 12 English oaks.
Echo Wood will act as the centrepiece of Lower Chew Forest, a bold new project creating 422 acres of woodland, orchard, wetlands, and nature-rich habitats. The land, bought by Avon Needs Trees in 2024, is the charity’s largest site and a key tool in its mission to increase woodland cover in the South West. As well as reducing local flooding and providing a refuge for wildlife, the trees and the artwork itself will provide a powerful visual symbol in the fight against climate change. Visit avonneedstrees.org.uk
Independent menswear and womenswear boutique, Pockets, known for its international designer brands, has opened a new flagship store on Brock Street in a Grade I listed Georgian building.
It marks the Midlands brand’s first foray into the south, and its only boutique to launch a womenswear collection from day one. Spanning three floors, the Bath boutique stocks a selection of luxury brands, including Moncler, Ralph Lauren, Dries Van Noten, Barena, Stone Island, and Max Mara, many of which are not widely available elsewhere in the city.
Founded by Paul Platt in 1996, Pockets has built a loyal following of style-conscious men and women seeking standout service and high-quality garments.
The Bath store will mark the fifth in the portfolio and represents a significant milestone as the retailer approaches 30-years in business.
Clients can expect expert, tailored styling from a knowledgeable team, with an emphasis on fabric, fit, and feel. The building’s original Georgian architecture and interiors have been maintained, offering an immersive shopping experience just a stone's throw from the high street. The boutique also features a variety of original abstract and illusionist artwork by Roy Osborne.
“Bath has the kind of character and independent spirit that we really value,” says Paul Platt, Pocket’s founder. “Our approach has always been simple: sell exceptional products with exceptional service in an exceptional space which people want to come back to.” Visit pockets.co.uk
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Keep your little ones entertained this half term with a host of Halloween-inspired events at the American Museum, from 25 October to 2 November. Explore the new interactive pumpkin garden trail around the museum’s stunning autumnal gardens, enjoy creative activities in the Stable, and snap a picture at the Scarecrow Friends photo station. On Halloween, there’s a trick or treat event with candy stations, a dog costume competition, and a Kids’ Rave with children’s events specialists the Super Pirates from 5:30-7:30pm, featuring a themed disco, circus play, barrels full of fun, and an epic dance to a classic American Halloween playlist. Visit the americanmuseum.org
Bath Unlimited celebrates its five-year anniversary with a new exhibition showcasing the best of Bath businesses this October at the Holburne Museum. The free, month-long exhibition will feature a panel about each business in the museum café facing outwards, so the display can be seen when walking past. In addition to the Bath Unlimited anniversary, 2025 also marks milestones for some of the featured companies, including Avon Technology (140 years), BMT (40 years), Canned Wine (five years), and Future plc (40 years). Bath Unlimited is designed to support ‘Invest in Bath’ in attracting new inward investment by increasing awareness of the area’s flourishing businesses, many of which are global leaders in their field, and promoting the wealth of talent and expertise in the local workforce. Visit bathunlimited.org
Bath Film Festival celebrates its 35th edition this month (17–26 October), with 10 days of cinema that takes over the city. From exclusive previews and international gems to screenings in Bath’s most atmospheric spaces, this is cinema with a difference. Highlights include Benedict Cumberbatch in The Thing with Feathers with local author Max Porter in conversation, Jodie Foster in the French mystery Private Life, and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia starring Emma Stone. Site-specific events give the festival its distinctive magic: look out for the silent classic Wings (1927) soaring through Bath Abbey with live organ score, or screenings under the historic Collonades. With thought-provoking documentaries, filmmaker Q&As, and the return of the prestigious IMDb Awards, this year’s programme promises a city-wide celebration of stories on screen. Visit filmbath.org.uk or bathboxoffice.org.uk.
On Saturday, 11 October, Cirque offers a brandnew show – bolder, braver and more breathtaking than ever before. Get ready for a dazzling fusion of musical theatre and jaw-dropping circus acts at The Forum, taking the original circus meets musical theatre spectacle to thrilling new heights. Experience iconic West End showstoppers paired with awe-inspiring circus acts showcasing their feats of agility.
This all-new production promises to transport you on a vibrant, kaleidoscopic journey bursting with colour, energy, and excitement.
Starring Britain’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer winner Max Fox and featuring stunning vocalists and world-class circus performers, this family friendly extravaganza is a must-see for 2025. Visit bathforum.co.uk
Head to the Abbey and enjoy a massparticipation artwork by sculptor Peter Walker, on display from 3 October to 14 November. Thousands of delicate paper doves will take flight, each one carrying a message of peace, love, hope, or friendship. Each dove is inscribed with personal messages from those who have visited the Abbey. The doves will be suspended in an illuminated installation in the crossing of the Abbey. Together, they form a collective prayer of hope and peace.
Visit bathabbey.org/peacedoves
LIZ SANDEMAN
Bath resident Liz Sandeman is the co-founder of Marine Connection, an organisation dedicated to the conservation, protection, and welfare of dolphins, whales, and porpoises globally. As an authority on cetaceans, Liz was recently interviewed in national media following concerns around Reggie the dolphin in Lyme Bay this summer. We spoke with Liz to learn more about her love of Bath and her work with Marine Connection.....
What first inspired you to dedicate your life to dolphins and whales?
From a very young age, I was captivated by the ocean; its vastness, its mystery, and the incredible life it holds beneath the surface. That fascination only deepened as I grew older and had the chance to explore the underwater world first-hand, snorkelling and diving. But, one encounter over 30 years ago truly changed the course of my life: meeting Fungie, a wild yet sociable solitary dolphin off the coast of Dingle, Ireland.
In the late 1980s, I joined an action group determined to bring an end to the captivity of cetaceans in the UK. We campaigned tirelessly, and successfully helped shut down the country’s last three dolphinariums. That experience cemented my role as an advocate, and I’ve continued to speak out against the keeping of dolphins and whales in captivity ever since. Fuelled by this passion, I went on to co-found Marine Connection.
What are the biggest challenges facing dolphins today, both in the wild and in captivity?
Two of the most pressing issues are entanglement in fishing gear and nets, and plastic pollution. Additionally, climate change is taking a toll. Warming ocean waters disrupt the currents dolphins rely on to find prey, pushing their food sources further away or reducing availability altogether.
Another often-overlooked issue is the capture of wild dolphins for entertainment. This practice breaks apart complex social structures and causes immense psychological and physical stress. In a recent incident, four bottlenose dolphins were captured in Japan to be used in the entertainment industry, highlighting that this harmful practice continues today. Protecting dolphins requires global awareness, stronger conservation laws, and a shift toward more sustainable human practices.
Are you able to share any campaigns you are currently working on at Marine Connection?
One of our current campaigns is focused on raising public awareness about the plight of five dolphins being kept in appalling conditions in Malta. These dolphins are confined to tiny, dirty tanks with no shade from the scorching sun, and we’ve been urging the Maltese Government to step in, as they have the legal authority to enforce real and lasting change. I’ve also been working closely with authorities in Lyme Regis to ensure that Reggie, the solitary dolphin, receives the protection he needs.
What simple steps can our readers take to help protect dolphins and whales?
We welcome volunteers with a wide range of skills to support our work. On a personal level, individuals can help protect dolphins and whales by eliminating fish from their diet as fishing gear entanglement is the biggest daily threat to these marine mammals. Reducing plastic consumption and avoiding facilities that keep dolphins or whales in captivity are also powerful ways to make a difference.
You’ve recently made Bath your home. What drew you here?
After living in London for over 30 years, I felt it was time for a change. I had visited Bath many times for weekend breaks and had always loved the friendly city, so I decided to relocate, and it’s a decision I have never regretted.
Tell me more about the closure of the last three captive dolphin facilities in the UK?
It was a landmark moment, and to this day, the UK remains free of captive dolphin facilities. That’s something to be proud of. But my feelings are mixed. While three dolphins from two of the closed facilities were given the chance to be rehabilitated and released into the wild in the Turks and Caicos, others weren’t so fortunate. Some were sent to dolphinariums in Europe, where they remain to this day, still alive, still performing, just in a different tank.
Living in Weston Village offers me a gift: a scenic route into town that never fails to inspire. My route takes me through the serene Victoria Park. From there, I pass the iconic Royal Crescent, a stunning testament to Georgian architecture that captures the city’s timeless elegance. I also love Great Pulteney Street, being surrounded by graceful townhouses that tell stories of centuries past.
What do you most enjoy about day-to-day life in Bath?
One of the things I truly love is that I can be working in the office, then step outside and, within 10 minutes, find myself immersed in nature on the Cotswold Way. The balance between city life and the countryside is something really special. I also enjoy the variety of entertainment and dining options the city has to offer. But what I love most is the friendliness of the people. It gives the city a real sense of community.
Whether you’re wandering around Lansdown, pacing up Milsom Street, chilling in Widcombe Village, or venturing further afield to the Scottish Highlands, you’ll need to wrap up in style this autumn. Our friends at Jigsaw have just what you need, with smart, slick and subtle layers to make sure your urban ventures don’t leave you out in the cold. jigsaw-online.com | 14 Old Bond St, Bath BA1 1BP
Lady Deirdre Dyson’s remarkable journey from aspiring artist to internationally recognised designer reflects a lifetime of quiet determination, creative mastery and entrepreneurial spirit, culminating in 25 years at the helm of her acclaimed rug and carpet brand. Emma Clegg meets Deirdre at her South Gloucestershire home.
You can't make a living out of doing art, dear.” Lady Deirdre
Dyson’s school headmistress offered this sage advice to her in a post-war culture when all workers were facing significant employment challenges, and getting a job and a regular income was the main priority. Fortunately Deirdre had the courage at the age of 13, as she was about to embark on the standard series of RSA exams offered by her comprehensive school, to go to the headmistress’s office and ask to do GCE Art, a subject that was absent from the school’s curriculum.
“I was really scared, you know – I still think that was really brave of me. I said, ‘I need to do art because I want to be an artist’” The bravery paid off because as a ‘concession’, the headmistress let her do GCE Art as long as she did this alongside her agreed RSA subjects. She passed all eight of her subjects, with distinctions in two maths papers and distinction for GCE Art.
Deirdre’s creative roots trace back to a childhood filled with drawing and painting. “I just always drew,” she says simply. “In my spare time, I’d
either be outside or drawing. No one encouraged me; it was just something I did naturally.”
Deirdre’s determination to study art has been dramatically validated in the intervening years. She is now best known for her eponymous carpet and rug brand, which produces intricately hand-knotted, bespoke creations that are admired around the world. With showrooms in London and Paris, and very strong commerce with the US, she is now celebrating 25 years in the business.
School was not an easy fit. Deirdre describes herself as ‘very average’ academically, and she particularly struggled with maths. It wasn’t until much later she realised she was a visual learner, a revelation that explained her childhood frustrations. “When I was at school, if a teacher explained things on the blackboard, I could follow. But I couldn’t retain verbal instructions easily. It only clicked years later when trying to learn French!”
Practicality won out and Deirdre became a secretary. “That’s what people did – you had to get a job. My parents’ generation had just gone through the hardships of war, and everyone was just trying to get by.”
I was always drawing in my lunch breaks. One day, my boss just looked at me and said, ‘You’re in the wrong place. You should go to art college
It was while working for an architecture firm – Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, who are famed for designing the Barbican – that her life took another sharp turn. “I was always drawing in my lunch breaks. One day, my boss just looked at me and said, ‘You’re in the wrong place. You should go to art college.’ And that was it. I thought, yes. Why haven’t I tried?”
What followed was a determined, solitary effort to build a portfolio with no guidance, no internet and barely any exposure to galleries. However, the problem was that all art colleges she approached insisted on five GCEs, and her RSA subjects were not acceptable. She eventually found a place at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London, a private institution willing to take a chance on her, and this set Deirdre on her creative path.
There were conditions for the Byam Shaw place. “The principal said, ‘Did you say you could do shorthand? My secretary can’t.’ So I typed his letters every day at four o'clock and, in exchange, studied for free. It was brilliant.” The principal also asked her to go to evening classes to do the missing GCEs. Within a year, she’d won a prize and secured a scholarship for a second year.
It was there that she met engineer, inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson who was then at the start of his own creative path. Together, they decided to pursue further studies: she in graphic design at Wimbledon College of Art (where she graduated with distinction in illustration and graphic design), and he in product design. It was a partnership built on shared curiosity and creative thinking from the outset.
Lady Dyson's practical design training, particularly in concepts, colour theory and printmaking, would later prove invaluable. “Byam Shaw taught you to really see, with your eyes and your hands. The exercises were intense, but they opened doors for me. My understanding of colour came from there.”
Throughout the years raising their children, she continued to draw and paint, often on the kitchen table, and held exhibitions with London galleries, such as the Albermarle Gallery in Mayfair. “It was always part of me,” she says. “And looking back at my early work, I still recognise myself in it. All those still-lifes I painted were part of the journey.”
The defining pivot in her creative career came in 1998 when she was looking for a contemporary rug for the family’s new Georgian London house and couldn’t find anything she liked. “Everything was antique, ethnic or fitted. I just wanted something modern and freestanding. There was nothing.”
On a whim, she walked into a small rug shop on the King’s Road. “I couldn’t find what I wanted and I was about to leave when the owner said, ‘Why don’t you do me a sketch? We can make it for you.’ ” Working with just 15 colours, she designed a simple rug, just to see how it would turn out. When it was delivered, the shop owner noticed her paintings around the house and offered her a chance to design more.
“At first, I thought, this will be easy – it’s just pattern, right?” she laughs. “But of course, it wasn’t. I had no idea about weaving, pile heights or what the materials could do.” She began to experiment with tufted and handknotted designs, quickly discovering that creativity needed to meet technical understanding.
Trips to Nepal followed, where she learned firsthand how rugs were made – knowledge she now considers essential. “You can’t design well if you don’t understand how it’s constructed. The early hand-knotted pieces were basic, partly because the knots per inch count we were using restricted us to using straight lines in the designs, but as I learned more, I pushed the boundaries.”
Below, left to right: Lady Deirdre Dyson with a selection of her palette of coloured poms, and her painting Paper and Stone, a concept that inspired her 2021 rug collection. Opposite, above left: ‘Les Rouges’, hand-knotted rug using pinks and reds in alternating wools and silks, from the 2025 ‘Light Play’ collection, has won several design awards. Opposite, above right: ‘Panels’ (Green), hand-knotted rug also from the ‘Light Play’ collection, using graded coloured panels and silk. Opposite, below: ‘Chequered’, hand. knotted in wool and silk, part of the 2015 'Illusion' rug collection.
The Dyson Foundation, for which Deirdre is a trustee, reflects James and Deirdre Dyson’s mutual support of art, design and technology education
Eventually, she was offered a partnership in the business, and when her partner stepped away in 2010, she took it over completely. “By that time, I’d already insisted on getting a computer and trained someone to digitise my sketches. I wanted to be able to manipulate the designs properly, match colours and communicate with the weavers in Nepal efficiently.”
That design technician, Nichola, is still with her today. Their process is meticulous: Deirdre draws and colours the design by hand, using crayons and carefully selected wool ‘poms’ to match hues. Nichola digitises it faithfully, matching the colours precisely on screen. “It’s like paint-bynumbers, but for master weavers,” Deirdre explains. “Every design is made to measure. The sample we exhibit is just the starting point.”
With over 5000 shades now available within both wool and silk, demonstrated with coloured ‘poms’, Dyson’s palette is vast, but her restraint is intentional. “You don’t need many colours in a carpet – but you need the right ones. And if a client brings in their curtains or sofa fabric, we can match them exactly.”
Deirdre Dyson unveils a fresh collection of stunning hand-knotted rugs each year, with the 2025 collection called ‘Light Play’. While at first the rugs were constructed using both hand-tufting and hand-knotting, now all pieces are hand-knotted and machine-tufted. Many rugs incorporate silk in the designs. A touch of silk allows light to interact with the surface in ways wool alone cannot, introducing highlights that enhance Deirdre’s signature play with depth, shadow and movement. This helps her designs transcend their two-dimensional nature, bringing a sculptural quality to otherwise flat surfaces.
The company’s two showcase galleries in the Chelsea Design Quarter in King’s Road, London and in central Paris have a very different clientele. “The London customers are very reserved and often won’t say a word. If they like something, they might come back and ask a question, or they’ll just leave without a word.
“In Paris it’s the opposite – people stop at the window, open the door and immediately say, “Wow! How long have you been here?” They start talking right away, and we have great conversations. It becomes a whole experience. I also get fantastic press coverage in French magazines, although the sales are more consistent in London.”
The Dyson Foundation, for which Deirdre is a trustee, reflects James and Deirdre Dyson’s mutual support of art, design and technology education. The foundation plays a vital role in global education, especially in promoting engineering in schools. A highlight is the James Dyson Award, where students are recognised for innovative design solutions, with winners receiving a personal phone call from James Dyson himself. The Foundation also created the Dyson Institute, now a fully accredited university offering engineering degrees. For many, it leads straight into a job at Dyson. Deirdre attends meetings and sees the impact first-hand –something she describes as both inspiring and emotional.
The couple’s shared commitment to design and education extends to Bath, where James Dyson developed his first vacuum cleaner in a coachhouse just outside the city. Today, their philanthropic reach includes support for the University of Bath, Bath Rugby and the Dyson Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospitals Bath.
Deirdre explains that for both of them the drive behind the Foundation’s work stems from their own beginnings where creative teaching just wasn’t encouraged. “James had a similar experience to me. He was very good with his hands and making things, and he went to a good public school in Norfolk, but his headmaster wrote on his final report, ‘I’m sure James will be good at something, somehow, somewhere – though I’m not quite sure what.’ He left school with no clear idea of what he wanted to do, apart from knowing that he liked painting. So, he decided to go to art college, but without a vision for the future.”
Deirdre’s life, like her work, has been a layering of textures and colours: fine art, design, family and entrepreneurship. She sees no contradiction between her paintings and her rugs. “It’s all part of the same creative process. You move through stages, but you remain connected to them. Even a sketch I’ve kept from my student days – it still feels like me.”
And when asked whether it is colour or form that drives her work, she doesn’t hesitate: “Colour. Always. But it’s the discipline behind it that makes it sing.”
deirdredyson.com; jamesdysonfoundation.com
For many of us, watching the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow is a Sunday night ritual. For Lee Young, now in his 15th year as an Asian Art expert on the show, travelling the UK every summer to film it, has become his. Here Lee shares some behind-the-scenes insights:
Even after nearly 50 years on air, we continue to attract record visitor numbers, and it’s not uncommon for experts to be valuing at 7 or 8pm in the evening. With 100s of people to see, it can be hard to take a break, luckily, we have excellent runners on-hand to bring tea! If we’re fortunate enough to see something exceptional, the producer is alerted and these items are filmed, but we see many, many more items off-screen.
Balancing the demands of filming in beautiful, often far-flung locations, with my day job - as owner and director of Dore & Rees auctions in Frome. I took over Dore & Rees in 2020 and it is now one of fastest growing auction houses in the UK. With a busy sales calendar to oversee and an Asian Art department to run - I am kept very busy! But I am fortunate to do what I love.
Filming the exceptional Chinese robe in 2024 and delivering the £200,000 estimate to a stunned couple and crowd, is something I will never forget. Kept by the owner in a dressing up box as a child, the robe caught the attention of the national media and even Gogglebox! It still holds the record as most expensive Chinese treasure everrecorded on the show.
www.doreandrees.com
01373 462 257 enquiries@doreandrees.com
As Halloween approaches, we thought it apt to explore Bath’s darker side. From chilling crimes to stories of early deaths, the University of Bath’s Centre for Death and Society’s Death Walk (CDAS) takes users on a spine‐tingling tour that unveils Bath’s elegant Georgian face and sheds light on its more macabre past. Joanna Lewis takes a step back in time to learn more…..
There’s tales of condemned prisoners at The Bell Inn on Walcot Street, where they were once given a final bow of gin en route to the gallows, of refuge given at Ladymead House to so-called ‘fallen women’ involved in sex work, fiery protests at Sydney Gardens against the failed Reform Bill of 1831, and Bath’s first two recorded victims of the first cholera epidemic in 1832. The medieval Bishop of Bath and Wells also makes an appearance, as do the navvies who lost their lives building the Great Western Railway, among many others.
The CDAS’s recently launched Death Walk, available via a dedicated podcast and mobile app, is certainly macabre.
“We wanted to explore some aspects of dying and death in the city, to get a glimpse of how the end of life was experienced by Bath residents and visitors over the centuries,” explains Dr Kate Woodthorpe, director of CDAS.
The CDAS is a world-leading research centre at the University of Bath that examines the social, political, and cultural aspects of death and dying. The Death Walk is part of CDAS’s broader mission to connect academic research with real-world conversations about death, dying, and the end of life, topics the centre has been pioneering for 20 years.
The walk takes around 90-minutes to complete, offering a darker perspective on the city, shifting the focus from Romans and Georgians to tales of illness, death, crime, and Bath’s dark underbelly.
“Different causes of death, various crimes, and how people were remembered, or indeed not remembered, such as those given pauper burials, can reveal a huge amount about the social history of a place, shining a light on how people lived, worked, and understood their world and times - so the walk is as much about life as it is death,” Kate says.
The walk dips into fascinating tales of Bath’s history from Roman to the 20th century, and is designed to be as accessible as possible, following a primarily pavement-based route.
It starts at the Victoria Art Gallery, before winding its way to Bath Abbey, the Holburne Museum and Sydney Gardens, sites of interest along Walcot Street, Queen’s Square, the site of the former St. John’s Hospital, before concluding at Bog Island, a former public toilet then nightclub near Parade Gardens.
Kate says that people who go on the walk can expect stories of the city that might just cast a different light on some of the famous sights, reminding us that, beyond the beautiful architecture and landscapes we are so lucky to enjoy, there lie stories of dying, death, and crime.
“Bath is of course associated with its famous Roman Baths and healing waters, tourism, pleasure, and leisure, a place to see and be seen, especially during its heyday in the 18th and early 19th centuries,” Kate notes. “But it is worth remembering that many people travelled to Bath in desperate search of a cure for their ailments, so in a sense, sickness and death are also written into the fabric of its story.”
The Death Walk is designed to showcase the realities of urban life in Bath’s past, a city of industry, mining, servants, and workers.
“The wealthy and leisured were able to enjoy their time in the city because of the hard work of thousands, often a ‘hidden’ workforce, keeping everything going,” Kate explains. “But social hierarchies were very rigid in the past, and the walk also shows how people could slide up and down the social scale, and how bad luck, old age, and ill-health
could dramatically change people’s circumstances.”
So, as we approach Halloween, any particularly gruesome highlights of the Death Walk?
“Perhaps not gruesome, but sad and ghostly enough for Halloween, is the story of Frances ‘Fanny’ Braddock, who took her own life in 1731, having squandered her fortune through gambling debts. Eighteenthcentury society could be very judgmental, particularly about the behaviour of young women, and perhaps ending her life felt like the only way out for a once financially independent young woman. She would have had few options for work or making a good marriage, once her reputation was ‘ruined.’ She is said to haunt Queen Square to this day,” Kate says.
The Death Walk was created by Molly Conisbee, whose research focuses on the social history of dying and death. Inspiration for creating the walk came from similar walks that have been established in other historic cities like York.
Kate notes that most urban areas in Britain boast a dark and grizzly past, with high levels of child mortality and intense periods of epidemic and sickness, often due to overcrowding, poverty, and poor sanitation.
“One of the exciting things about walking our streets is noticing the overlooked and every day, a faded street sign, a mason’s mark carved into the wall, an ancient piece of graffiti, reminding us of those who came before us,” Kate comments.
While providing a fascinating glimpse into some of Bath’s grizzlier past, the Death Walk only touches on a few of the city’s more macabre stories.
The Death Walk is designed to showcase the realities of urban life in Bath’s past, a city of industry, mining, servants, and workers.
“We wanted to give people a flavour of the complexity and richness of this perhaps overlooked part of the city’s past, but there are many, many more stories to be told and discovered. Perhaps a Death Walk Part II is needed?” Kate muses.
What the walk does do is foreground an aspect of the past that was very present for our ancestors: high mortality rates.
“Until well into the 20th century, people were closer to the daily realities of dying and death than most of us are today,” Kate says.
“Taking a moment to reflect on this is part of our shared story, inviting us to think compassionately about the difficulties, but also the resilience, of those who went before us. “
Perhaps most pointedly of all, the Death Walk reminds us that we are all just a fleeting part of this city’s heritage and future.
“We hope the walk gives people a chance to take stock of their surroundings and reflect on the lives and deaths of those who inhabited this very special place before us.”
After all, as Kate notes, death is “one of the few things we all share in common.” n
The Death Walk was created by Molly Conisbee, Naomi Pendle and Kate Woodthorpe of the CDAS. It is a free podcasted walk, there are no steps involved, and you can do the walk at your own pace. Visit cdaswalk.org. The walk’s creator also has a new book out called No Ordinary Deaths: a people’s history of Mortality, available in all good bookshops.
Throughout October
n Green Park Brasserie, BA1 1JB
Soak up live music alongside world-class pizza, cocktails, and craft beer every night, Wednesday through Saturday. Bookings and walk-ups available.
greenparkbrasserie.com
SPOOKY SPIDER HUNT
Throughout October
n The Roman Baths, BA1 1LZ Hunt for spiders in this family trail and discover the Roman myth of Arachne and Minerva. Come face-to-face with the Roman Bath’s statue of the goddess Minerva. romanbaths.co.uk
BEYOND INFINITY: AMERICAN SPACE EXPLORATION
Until 4 January 2026
n American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Manor, BA2 7BD
Discover the wonders of space at this fantastic family exhibition, which showcases innovation, collaboration, and the sublime magic of space that ignites awe in all of us. americanmuseum.org
SHE’S ELECTRIC X POLESTAR
3-4 October, 9am-5pm
n Leigh Court, BS8 3RA
Discover two exciting events at Leigh Court, Bristol, with She’s Electric x Polestar. On Friday, 3 October, She’s Electric Works spotlights women in business and female
entrepreneurs. Hosted by Erin Baker, the day explores how switching to electric can support business and wellbeing, with insights on sustainable growth, practical tools for managing the mental load, breathwork sessions, networking, e-bikes, and the chance to experience the latest Polestar range. On Saturday, 4 October, She’s Electric celebrates stylish, conscious living. Hosted by Jo Elvin, the day explores curated female-founded brands, talks on conscious living, breathwork, wellbeing experiences, e-bikes, and the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the latest Polestar range. Complimentary places are limited - attendees can choose their day and register here:
Friday: sheselectric.co.uk/shes-electricworks-with-polestar
Saturday: sheselectric.co.uk/shes-electricwith-polestar
BATH CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Until October 5
n Various venues
The biggest stand-alone children’s book festival enters its second weekend, featuring Bluey, a Harry Potter quiz, and Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Tel: 01225 463362 bathfestivals.org.uk orBath Box Office
AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL PALIN
6 October, 7pm
n The Forum, BA1 1UG
Michael Palin found fame as a member of
the much-adored Monty Python. Since then, he's starred in films such as The Death of Stalin and several much-acclaimed travel documentaries, which have taken him to the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe, and Brazil. Celebrate his latest book, in which he travels to Venezuela to get a sense of what life is like in one of South America's most culturally rich, vibrant, but also troubled nations. toppingsbooks.co.uk/events/bath
BATH YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2025
8 October, 7:30pm
n Banqueting Room, Guildhall, BA1 5AW
This year’s Bath Young Musician of the Year takes place in the impressive setting of the Banqueting Room in Bath’s historic Guildhall. Once again, a group of highly talented young local musicians promises an evening of outstanding performances. Part of the Mid-Somerset Festival many competitors over the years have gone on to enjoy successful musical careers. The five performers taking part are Gavin Phelps, piano; Jacob Wells-Luttrell, guitar; Ruth Williams, soprano; Matthew Wise, saxophone; and Lucas Wong, oboe. Tickets are £12, free for those aged 18 and under. bathboxoffice.org.uk
PARTERRE MINI PERFUME MAKING WORKSHOP
8 & 23 October, 11:15am-12:30pm
n Central Bath
These hands-on workshops are a great way to have some fun and learn something new. You will discover the basics of perfume blending, choose from a selection of perfume oils, and create your own simple perfume. By lunchtime, you will have a 10ml bottle of fragrance to take home and enjoy. Why not bring a friend or organise a group? £38pp. Private sessions can be arranged for groups, and gift vouchers are available. For further information and to book, contact info@parterrefragrances.com or call 03301 332132.
BATH FILM SOCIETY
10 & 24 October, 7:30pm n BRLSI, BA1 2HN
Join the Bath Film Society as they continue their 2025/2026 season of thought-provoking films, much-loved classics, and awardwinning documentaries, aired fortnightly. This month, enjoy Fall Leaves (Finland) on the 10th followed by Room at the Top (UK) (AGM) on the 24th. Members are invited to meet ahead of the film at 7pm for a glass of wine at a nominal price. bathfilmsociety.org.uk
JOSH KUMRA TRIO
11 October, 8pm-10:30pm n Chapel Arts Centre, BA1 1QR Enjoy music by Josh Kumra and support act Luke De-Sciscio. Josh is a UK-based singer, songwriter, and producer who puts emotion at the heart of his music. Inspired by his dad’s record collection, Josh began his journey at the age of five, jamming along to records by Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and. His music has since taken him to the top of UK charts and all over Europe. Now spending most of his time in his studio writing and producing, Josh is using his influences and inspirations to create music similar to what captured his attention at such a young age. chapelarts.org
BATH DRAMA’S TRAVESTIES
8-11 October, 7:30pm n The Rondo Theatre, BA1 6RT Zurich, 1917. Henry Carr plays Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest, then sues the company's business manager, James Joyce. Meanwhile, Lenin is trying to return to Russia, and Romanian poet Tristan Tzara is starting the Dada anti-art movement. Those are the historical facts. The rest is 'Travesties', which spins the elderly Carr's unreliable memories into a breathless, hilarious tale of love, art, revolution, and espionage. With a plot borrowed from Wilde's classic comedy
plus the liberal sampling of multiple theatrical and literary sources along the way, it's an erudite and very funny dramatic mash-up, and a lesser-spotted Stoppard gem. rondotheatre.co.uk
MILES MORGAN TRAVEL
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
15 October, 2.30pm n APEX Hotel, BA1 2DA
Join Marie and her team as they welcome Louise Sword from HX Hurtigruten Expeditions. To travel with HX is to open yourself to a world of awe. From cultural encounters to wildlife wonders, what you see and learn on your trip will inspire and energise you. And when you come back home, you’ll have a deeper, richer love of the planet we all share. Learn about their amazing programme to Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, Greenland, and more. So, if you have ever thought about a bucket list, expedition cruise then be sure to head along to find out more! Availability is limited, so reserve your space today by calling 01225 486 800 or email bath@milesmorgantravel.co.uk
FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERT
16 October, 1pm
n Bath Abbey, BA1 1LT
Bathovan Rotary Club invites you to a free concert in Bath Abbey featuring piano solos by Ross Thompson of pieces by Chopin and Liszt. There will also be well-known chamber music by Beethoven and Schubert. There is no charge, but there will be a retiring collection in aid of Dorothy House and Bath Abbey. rotary-ribi.org (search Bathavon Rotary)
JUNYAN CHEN & BATH PHILHARMONIA
16 October, 7:30pm n Bath Forum, BA1 1UG
Step into a musical world of imagination and bold invention with Bath Philharmonia, led by internationally acclaimed conductor Michael Rosewell. From heroic visions to enchanting dreams, this programme celebrates the power of music to move, transform, and inspire. bathphil.co.uk, bathboxoffice.co.uk
PARTERRE PERFUME MAKING HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS
18 & 31 October, 2:30pm-5pm
n Central Bath
Perfect for anyone who would like to try their hand at making their own personal fragrance, these half-day workshops are informative and engaging. Working with
Join the Bath & County Club as a member and you and your guests will enjoy a relaxed, friendly ambiance and the opportunity to meet, eat, and drink in the centre of Bath. bathandcountyclub.com
Film The Devil Wears Prada Friday, 3 October, 2pm Bar and coffee available. Call to book.
Talk and Lunch
Tuesday, 7 October, 12pm for 12.30pm ‘Travels with a Wheelchair’ Two-course lunch, plus coffee. £29
Sunday Carvery
12 October, 12pm for 12.30pm Choice of two succulent meats, served with vegetables, coffee, and mints. £32
Talk and Lunch
Tuesday, 14 October, 12pm for 12.30pm Becoming a Sculptor. £29
Battle of Trafalgar Dinner
Friday, 17 October, 6.30pm for 7pm Three-course meal. Black Tie.
Talk and Lunch
Tuesday, 21 October, 12pm for 12.30pm Living in India at the end of the 20th century. £29
Game Wine Dinner
Thursday, 23 October, 6.15pm for 7pm Three-course dinner and all wines included. Q&A with wine merchant. £57
Murder Mystery Evening
Friday, 31 October, 6pm for 6.30pm Canapes served. £25
Rooms also for hire. Event venue: Queens Parade, Bath BA1 2NJ. Booking essential, email secretary@bathandcountyclub.com Call: 01225-423732.
high-quality oils, learn step by step how to design and blend, and at the end of the afternoon, you will have a 50ml bottle of perfume that you have made yourself! £120pp. Private sessions can be arranged for groups, and gift vouchers are available. For further information and to book, contact info@parterrefragrances.com or call 03301 332132.
GARDENING CLUB
21 October, 7:30pm-9pm
n East Building, University of Bath BA2 7AY
Naoko Abe – Japanese journalist and author, will be talking about the rich legacy of Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram, the man who introduced the cherry tree to the UK, and so saved the cherry cultivars for Japan. Learn about the symbolism of these blossoms to the Japanese. Open to all, annual membership £25, visitors £8. ubgc.org
U3A OPEN MORNING
Tuesday, 21 October, 10.30am-12.30pm
n The Pavilion, BA2 4EU
Head along to The Pavilion and learn about u3a (University of the Third Age) in Bath and how you can join. The u3a is a UK-wide movement of locally-run groups that provides opportunities to develop your interests, make new friends, and have fun. u3ainbath.uk
GLOW RUN
24 October, 6-8pm
n Odd Down Sports Ground, BA2 2PR RUHX’s Glow Run returns with a 3km fun run following a lit-up course, suitable for all ages and abilities. It is fully accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs, with a flat tarmacked course. The event is noncompetitive; run or walk your way around the two laps. Fancy dress is encouraged, with light up accessories available to purchase on the night. Tickets start at £7.50 with free entry for carers and under 2s. ruhx.org.uk/events/glow-run
CAPPELLA NOVA
25 October, 7:30pm
n St. Alphege’s Church, BA2 3NR
Cappella Nova's first concert with its new conductor, Marysia Górska-Saj, explores humanity's eternal journey through darkness toward light, from ancient texts to modern expressions in music from the 16th century to the present day. With music by Thomas Tallis through to recent times with Benjamin Britten, John Tavener, and Eric Whitacre, the programme covers themes of light through the ages, through our bonds with others, sleep, dreams and darkness, and dawn and blessing. cappellanova.org.uk
MOSAIC MAKES
27-31 October, 2-4pm
n The Roman Baths, BA1 1LZ Drop in to a family craft session to make a spider or pumpkin mosaic. Included in entrance ticket. romanbaths.co.uk
29 October, 8am
n Thermae Bath Spa
Explore your mind, body, and soul with expert teacher Bex Bridgford for a morning of AquaYoga in the Thermae Bath Spa’s Rooftop Pool, followed by a Thermae Welcome two-hour session with use of towels and robe. Aquasana includes classic yoga postures combined with gently tai chi and invigorating karate moves in the spa’s mineral-enriched waters. eventbrite.co.uk
29 October, doors open 6pm n Komedia, BA1 1EP
White Male Stand Up is the sequel to Alan Davies’s best-selling memoir Just Ignore Him, charting what happened next in the life of the beloved comedian, writer, and actor best known as Jonathan Creek and a long-time panelist on QI. With unflinching honesty, Davies recalls throwing himself into the idealistic world of stand-up, the camaraderie of the comedy circuit, and the life-changing fame that followed. Tickets from £16. Ages 14+ (Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult). komediabath.co.uk
31 October – 1 November, 10am-4pm n Guildhall, BA1 5AW
Organised by Bathavon Rotary Club, all the proceeds are shared between the Mayor’s Relief Fund and other Rotary charities. Visitors will find items for sale to suit all tastes and pockets. All are welcome to see what local artists offer, and to vote for your favourite exhibit. There is a prize for the most popular.
LOOKING AHEAD
1 November, 9:45-5:30pm
n BRLSI, BA1 2HN
Bath History Festival 2025 offers a full day of stories from the past. The talks take listeners from a Leicester car park that revealed Richard III to a thousand years of burials beneath Bath Abbey. Hear about coins struck at the Bath Mint, silver sold in Stuart and Georgian Bath, and the secrets uncovered in Tudor royal portraits. Speakers include scientists, archaeologists, and curators, all sharing their latest discoveries in an accessible way. Tickets include a light lunch along with tea and coffee. brlsi.org/bathhistoryfestival2025
ROTARY’S FIREWORK DISPLAY
1 November, 6pm
n The Rec, BA2 4DS
Bath Rotary’s hugely popular family event draws thousands to the Rec for an exciting firework display with accompanying music. Gates open at 4.30pm and a variety of refreshments will be available before and after the display, which will start at 6.00pm. All funds raised go to local charities. Limited early bird discounts available before 20th October. Tickets available from rotary-bath.co.uk and the Bath Box Office.
1 November, 7:30pm
n Kingswood School Theatre, BA1 5RG
Bath Bach Choir is a group of 90 musicians bringing joy, passion, and precision to everything they perform. The choir’s autumn concert brings together an array of exciting international musicians, with Carl Orff's famous Cantata Carmina Burana as the centrepiece of the performance. World-renowned drummers BackBeat Percussion Quartet will open the evening and then raise the roof in Orff’s own arrangement of Carmina Burana for two pianos, voices, and drums, with concert pianist Nurry Lee, fresh from performing at Carnegie Hall, playing the piano opposite Marcus Sealy. bathboxoffice.org.uk
n The Arts Society Bath 3 November, 11:30am Widcombe Social Club, BA2 6AA Porcelain figure sculpture in the 18th century reflected that society in miniature, from shepherds to lovers and characters from the stage and more. Join this fascinating lecture hosted by the Arts Society Bath. £10 non-members, £7 on Zoom. Book by 31 October. Email bath@theartssociety.org. theartssocietybath.com
6 November, 11am-3pm n Lansdown Grove Hotel, BA1 5EL Join auctioneers and valuers Noonans Mayfair for free auction valuations and the opportunity to consign to its Mayfair auctions. Items include jewellery, watches, silver, objects of vertu, and coins. Email jewellery@noonans.co.uk or call 0207 016 1700.
The Bath Literature Festival presents a superb roster of literary events this month, covering a broad range of topics. We take a look at the events you can look forward to.
EastEnders’ Sonya and popular podcaster, Natalie Cassidy, will host a cosy chat with broadcaster and long-term EastEnders fan Gaby Roslin on Friday 3 October, at 7pm in The Guildhall, Bath.
As Natalie begins a new chapter of her life, away from Albert Square, her memoir, Happy Days, allows her to share her candid reflections on grief and loss, her journey with body confidence and image, and the experience of raising two strong daughters in a world that often judges those who are in the spotlight. A treasure trove of stories and entertaining moments, Natalie also speaks about balancing life as a working mum and the acting lessons she received from the legendary June Brown. Natalie is also the host of the hit podcast, Life with Nat, and co-hosts Off the Telly with Joanna Page.
Gaby Roslin is a radio and TV broadcaster who became a household name while presenting The Big Breakfast on Channel 4. She currently hosts her own show on BBC Radio London.
Former racing driver and managing director of F1 Academy Susie Wolff lifts the bonnet on her incredible journey to the top of motorsport. The event takes place at the Bath Pavilion on 24 October and is only one of five dates in Susie's UK tour.
Susi is a powerful woman in what has traditionally been a male-dominated world. She will be on stage talking about her life, career, and her campaign to inspire more women into motorsport, with multi-awardwinning mechanical engineer, media broadcaster, producer, and author Dr Shini Somara, who is herself a champion of women and girls in STEM.
Following a journey of grit, instinct and a refusal to quit, Susie Wolff has written Driven, in which she tells her story in her own words. From the driver’s seat to the boardroom, she offers a rare, first-hand look at motorsport at its highest level.
During the event, guests will have the opportunity to explore the recently launched new all-electric CLA, the most intelligent
car Mercedes-Benz has ever built. The team from Mercedes-Benz of Bath will be on hand to answer any questions about this exciting new model.
Comedian and actor Alan Davies’s memoir Just Ignore Him was a best-seller and a critical success. He will be talking to Bristolbased TV producer Stephanie Wessell about the sequel, White Male Stand-Up, an autobiography.
Join Alan and Stephanie on Wednesday 29 October, 7:30pm at Komedia for a candid and engaging conversation in which he talks about what happened next to the muchloved comedian, writer and actor, best known as BBC’s Jonathan Creek and as a panellist on QI.
Fans of the fantasy and horror genres can look forward to an evening with two bestselling authors and friends, talking about their deliciously dark art.
Joe Hill, the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author, is launching his first novel in nine years, the muchanticipated King Sorrow. And he will be joined on stage, on Tuesday 4 November at Christ Church, by Bath-based fantasy writer Joe Abercrombie, for what promises to be an in-depth chat between two friends about their genre, loved by millions globally.
Joe Hill’s impressive back catalogue includes The Fireman, Heart Shaped Box, and graphic book series Locke & Key. This is a perfect event for fans of Stephen King, Jordan Peele, and Leigh Bardugo.
Joe Abercrombie’s most recent success is The Devils, the first in a series. He is also known for his First Law Trilogy – The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings – and for the Shattered Sea trilogy. His books regularly feature in the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller lists and have been published in 30 countries. n
Tickets available at bathfestivals.org.uk, or call Bath Box Office on 01225 463362.
Award‐winning film director Jethro Massey grew up in Bath, a city that shaped his love of films. He recently returned to host an in‐person Q&A session at the Little Theatre on his debut film, Paul & Paulette Take a Bath, which won the Critics’ Week Audience Award at the Venice International Film Festival. Jethro took time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions....
You grew up in Bath and attended King Edward’s School; how has the city shaped your creative outlook and the way you tell stories on screen?
Good question! Especially given that my first feature film is about two characters exploring how the stories of a city inform our experience of life within it. Bath is a city where history is so present, and perhaps that’s where some of my fascinations come from. I’m sure I can give a few tangible examples though…
I live in Paris now. I often say that the main reason I live there is that there’s a great café on every corner. I write all my scripts in cafés, it’s a habit I picked up in Café Retro in Bath, a place I loved dearly (and was really sad to discover closed recently). Another Bath ghost that is dear to my heart (and film education) was On The Video Front, when VHS tapes were still a thing. I remember going there a couple of times a week, flicking through their beautifully curated selection, not just blockbusters, but old classics, cult films… delicious.
Thankfully, a few places that had a big impact on me are still standing: The Little Theatre Cinema. When I fell in love with a film, I’d go there and see it again and again. Showing Paul & Paulette Take a Bath there meant a lot to me. It’s always at the little independent cinemas that you can make real discoveries, and see films that aren’t from the Hollywood sausage factory.
And, of course, King Edward’s School. Especially the theatre studies department. Sue Curtis and Jill Ross. Two teachers who really inspired me. I was a terrible actor (I still am), but my gosh, I learned a lot in their classes. Not just about drama, comedy, and performance, but about working with other people, about being fascinated with the world, that curiosity you need in order to become a storyteller.
Can you walk us through your journey from your schooldays in Bath to becoming an award-winning film director?
As a 12-year-old, inspired by Aardman’s Creature Comforts films, I used to spend days on end in my bedroom making stop motion plasticine animations with a Super 8 camera.
On leaving school, I went to Manchester University to do Russian Studies. (Big fights with dad: “If you want to make films, go to film school!”) But I knew that if I wanted to have interesting, original stories to tell, I needed to go out and live a life that was a little different; living in St. Petersburg (in more hopeful times), discovering the worlds of Bulgakov, Dostoevsky, Gogol, and hitchhiking from Moscow to Vladivostok. On the Trans-Siberian, I read Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London. New dreams started brewing. When a flat came up in Paris, I hopped on the Eurostar, and I’ve lived there ever since.
Paris is a tough nut to crack, but I found my way, working in a bar as I learnt the language, but always finding a way to get onto film sets, making short films, and eventually I was able to start making a living behind a camera; travel films, little advertising jobs, whatever would
pay the rent. While that work grew into bigger productions, I held on to my more creative work: music videos and more ambitious short films. Eventually, I felt ready to take on a feature film.
Were there any pivotal moments, mentors, or films that made you realise film directing and producing was your path?
The first one was watching Les Enfants du Paradis when I was 15 years old. I had always said I wanted to make films, but when I saw that film, I knew it was what I had to do with my life. There have been numerous other films since (Harold and Maud, Dogtooth, Jules et Jim, Brazil, Don’t Look Now, to name a few) that have fired my passion, but that was the first.
I’ve had a few wonderful mentors, the photographer Nitin Vadukul, whose unending creativity has always been an inspiration to me. I miss him. Justin Pentecost, a complete camera geek, an incredibly lovely human being who got me my first film job. Andrew Steggall, another King Edward’s School alumnus, who went on to become a filmmaker, one of the sharpest people I know when it comes to storytelling. And, of course, Sue and Jill.
How would you describe your style of filmmaking, and how has it evolved over your career so far?
I have a love for the poetic and the absurd. I love films that feel light and easy to watch, but that have something to say, that turn over in your mind for weeks afterwards, or provoke a discussion between friends as they leave the cinema after the credits roll.
I have a tendency to delve into the past to try to say things about the world around us today. And I have a love of texture, whether it’s the sound of an old rotary phone, of tape being peeled away from someone’s skin, or finding the right sound to bring out the feeling of brushing one’s hand against a weathered stone statue.
I’ve become more drawn to films that explore our zones of discomfort over the years, but I’d like to think my personality and sensibilities have remained the same.
Can you tell me a bit about Paul & Paulette Take a Bath and what you set out to explore in the film?
I’m fascinated by the way a place changes when we tell a story about it. We might walk past a building, and it’ll do nothing to us. But when we learn that Mary Shelley lived there, it changes the way we see it, and the way we feel inside. If someone tells an aspiring writer that this is the desk where Austen wrote Persuasion, I’m sure their first impulse would be to want to sit in that chair. I wanted to explore the darker side of that impulse; our fascination with true crime, our conflicting instincts to look, and to look away, when we see a car crash. I didn’t want the film to be heavy, so I wrote it using the structure of a romantic comedy (turning a few of the tropes on their head a little); two young people becoming friends, becoming attracted to each other, building their relationship, whilst exploring these historical sites, and perhaps taking their game a little too far. I thought it would be interesting to juxtapose that feeling of a new romance against those awful histories they are exploring. It’s what we do on a daily basis; we live in a world filled with tragedy, but we have to make the best of our lives within that.
What advice would you give to young people in Bath who dream of a career in film?
Just go out and make films, you don’t need big expensive cameras. Get into the habit of having ideas, of writing them, and then going out and filming them. And always finish what you start, people will always respect that. Your first films don’t have to be perfect, but the more films you make, the more you’ll build a team of people around you that you can work with, and the better your films will become.
What do you love most about the city of Bath?
Coming back to Bath is a wave of nostalgia for me. I could cite so many memories and talk about how beautiful the city is. But really, for me, Bath is the people I grew up with. The old school friends that I’m still in touch with today, who still know me better than anyone else does.
When you come back, what are some of the places you like to visit?
I don’t think it’s accessible, but I’d love to see the inside of the old King Edward’s Junior School on Broad Street. I wonder if that old rubber playground was built over, or if it’s still there, weeds pushing through.
Finally, if you weren’t a film director, what do you think you would be doing instead?
Honestly, I’m not sure I could be a filmmaker if I ever felt there was any other choice for me. But, it’s an interesting exercise to imagine another life. Maybe I’d be setting up my own version of Café Retro, a little place where I’d rally people to write their stories, play chess, hang out with their friend, or just put their phones down and read a book. n
Paul & Paulette Take A Bath is in UK & Irish cinemas now. Visit conic.film/bath
BY RON PRINGLE, Beau Nash Antiques
ctober arrives like a soft embrace, inviting us to slow down and savour the season. The air sharpens with a crisp edge, leaves rustle underfoot, and the evenings stretch a little longer with each passing day. It’s the time of year when warmth becomes a luxury we seek out in simple, everyday pleasures — a steaming cup of tea beside a favourite book, a candlelit dinner that turns an ordinary evening into something memorable, or a well-earned pint, warm or cold, to mark the start of a night of conversation.
We also feel the shift in how we gather and what we enjoy together. The days of sizzling barbecues in the garden give way to the slow, fragrant comfort of beef bourguignon simmering on the stove. We move from sitting outdoors under the late summer sun to hunkering down indoors, cocooned in candlelight and warmth. This change of season brings with it a theme of cosiness, reminding us that home can be our most inviting retreat. Few things embody that feeling better than silver at the table. Beyond its timeless elegance, silver has wonderful practical qualities. It is neutral, never altering the taste of what it holds, and its conductivity means it keeps warm drinks warm and chilled drinks refreshingly cool. From cups and cutlery to trays and serving dishes, silver adds both function and grace to daily rituals.
And then there’s the glow.
Silver candlesticks, reflecting the flicker of a flame, add a sparkle that transforms the mood of a room. The combination of candlelight and polished silver creates a cozy atmosphere that feels indulgent without any need for an occasion.
That is the heart of October’s message: don’t wait. Don’t tuck silver away for the holidays or rare gatherings. Every evening can be made special with just a few thoughtful touches. Light a candle, pour tea from a silver teapot, let a heavy red wine flow slowly through a silver funnel into a waiting decanter. These small acts elevate the everyday and remind us that joy is found not only in the extraordinary, but in the gentle rhythms.
www.beaunashbath.com; info@beaunashbath.com; 07535137808 @beaunashbath
Last Days Of Summer
Until 25 October, Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret Buildings, Bath
Gallery Nine’s Exhibition Last Days Of Summer will showcase beautiful Seaside paintings by Bo Hilton exclusively painted for Gallery Nine and brightly coloured ceramics by Allan Manham. It is the necessity of speed in Bo’s paintings that gives them their energy and vibrancy of that moment in time. People relaxing in a heatwave, the beach packing up to go home, surfers walking by with their boards, Hilton has tried to capture this in this collection of work. Hilton’s seascapes and colour palette are the inspiration for Allan's selection, which are very complementary. This is Allan’s first show since moving to his new studio in the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building on Wandsworth Common. The move, though demanding, has proved inspiring. gallerynine.co.uk
Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 12 October 10am–5pm Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath
Under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station, the award-winning Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) returns to bring you the best selection of contemporary art – right in the heart of Bath. BCAF is a space where local artists can network, share ideas and display art. Visitors can not only see and admire their work but purchase pieces of fine art as well as photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and so much more. For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website: bcaf.co.uk
A Personal View
17-25 October, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath
A rare opportunity to see six diverse artists come together to share their ‘Personal View’ in different media. View the latest works from modern impressionist painter Lynne Roche, ceramicist Sylvia Owen, transcription collage maker Henrietta Smith, visual arts teacher Julian Hyzler, textile artist Emily Jo Gibbs and specialist embroiderer Jenny Adin Christie, a member of the Homo Faber Guide. brlsi.org
Akiko Hirai, 13 October - 8 November
Beaux Arts Bath, 12-13 York Street, Bath
In October Beaux Arts host the most eagerly anticipated ceramics show in the calendar - Akiko Hirai – which will involve another eye-catching array of assorted ceramic forms by this London-based Japanese master. Alongside Akiko are the tender, beautifully observed paintings of James Needham, who is in his first solo show at Beaux Arts. beauxartsbath.co.uk
Armani Lawlor is bringing her bold and vibrant art to the Bath Contemporary Art Fair. Her work is all about bold brushstrokes, rich colour, and stories of places near and far. From striking landscapes to whimsical travel inspired moments, each painting and fine art giclée print is designed for people who crave art with energy, character, and originality.
armanilawlorart.co.uk | @armanilawlor | Etsy Shop: Armani Lawlor Art
Bath Society of Artists 120th Open Exhibition, 18 October10 January, Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath
Attracting almost 1,500 entries every year, the Society’s Open exhibition is a highlight of Bath’s cultural calendar, with a fantastic mix of paintings, prints and sculptures in the widest variety of styles. Packed with colour, innovation and delight, this selling exhibition has prices to suit all buyers. victoriagal.org.uk
Peacock
& CONNECTIONS, Exhibition Extended 3–26 October, Sandra Higgins Art, Units 12 & 13 Milsom Place 41 Milsom Street, Bath
Three British artists, Patrick Hughes, Steve Thomas and Donald Smith with three unique styles, creating one dynamic exhibition where illusion, rhythm and colour meet in dialogue. From Hughes’ playful illusions to Thomas’ rhythmic structures and Smith’s explorations of colour and form, this exhibition will highlight the contrasts that define their practices and the surprising connections which unite them.
Open Tues–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun11am–4pm. sandrahiggins.art
Dreams of the everyday: paintings by Winifred Nicholson & Andrew Cranston, 3 October – 11 January, The Holburne, Great Pulteney Street, Bath
This compelling exhibition brings together the paintings of Winifred Nicholson (1893–1981) and Andrew Cranston (b. 1969). The display explores the connections and contrasts in paintings by Nicholson and Cranston, many of which share a delight in ordinary, often domestic, realities – drawing on daily-life, memory and imagination, and incorporating figures, interiors and glimpses of nature. Both artists’ practices are at once rooted in the real world, while going beyond conventionality and the commonplace to evoke a sense of nonphysical, sometimes mystical, and occasionally visionary, realities. holburne.org
The Peacock Arts Trail returns for this weeklong invitation into the world of local makers, artists and creatives and craftspeople. Just like a peacock fanning his tremendous multicolour, this event is a bold display of artistic expression and individuality from just over 80 talented artists. Starting in central Corsham, the trail showcases studio, gallery and joint exhibition spaces, moving out to the charming surrounding locations of Yatton Keynell, Box, Chippenham, Holt, Atworth & Sutton Benger, to name a few. Each venue reveals something beautiful, unexpected and completely unique. peacockartstrail.co.uk
What’s Your Poison?, 9-16 October, Private view, 9 October from 6pm. The Bath Abbey Hotel, North Parade, Bath
A killer collection by acclaimed artist Anna Mazzotta, inspired by the iconic board game Cluedo. Anna reimagines Cluedo’s infamous suspects and decadent settings in her signature vintage-cinematic style. With Hasbro’s blessing, this series is soaked in glamour, intrigue, and playful noir. “Murder, but the elegant kind,” says Mazzotta. You can check out any time you like… but you can never leave! annamazzotta.com
Photography by Ruth Crafer
Bestselling author and feminist champion Kate Mosse was in Bath earlier this month to highlight her new book, Feminist History for Every Day of the Year, as part of the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. Melissa Blease spoke to Kate to learn how she’s shining a light on female unsung heroes, from the past and present……
The statistics highlighted on the opposite page are a grim read indeed. But do they make you angry - or sad?
Bestselling writer, feminist activist, journalist, broadcaster and founderdirector of the prestigious Women’s Prizes for Fiction and Non-Fiction Kate Mosse OBE/CBE’s initial response to that question bewildered me for a moment.
“Neither, really,” she says. What? I was expecting a barrage of outrage fuelled by raging exasperation and deep melancholia! Ah, but…
“Anger may, for some people, be a really healthy emotion that inspires action - but not necessarily positive action,” she continues. “And being sad is no use because when people despair or feel demoralised, that tends to make them inactive.
“Personally, those statistics make me want to act, to do something to change things by shining a light on the serious big issues around the representation of women and girls; that’s much more powerful than either
being angry or being sad.”
And Kate’s new book is nothing if not powerful. Feminist History for Every Day of the Year (published by Pan Macmillan last month) tells the real story of women's and girls' history through the ages and across the world, celebrating 366 diverse movers and shakers in their own, distinct fields including Sophia Jex-Blake, Taylor Swift, Simone Biles, Mary Wollstonecraft, Anne Bonny, Billie Eilish and 359 others, including women that you’ve probably never heard of but who we all should have done, supplemented by essays, quotes, and beautiful imagery.
It’s a treatise that acts as a rebuttal to both those statistics and our current socio-political climate: a gorgeous, uplifting festival of light for all ages to dip in and out of.
Crikey, Kate: it must have been difficult to choose which women to put in the spotlight in the book?
“Oh, so difficult!” she says. “At first, it felt like I was doing one of those circular jigsaw puzzles without corners; you’d be astonished at how many incredible women die or were born on the same day.
“But then, on other days it was like, where is everybody? And I wanted it to be a mixture of different types of women from different backgrounds, ethnicities, parts of the world and different parts of history - and different professions or social activism too: a snapshot of all the amazing things that incredible women throughout history have done.
“But I also really wanted it to be fun, not only focusing on women who have changed the world through their incredible brain, or incredible courage, or incredible fight to be acknowledged. I’ve included women who just make the world better for us all through their music, say, or their acting. I’ve aimed for a mixture of women and girls from the past, but also from the present, to speak to younger readers today.”
But will the book resonate with boys, too - indeed, are they likely to add it to their reading pile?
“It’s crucial that boys and men are involved in this dialogue and the book is very much for boys too,” Kate says.
“Throughout everything I do - for example, when I toured my onewoman Warrior Queens and Quiet Revolutionaries show in 2023, or my Labyrinth Live! show earlier this year - I say out loud, in every single performance or speech, that this is not about girls v boys or men v women; it’s about fairness, it’s about getting a bigger table and more chairs. And it’s not about taking wonderful, beautiful men and boys out of history - it’s about adding the women and girls back in there, where they always were.
“One of the essays in the book is about how boys can be feminists too, because the world is a better place if all those who believe in fairness of opportunity stand together and find a common language - and that means supporting boys to do that too.
“At the moment, our world seems to be intent on setting people against one another, and we have to find a way of showing that we don’t believe in that vision of the world that’s being offered to us.”
“…..this is not about girls v boys or men v women; it’s about fairness, it’s about getting a bigger table and more chairs.”
Kate and I are talking about the impact that she’s made on the world in the year that celebrates both the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Prize for Fiction (co-founded by Kate in partnership with fellow literary-world luminaries Clare Alexander, Jane Gregory, Susan Sandon and Carole Welch.) and the 20th birthday of her epochal historical novel Labyrinth, a global best-seller centring around strong female characters.
Was Kate aware, when she first started writing, that she would become as known for her activism and campaigning as she is for her perfect prose?
“No, not at all,” she says. “I describe myself as a storyteller. When people ask me why I write about women, I say, well I’m a woman - why wouldn’t I write about women? People don’t ask men why they write about menthey just assume it’s the logical thing to do.
“I know I’ve been very lucky; I follow my interests and my enthusiasms, and I’ve found myself in a position where I can make a career out of doing that. But having spent all my writing life looking at history and seeing all
We all know that history isn’t neutral – it’s shaped by who tells it. But did you know…?
• Women only occupy around 0.5% of recorded history
• Only 15% of blue plaques in the UK celebrate female figures
• Only 1 in 5 statues across the UK are of women (in Edinburgh there are more statues of dogs than women)
• 68 million women go unrecognised in census records
• In the KS3 curriculum, 82% of novels taught feature a male protagonist; 77% of schools teach one or no whole texts by female authors across the three years of KS3, with 44% teaching none at all
• In the 2023 History GCSE exams, only 6% of questions were focused on women in history, compared to 37% of questions about men
the women who were a massive part of it all written out, I’ve become more interested in telling the 360-degree story of history rather than the very narrow band we’re taught about.”
But how does a writer even attempt to change such an established status quo when the current political climate seems to be intent, in many ways, of sending women back to the dark ages?
“What we’re dealing with right now, more than ever before, is an active and deliberate campaign of misinformation and disinformation,” says Kate. “In an unparalleled moment of history, it’s now possible to use propaganda to affect and influence every single person who has a mobile phone.
“In the past, that influence couldn’t be disseminated quite so widely, and I genuinely believe that spreading despair is part of a deliberate process to divide and rule. This is one of the many reasons why we have to be more careful about, say, our social media use, because we’re living in a time of techno feudalism, and the control of the narrative is held by a miniscule number of men.
“But real life is nuanced and complicated, and you can admire and respect people even when they have views that you don’t agree with at all. We need to get back to a listening time, and we are in a shouting time.”
If you crave a moment of quiet time in which to reflect on Kate’s manifesto, she’s keen to share the importance of a little part of big history right on our Bath doorsteps that could well be your ideal oasis.
“Emmaline Pankhurst - who is of course in the book - has very strong connections to the city,” she tells me. “Eagle House in Batheaston was a sanctuary for suffragettes who would go there to recuperate after the brutality of being force-fed while on hunger strike in prison.” And if the prospect of a visit to Eagle House might make you sad or angry, take Kate’s closing statements with you:
“We have to remember that history is a pendulum reliant on change,” she says. “If we can find it in ourselves to galvanise action, then we can make those changes. Small steps make a difference just as much as big ones do; before you know it, you’ve got a movement. Think of the incredible women in Feminist History for Every Day of the Year and the barriers they faced - but they made change anyway. That’s the biggest message in the book, for everybody.”
Feminist History for Every Day of the Year by Kate Mosse is available at local bookshops and online. n
Lady ‘M’ of Bath, a rare luxury wide beam narrowboat known as an Inspection Launch has been put up for sale.
Originally designed as an up market restaurant boat located at Hampton Court on the River Thames, Lady ‘M’ has recently been cruising the waters around Bath as a hospitality / live aboard wide beam barge offered exclusively to guests of the award winning Lady Margaret’s Holiday home in central bath.
Perfect for entertaining friends or exploring the delights of the local river and canal, Lady ‘M’ has recently undergone extensive renovations and is now offered for sale as either an exclusive hospitality business, or a stylish live aboard – or as the current users have done, both!
As Alex Timms the owner of the beautiful wide beam explains: “My wife and I have been offering stylish trips to our holiday guests in much the same way that the Royal Crescent Hotel offered trips aboard their gentlemen’s river launch the Lady Sophina before the turn of the century - although Lady ‘M’ has never been offered to members of the general public.
Barge living is seen as an increasingly good value alternative to bricks and mortar. The asking price for Lady ‘M’ is £125,000 – which is less than half the price of a local flat and the only fixed costs are a continuous cruising licence via the Canal & River Trust plus our annual insurance which combined work out at total of less than £2,000 per annum. Although ideal for a couple or a single person Lady ‘M’ can sleep up to4 in two berths and can be viewed on the boating website by googiing Lady ‘M’ Inspection launch at Triton Narrowboats 52 Widebeam for sale UK, Triton Narrowboats boats for sale, Triton Narrowboats used boat sales, Triton Narrowboats Narrow Boats For Sale Rare Inspection Launch 52' - Apollo Duck
Lady Margarets holiday home which is not for sale is located along the uber chic Margaret’s Buildings can be viewed at www.LadyMargaretsBath.co.uk For further information and additional photos contact Alex Timms on 07747650828
Celebrated for her romantic plots and social satire, Jane Austen’s novels largely avoid direct engagement with the turbulent political issues of her time, such as the transatlantic slave trade. However, slavery is not entirely absent from her work. It appears on the margins, through subtle allusions and contextual details that indicate that Austen may have had some sympathy with the Abolutionist movement. Robert Morrison explores this theme in recognition of Black History Month.
Slavery is not a topic commonly associated with Jane Austen. Her name is far more likely to evoke thoughts of social comedy, provincial domesticity, romantic courtship, and reassuringly love-conquers-all endings. Yet there are dark misgivings and Gothic anxieties in all of Austen’s novels, and one of the great merits of her art is the way in which she is able to blend these two impulses, weaving social realism through fairy-tale romance, and wish fulfilment around incisive cultural critique. Austen did not put slavery at the centre of any of her novels. But the issue is clearly visible on the periphery of several of them.
Britain formally outlawed the slave trade in 1807, thanks in large part to years of vigorous campaigning by leading religiously-inspired abolitionists such as Hannah More and William Wilberforce, both of whom lived in Great Pulteney Street in Bath when Austen herself resided just around the corner at 4 Sydney Place, her home from 1801 to 1805. In 1808, another key abolitionist, Thomas Clarkson, published his pious History of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade, which Austen read with approval. All six of her published novels appeared in the decade that followed while Wilberforce, Clarkson, More and many others continued their fight against slavery, pushing hard to ensure that every effort was made to enforce the new legislation of 1807, urging other countries to follow Britain’s lead, and organising support for the abolition of slavery itself, finally achieved in 1833, the year of both More’s and Wilberforce’s death.
Austen’s family was certainly conscious of the issue of slavery. In 1760, her father, the Rev. George Austen, became a co-trustee of the marriage settlement of his former student James Langford Nibbs, who owned a sugar plantation in Antigua. But George Austen’s role was essentially a legal formality: he was charged with helping to administer the disbursement of the estate and its profits after Nibbs died. He played no part in the actual running of the plantation and it is almost certain that he did not benefit from its revenues. Three of Jane Austen’s brothers, however, took a more determined stance against slavery. Most notably, Austen’s brother Henry, a banker-turned-clergyman, was a delegate at the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840.
Some of Jane Austen’s own opinions on slavery show the impress of her age. Like several other writers who spoke out on the issue without firsthand knowledge of the conditions in places such as Jamaica, she equated slavery abroad with various forms of slavery at home, downplaying the evil by making it seem as bad in Britain as it was in the West Indies. In Emma, Jane Fairfax links the ‘slave-trade’ and the ‘governess-trade’, which are ‘widely different certainly as to the guilt of those who carry it on’, but ‘as to the greater misery of the victims, I do not know where it lies’. Such comparisons ignore the harrowing differences between women in Britain subjugated and mistreated based on incipient notions of female autonomy and selfhood and the centuriesold African slave trade, which was founded on the conviction that racial others were sub-human or even non-human.
Austen did not condemn the profits that flowed to those in Britain who had investments in West Indian sugar plantations. In Persuasion, Anne Elliot’s old school friend Mrs Smith is a widow who lives in Bath,
a city with strong connections to the slave trade, and home for 20 years to William Beckford, novelist, art collector, and politician, whose phenomenal prosperity came from Jamaican sugar estates. Mrs Smith, on the other hand, lives in Westgate Buildings, far down the social hierarchies from Beckford, but with the assistance of Anne’s husband Captain Wentworth she is able to recover property in the West Indies that belonged to her dead husband, greatly ameliorating her financial situation. Austen seems to regard the source of Mrs Smith’s new wealth as the lesser of two evils. ‘Single Women’, she observed in a letter of 1817, ‘have a dreadful propensity for being poor’.
Similarly, in Mansfield Park, the Christian gentleman Sir Thomas Bertram has financial interests in the West Indies, and early in the novel he travels to his slave-labour plantation in Antigua ‘for the better arrangement of his affairs’, which toward the end of his two-year stay are ‘prosperously rapid’. What did Sir Thomas do in Antigua? Reorganise his estate in response to the new legislation of 1807? Look into the possibilities of buying more property? Put down some kind of slave revolt? Did Austen model Sir Thomas on her father’s student James Langford Nibbs, who also owned a sugar estate in Antigua? She does not tell us. When Sir Thomas returns to Mansfield Park, his reserved but observant niece Fanny Price
asks him ‘about the slave-trade’. His response: ‘dead silence’. Perhaps he is quiet out of a sense of guilt, or instead because of an imperturbably clear conscience. Many commentators have felt that Fanny’s own piety inclines her toward the abolitionism of Christian conservatives such as Wilberforce and More.
In normalising Miss Lambe’s status … Austen challenges racial prejudice and offers a glimpse of a society that … in some instances … warmly accepts people from different cultures, countries, and races
Sanditon is Austen’s most provocative and progressive treatment of the many issues surrounding slavery. Left incomplete at her death, the novel features a 17-year-old heiress from the West Indies named Miss Lambe, who is ‘half mulatto’ [Now considered offensive - the term was historically used to describe someone of mixed race]. The introduction of a young woman of colour into the world of Sanditon has caught many readers by surprise. But Austen herself is untroubled. She calmly folds Miss Lambe into the action of the novel, and no character in it expresses surprise or alarm at her arrival. She has a maid of her own. She is given ‘the best room in the lodgings’ at Sanditon. She is ‘always of the first consequence in every plan’ of her chaperone, Mrs Griffiths. Miss Lambe attracts attention because of her wealth – an inevitability in an Austen novel – and Lady Denham is quick to view her as a potential wife for her rakish, impecunious nephew Sir Edward Denham, Baronet of Denham Park. In normalising Miss Lambe’s status within the English community she is satirising, Austen challenges racial prejudice and offers a glimpse of a society that at least in some instances warmly accepts people from different cultures, countries, and races.
Not all Austen’s references to slavery have worn well. But in Sanditon she appears remarkably modern. The novel opens up questions about diversity, inclusivity, foreignness, and colonialism, and lays the foundation for much more recent cultural productions such as the Austen-era Netflix series Bridgerton, which features a Black man as the Duke of Hastings and a Black woman as Queen Charlotte, and which provokes similarly pressing questions about social elites, interracial relationships, cultural stereotypes, and historical injustices.
Austen’s comments on slavery are brief but they often illuminate both her world and ours.
Robert Morrison is British Academy Global Professor at Bath Spa University and Queen's National Scholar at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He specialises in 19th-century British literature and culture, and is the author of The Regency Revolution: Jane Austen, Napoleon, Lord Byron and the Making of the Modern World – published by Atlantic Books.
Bath’s dining scene has just gained a new contender for the perfect Sunday gathering: The George, a contemporary Victorian‐inspired café bar, now serving hearty Sunday roasts that celebrate tradition with a contemporary, flavour‐driven twist. Joanna Lewis sharpened her knife and fork and headed to The George in search of roast‐day perfection…..
Ah, the Sunday roast, not just a meal, but a ritual. It’s the punctuation mark at the end of the week, equal parts comfort and celebration, a chance to gather, to laugh, and to linger just a little longer at the table with friends or family.
As autumn evenings draw in and the light fades earlier each day, there’s no better antidote than a Sunday roast done right. Think crisp-edged potatoes with fluffy centres, meat cooked to perfection, vibrant seasonal vegetables, and unapologetically rich, silky gravy that pulls it all together. Research estimates that more than a billion Sunday roasts are served annually in the UK, a staggering number that reflects our national affection for this dish. But the perfect roast is no ordinary feat. It’s part art, part science, and part theatre. And, it seems The George has mastered it.
On a rainy Sunday, my husband Matt and I, along with our 8-year-old daughter Ella, headed to The George to tuck into a Sunday roast that hit all the right notes.
“It’s regal, it’s earnest, it’s exactly what you dream of when you think Sunday roast done properly,” says Head Chef Tom Trevett from The George, adding that “every Sunday ought to feel like a gentle rebellion against the ordinary.”
The George’s Sunday menu includes a curated selection of starters, mains, sides, and desserts.
Starters include crispy whitebait with aioli, a hearty ham hock terrine, and polenta fries served with spicy mayo. Order a selection and enjoy them family style to segue into the main affair: a choice of roast pork, beef, chicken, or a vegetarian nut roast, served with the all-important seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy. Then there’s the extra sides if you want to really indulge: cauliflower cheese, stuffing balls, and sauteed greens.
The beef was served blushingly pink, Yorkshire puddings rose like proud monuments to indulgence, and the vegetables were vibrant, seasonal, and
full of flavour. Then there was the all-important gravy –plenty of it, I’m pleased to say. Ella was also delighted that her request for “extra crackling, please!” with her roast pork was more than adequately met.
For desserts, you can indulge in tempting delights like sticky toffee pudding, Eton mess, or a selection of ice creams. I can confirm that the sticky toffee pudding was gooey and rich, while the Eton mess was creamy, packed with berries, and had just the right amount of crunch from the meringue.
The hero dish? According to Tom, it’s the sirloin of beef. “Aged, carved, and served with ceremony.”
Along with the usual selection of wines, spirits, and beers, The George offers a tantalising cocktail menu, including pitchers for those wishing to share.
The Top Hat Old-Fashioned is The George’s signature cocktail, offering a spirited spin on a classic. “It’s smoky, irresistible, and utterly restorative. Pair it with the roast and suddenly Sunday feels like it has real purpose,” says Bar Manager Sam Bradford. Indeed, it does.
I should add, there’s also a selection of zero percent cocktails for those driving, abstaining from alcohol, or for kids who just want to feel grown up (Ella loved the Botanical Fizz – elderflower cordial, lemon juice, tonic, and wildlife botanicals).
Alongside the tasty fare, you can expect a convivial atmosphere at The George too, one that feels relaxed, yet slightly elevated, making it ideal for when you want a Sunday roast that just feels that extra bit special.
“It’s elegance with ease,” explains Tom. “Warm lighting, clinks of glass, laughter in corners, quiet indulgence, and the kind of comfort that prompts one to linger for afters.”
And, even better, four-legged friends are more than welcome! “Under the table, beside your chair, wherever they fit. Just know that the Yorkshires are for humans,” Tom says. What is there not to love? n
The George on George Street serves Sunday lunch from 12pm to 6pm. Visit thegeorgebath.com.
This festive season, make your celebrations unforgettable at Sarthi Restaurant, Bath’s Vegan & Vegetarian Indian Restaurant. We are now open for Christmas bookings and invite you to indulge in a unique dining experience filled with warmth, flavour, and festive cheer.
Whether it’s private dinning or a lively group gathering, Sarthi is the perfect place to celebrate together.
Sarthi - Authentic Indian Restaurant in Bath
BY RICHARD BERTINET
October marks an incredible milestone – 20 years of The Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School in Bath. To celebrate, Richard will be welcoming dear friends and great chefs such as Matt Tebbutt, Sat Bains, Jonny Bone, Lisa Goodwin‐Allen, José Pizarro, Valentine Warner to a series of unforgettable classes – where attendees can cook, learn and be inspired. To mark the occasion there’s also a new anniversary edition of Richard’s much loved book Dough [available 2026] – so, what dish would be more fitting for our October edition than Richard’s delicious recipe for Pumpkin Pie.
Ingredients:
1 quantity of pastry see recipe below
For the Filling (inspired by Auntie Julia)
4 eggs
75g dark brown sugar
195g caster sugar
425g (1 can) unsweetened pumpkin puree
½ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground allspice
½ tsp ground nutmeg
Method
¼ tsp ground mace
¼ tsp ground star anise
30g melted butter
330g double cream
For the Pastry Dough:
50g pumpkin seeds, ground to flour in a cup blender, sift out any larger pieces of seed
300g plain flour
125g butter
1 whole egg and 2 egg yolks
125g caster sugar
Pinch salt
Preheat the oven to 160°C. Roll your pastry out to 3 to 5 mm thickness, using a little flour to ensure it keeps moving on the surface and is not sticky. Line a 25cm tart ring or case and cover with baking parchment and then baking beans. Blind bake the case with the beans in for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the beans and return to the oven for another couple of minutes. Combine all the filling ingredients in the order given, ensure that the spices are well incorporated. Pour the filling into the blind baked tart shell and bake for 45 minutes until set. If baking in smaller 10cm shells, bake for 20 minutes.
To make the dough with a food mixer
Put the flour and salt into the bowl of the machine. Bash the butter as described in the hand-mixing method, then break it into four or five pieces and add it to the flour. Using a paddle attachment rather than a hook or whisk, mix the ingredients at a slow speed until the pieces of butter are about the size of your little fingernail. You will need to scrape the butter from the paddle a few times as it will stick. If you are making sweet pastry, add the sugar at this point and mix in well. Add the egg(s), and yolk (if making sweet pastry) and water (if making salted pastry) and mix very briefly, until a dough forms. As soon as it does, turn it out onto your work surface with the help of your scraper and follow the hand-mixing method.
To make the dough with a food processor:
It is very easy to overwork pastry in a food processor. Put the flour
and salt into the bowl of the machine. Cut the cold butter into small dice and add to the bowl. Use the pulse button in short bursts so that the flour just lifts and mixes, lifts and mixes. You don’t want to blitz everything into a greasy ball as that will result in hard, dense pastry. If you are making sweet pastry, add the sugar at this point and mix in well. Add the egg(s), and yolk (if making sweet pastry) and water (if making salted pastry), then pulse briefly until the pastry dough comes together. Turn it out with the help of your scraper and follow the hand-mixing method. Wrap the dough in greaseproof paper and leave to rest in the fridge for at least an hour before using.
Note: the dough can be kept for up to 10 days in the fridge or a few weeks in the freezer.
Note: The leftover pastry that you have once you have trimmed the finished pie can be used. It can either become the base of a cheesecake or be used as a crumb on a different dessert.
And, to make the dough by hand...
... The way Richard Bertinet would, visit thebathmagazine.co.uk for the complete rundown – or better still – find many more fantastic recipes in a special signed copy of his Pastry Cookbook; celebrating 20 years of baking at The Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School. Priced £20.
For cookery classes, information and Richard’s recipe books visit: thebertinetkitchen.com
Words by Tom Bleathman from The Great Wine Co. Stretching from Lyon to Marseille, the Rhône Valley is France’s second-largest wine-producing region and has long been celebrated for its exceptional wines. The area is peppered with bottles full of character, offering a strong sense of place and, often, excellent value.
The valley is divided into two distinct sections, separated by a 20-mile stretch of agricultural land where no vines are planted. In the Northern Rhône, you'll find elegant whites like soft, peachy Viognier, and for the reds, expect to find deep-hued, peppery Syrah’s. The Southern Rhône is renowned for its blends: whites tend to be fuller and weightier, typically made using grapes such as Roussanne and Marsanne, while reds are ripe, fruit-forward, and full-bodied, with the headline blend being Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (GSM).
Throughout October, The Great Wine Co. will be offering up to 33% off French still wines, making it the perfect time to try the fantastic wines of the Rhône Valley. Here are a few of my favourites... | greatwine.co.uk
Yves Cuilleron, Viognier Les Vignes d’à Côté 2024: This is a delicate, pure Viognier, with scents of peach, apricot and citrus zest. Effortlessly balancing delicacy, freshness and satisfying roundness, this is a very wellmade wine. Yves Cuilleron is known for producing very premium wines in the application of Condrieu. This particular Viognier is grown just beyond the official boundary, on a neighbouring slope, making it outstanding value.
£27.50 to £22
Gilles Robin, Crozes-Hermitage
‘Papillon’ 2023: This is absolutely delicious. Exciting young Syrah aroma, full of raspberries and fragrant black pepper. It is not heavy in the mouth, but still feels complete, succulent and rounded. Lovely savoury, spicy finish. This is absolutely delicious, in case we didn't mention it previously.
£26.50 to £21
Domaine Brusset, Côtes du Rhône ‘Cuvée Laurent B’ 2024: A great value Cotes Du Rhone from a family estate with over 75 years of winemaking expertise. This GSM blend is bright ruby red in colour and is full of wild raspberries, strawberries, and a touch of baking spice. The perfect wine for the end of a long day.
£15.50 to £12.95
Stone King, a national law firm with offices in Bath and a reputation for excellence in education law, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kenji Batchelor as a partner in its education team.
Kenji brings over a decade of specialist experience advising education, charity, and not-forprofit organisations. He will be working primarily with independent schools as an integral part of Stone King’s education team, which he joins from VWV, where he was a partner in the firm’s education practice advising independent schools, special schools, and colleges on a wide range of corporate, commercial, governance, and strategic issues. In particular, he has expertise in helping schools consider strategic projects such as mergers, acquisitions, jointventures, and collaborations.
Kenji has over 10 years working in the education and charity sector and more than 15 years of experience on the boards of different education organisations and charities.
Visit stoneking.co.uk
Basil's Bakery, an independent and family run artisan bakery on Locksbrook Road, has won an award for white and non-white sourdough at The Craft Bakers Association's 2025 Bakery Competition.
The bakery is known for its use of high-quality and healthy ingredients, serving a range of handcrafted baked goods and artisan breads, which draw upon the owners' Mediterranean and English heritage.
“This award means a lot to us,” says Vasileios Athanasiou, director and baker at Basil’s Bakery. “It is recognition of our hard work, passion for baking, and efforts, in addition to the recognition of our customers over the last four and a half years, colleagues, and our association. It gives us the energy to continue, to become better and stronger, and to thank the people who trust us.”
This isn’t the first award that the bakery has won, scooping a coveted Great Taste award in 2023 for its brioche.
Visit basilsbakery.co.uk
The Bath Business Improvement District (BID) has launched its new five-year Business Plan for its fourth term, setting out a bold and collaborative vision for the future of Bath’s commercial heart.
As a business-led and businessfunded organisation, Bath BID exists to enhance the city’s defined commercial area through targeted investment and partnership. The newly published Business Plan outlines a clear roadmap for continued success, building on the achievements of the past five years while introducing new initiatives designed to support local businesses and elevate Bath’s appeal to customers, investors, staff and visitors alike.
“I am proud of the impact of the Bath BID team and our partners over the last five years, and I firmly believe that Bath can continue to perform strongly as a business location with the help of the collective power of local businesses within a BID arrangement,” says Allison Herbert, Bath BID’s CEO. Visit bathbid.co.uk
Corkage, the acclaimed independent wine restaurant on Chapel Row, has been named the 2025 winner of the Restaurant Wine List of the Year at the IWC Industry Awards, held at London’s Guildhall last month.
The restaurant is celebrated for its extensive wine list including skin contact and orange wines, all categorised by wine style, with wines not only offered by the glass and bottle but also by Coravin. The wine list comprises of over 180 wines at any one time, with 50 to 60 available by the glass.
Judges lauded Corkage for its thoughtful and expertly assembled wine list that balances accessibility with ambition, featuring both lesser-known varietals and celebrated classics.
“Winning the IWC's Best Restaurant Wine List of the Year in the whole of the UK is a tremendous honour for Corkage,” says co-owner Richard Knighting. “Our team pours so much passion into curating a list that genuinely excites our guests, pairing perfectly with our seasonal food and offering something for every palate.
“This industry recognition validates what we do and truly makes it all worthwhile, only fuelling our dedication to creating an exceptional wine experience here in Bath.”
Visit corkagebath.com
Ready to take your golf game to the next level? The future of practice is here at Kingsdown Golf Club with the brand new Trackman Range – and it’s changing the way golfers of all levels train, play, and enjoy the game.
Whether you're a seasoned player looking to fine-tune your swing or a beginner wanting to have some fun with friends, Trackman Range offers a high-tech, interactive experience that’s both serious practice and serious fun. Get instant feedback on ball speed, carry distance, accuracy, and more – all from your own bay.
No booking needed, just turn up, connect via the free Trackman app, and start hitting with purpose. Play games, challenge friends, or simulate famous courses – all from the comfort of our range.
Smart • Simple • Addictive
Come and experience the difference – at Kingsdown Golf Club
Telephone 01225 743472 | Kingsdown, Corsham, SN13 8BS | email – admin@kingsdowngolfclub.co.uk
Kingsdown Golf Club, Corsham, has launched Trackman, a digital golfing experience built on Tour-proven accuracy and immersive graphics, offering an exciting way for golfers to improve their game or enjoy world-famous courses.
Trackman includes cutting-edge technology that blends golf practice with advanced data analysis and entertainment. Using radar and camera tracking systems, Trackman measures every detail of a golfer’s swing and ball flight, including speed, spin rate, launch angle, and distance. This precise feedback helps players of all levels improve their technique with real-time insights. Beyond training, Trackman also offers a virtual golf experience, letting players enjoy world-famous courses with incredible accuracy and realism. The driving range is open to both members and non-members from dawn until dusk, except on Christmas Day. kingsdowngolfclub.co.uk
Bath Rugby’s new stateof-the-art stadium at the club’s historic home, The Rec, has had its planning application approved by B&NES. While the application was initially set to be determined by the Secretary of State, the department has stated that it is content for this to be done by the local planning authority.
"This is testament to the quality of our proposals, which received no objections from any statutory consultees, including UNESCO World Heritage,” says Tarquin McDonald, Bath Rugby’s chief executive. “We look forward to our planning application being formally approved and moving on to the next stage of detailed design. We will continue to keep our passionate and loyal supporters updated at every step of the journey."
The new stadium design will offer several improvements, including lowering the heights of the West and East stands to elevate the matchday experience while preserving the unique character of the surrounding area, as well as offering increased community use, including a riverside café/restaurant, club shop, and museum.
Visit bathrugby.com COUNCIL
Tax-efficient gift-giving is an essential aspect of estate planning that can significantly reduce your inheritance tax (IHT) liabilities while benefiting your loved ones. Outright gifts also have the attraction of being relatively quick and easy to execute, which could well be appealing in view of the forthcoming Autumn Budget and speculation surrounding what changes to IHT, if any, might be announced.
IHT is currently charged at 40% on estates above the Nil-Rate Band (NRB), which has remained at £325,000 for many years (there is also a ‘Residence Nil Rate Band’ of £175,000 per person, subject to certain restrictions).
I have highlighted below some helpful tips, but these are by no means an exhaustive list and, as always, each individual’s circumstances will be different and specific advice tailored to your needs is essential.
Most straightforward gifts of any value can be made completely free of IHT provided the donor lives for 7 years after making the gift and does not reserve any benefit whatsoever in respect of the gifted property (e.g. one cannot just give a property away and continue to enjoy living in it rent free). Such gifts should however only be made after consultation with your professional advisers in order to ensure that all relevant factors (including possible Capital Gains Tax consequences) are taken into account.
In addition, the following gifts may be made each tax year without using up any part of an individual’s NRB:
• Small gifts of up to £250 to each of as many individuals as the donor wishes to benefit;
• Annual gift allowance of up to £3,000. This exemption is applied to larger gifts not covered by the £250 exemption above. It can also be carried forward for one tax year only if it is not used in the year in question;
• Gifts that are a wedding or civil partnership gift worth up to £5,000 to a child, £2,500 to a grandchild or great grandchild and £1,000 to anyone else;
• Gifts to registered charities, museums, universities, political parties, housing associations, national heritage bodies or community amateur sports clubs.
Perhaps one of the most overlooked IHT exemptions is one entitled “normal expenditure out of income”. For gifts to qualify for this exemption (which means that even if the donor dies within seven years, they are still not subject to IHT) there are three main criteria which have to be met:
• The gifts must have been made as part of the normal expenditure of the donor and generally speaking there has to be some regularity to the gifts being made;
• Taking one year with another, the gifts must be made out of income (not capital); and
• After allowing for all gifts etc. forming part of the normal expenditure, the donor must be left with sufficient income net of income tax to maintain his or her normal standard of living.
You must also maintain careful records of your gifts and income/expenditure in order for your Executors to be in a position to prove that you were able to maintain the same standard of living after making the gifts.
The above is for general guidance only and no action should be taken without obtaining specific advice.
Journalist Ali Vowles interviews Bath Abbey's CEO, Frank Mowat, whose background in banking has enabled him to lead the commercial development and transformation of the Abbey and breathe new life into one of Bath's most striking landscapes.
Ithought I knew quite a lot about Bath Abbey. It was where the first king of England was crowned over 1,000 years ago; it has a ladder of angels on the front and is often called “The Lantern of the West” because of its stained-glass windows. But did you know that Bath Abbey has a CEO? As a nosey journalist by trade, I needed to find out more!
Until nine years ago, Frank Mowat was working high up in the world of banking. After a half-hearted attempt at retirement, he got the job of leading the commercial development and transformation of Bath Abbey including being responsible for the success of the Abbeys £21m Footprint Project. The Abbey needed modern facilities to cope with its vast number of visitors and to find ways of maintaining its upkeep. Eleven million pounds was given by the Heritage Lottery fund - the rest was raised by fundraising locally. It was a huge challenge.
“When I started at the Abbey, the commercial activities of the Abbey were being run by a small team of clergy” explains Frank. “It was amazing what they had been doing, but over the years, they realised that they did not have the time to forward plan and more focus was needed on developing governance, compliance and visitor experience. I was given a mandate to use my commercial and retail banking experience, to introduce improvements, bring new types of events to the Abbey, such as installations and theatre, in order to attract new visitors and to grow our income streams, whilst at the same time overseeing the Footprint Project and preserving and protecting our prime function which is a place of worship delivering over 1000 services each year”
Whilst Frank is not a practising Christian, he found the idea of running a collection of commercial activities: a visitor attraction; a tour operator; a retail operation and, a complex building development
project, within an iconic traditional church environment a very alluring part of the challenge. He also was drawn to working with a team of clergy, staff and volunteers who wanted to “do good” helping the under-served communities in Bath and beyond.
If you’ve not been into the Abbey for a few years, it’s well worth taking a look. The Footprint Project has transformed the building both in and below the Abbey Church Yard. Most of the pews have now gone, replaced by chairs - creating a huge, flexible worship space that can be used for concerts and other entertainment events when needed. There are new meeting rooms used to host school trips, small community groups and charities, a purpose-built Song Room for the choirs, a Discovery Centre and a new heating system, partly created using Bath’s thermal waters. And joy of joys - much-needed toilets!
But Frank acknowledges that achieving the transformation has not been all plain sailing. Part of the floor was dangerously collapsing due to the 7000 bodies buried beneath the Abbey over the centuries. The pandemic hit in the middle of the construction period. Removing the pews proved to be highly sensitive and involved a high-profile legal battle with the Victorian Society, which the Abbey eventually won. The removal of the pews made national news. So how did Frank and the team at the Abbey deal with the passionate feelings of the public?
“Working here is a bit like working on the Forth Bridge. You finish one thing and already another project is around the corner.”
Frank Mowat
“The removal of the pews and ensuing legal battle was a nightmare!” he comments. “However, like most of the issues that we faced during the development, we met with key stakeholders, listened to their concerns and invested time trying to find a mutually acceptable way forward wherever possible. We were also aware that many people are passionate about the Abbey, and so we kept the public informed by arranging regular face to face update meetings and Q&A sessions in the Abbey. Stakeholder management and communication were particularly important aspects of this project.”
If the last few years are anything to go by, the changes are working. Bath Abbey’s flexible space means it is now used for all sorts of events, including talks, concerts, and plays, while still fulfilling its prime purpose, which is to be a place of worship. Frank says that getting the balance right of what takes place in the Abbey is really important and we regularly discuss and decline lucrative commercial opportunities as they just are not right for this sacred space.
“My boss is Guy the Rector of Bath Abbey and the lead member of the clergy team. His background is completely church, and mine is completely business. And our relationship really works. But it’s been a real journey to understand each other and our motivations. Guy and I work together with our wider Leadership Team to ensure that whatever happens in the Abbey meets our mission goals, fits with our values and commercial needs, while at the same time is appropriate for the Abbey as a place of worship.”
Away from work, Frank loves going to the gym, dog-walking with his wife, and listening to live music. He’s been to Glastonbury Festival, but admits that for the past few years, he and his wife have been going to a more low-key music festival in athe Cotswolds and have abandoned staying in tents for a nearby pub!
But it’s a charity in Bath that is really close to his heart. Both his father and mother-in-law have had dementia and after caring for them he and his wife realised just how much help and advice is needed. He decided to take on the role of Chair of Trustees for Bath and North East Somerset Carers Centre.
“It’s a small local charity with a brilliant team of about 25 staff and 9 trustees” explains Frank. “Such a great organisation. There are nearly 6,000 adults on our books and about 1,000 children. But the demand in B&NES is far greater. I’d love more people to know about us. We estimate there are another 30,000 people in BANES who care for loved ones, and often they don’t see themselves as being a carer. They are just helping their relatives and muddling their way through for all the right reasons, without realising we can help.”
Back at the Abbey, the fundraising continues. Future costs are eyewatering. Much of the work can only be done by conservation specialists experienced in working on historic buildings. The Abbey recently had to spend over £350,000 on refurbishing the world clas Klais Organ and still needs to spend over £2 million pounds on repairing the roofs.
Working for the church is a far cry from the world of finance, but Frank thoroughly enjoys the change, the challenge and making a positive difference.
“Working here is a bit like working on the Forth Bridge,” he muses. “You finish one thing, and already another project is around the corner. But the job is so interesting. Before I came here, I was never into history, archaeology, and architecture, but now I’m into it hook, line, and sinker. And yes – I have a growing interest in faith and how churches can play a bigger role in society. Its really interesting to see how faith motivates many people to work and volunteer at the Abbey. We have over 50 staff and 250 wonderful and interesting volunteers at the Abbey. Many of our volunteers are retired. At a time when isolation is a major issue in society, its good to see that the Abbey helps to give many people a sense of purpose and connection and to feel part of a caring community. Its such a special place” n
Monkton Combe School has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Independent Boarding School of the Year category in the 2025 Independent School of the Year Awards.
This prestigious recognition celebrates the school’s commitment to delivering an outstanding, holistic education within a vibrant and inclusive environment. Boarding is the heartbeat of school life at Monkton, shaping a community where every pupil feels known, inspired, and ambitious.
Monkton's ethos of care and community is strengthened by its pioneering use of STEER Tracking, an evidence-based tool to measure, track, and improve student self-regulation; the foundation to wellbeing and good mental health.
Monkton was one of the first schools globally to adopt STEER Tracking and apply its principles in its pastoral care to ensure that each student is known, understood, and supported.
“Boarding gives young people the chance to be part of a community of shared interactions where they are truly seen,” explains Drs Simon and Jo Walker, co-founders of STEER Tracking.
An excerpt from Monkton's entry reads, ‘Monkton’s boarding community is defined by its inclusivity, warmth, and global outlook. With boarders from across the UK and around the world, the school is a vibrant cultural mosaic where difference is welcomed and celebrated. From Lunar New Year feasts to international community events, students learn not just about one another’s traditions - but how to live in a world that values empathy and perspective.’ Visit monktoncombeschool.com
The University of Bath has been named The Times and The Sunday Times Sport University of the Year 2026, climbing from 8th to 7th place in the main academic rankings.
The institution has also been awarded University of the Year in the Southwest 2026, a new category acknowledging the rise in undergraduates choosing to stay at home and commute to university. Bath is one of two universities highly commended for the University of the Year award, an award it also received in 2023.
“It means so much to us that Bath has been named Sport University of the Year, as it reflects our commitment to offer sport at every level, whether you are an elite athlete striving for excellence or someone who enjoys being active for your health and wellbeing, there is something for everyone at the university,” says Professor Cassie Wilson, pro vice chancellor of student experience and sport. “Our pioneering research in injury prevention and bio banding means that sport at Bath is also making a huge impact on the lives of people worldwide through our high-profile partnerships.”
Bath placed highly in several individual subject rankings, including Sports Science (1st), Accounting and Finance (3rd), Criminology (3rd), Mechanical Engineering (5th), Chemical Engineering (joint 5th), and Social Work (joint 5th).
“Every year we welcome over 1.5 million people to our Sports Training Village and we are consistently investing in our facilities to ensure we’re providing a high-quality experience,” Stephen Baddeley, director of sport, adds.
Earlier this year, Bath was ranked 12th in the QS World Subject Rankings for sports, benchmarked against more than 1,500 institutions worldwide. The University was also ranked 1st for Sports Science in the Guardian University Guide 2026.
This result means Bath retains its position as one of the UK’s top 10 universities in all four of the most influential national rankings – The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, the Complete University Guide, Guardian University Guide, and the Daily Mail University Guide and is also ranked in the Top 10% of universities globally in the QS World University Rankings. Visit bath.ac.uk
Walk through St Gregory’s Catholic College and its sixth form The New Sixth during any school day and you’ll witness something remarkable. Students don’t rush past staff members but pause to share weekend adventures, seek advice on university applications, or simply check in about how they’re feeling.
Headteacher, Melissa George, shares her insights into what makes the school so special, and why this approach forms the cornerstone of an educational philosophy that has created one of Bath’s most distinctive learning communities.
Building futures through genuine relationships
We know that exceptional outcomes grow from authentic relationships. When our teachers understand not just academic ability but individual dreams, concerns and aspirations, our students consistently surprise themselves with what they can achieve.
Our Ofsted Outstanding rating for Behaviour and Attitudes reflects what families experience daily - young people who feel genuinely valued take intellectual risks, push beyond their comfort zones and discover capabilities they never knew they possessed. Whether finding confidence in our science laboratories, developing voice through drama, or building resilience through competitive sport, we surround every student with adults who believe in their potential completely.
Seven years of growth and transformation
From age 11 through to 18, we watch remarkable transformations unfold. From The New Sixth, our students secure places at Oxford, Cambridge
and Russell Group universities because they’ve developed genuine confidence and clear purpose. They pursue prestigious apprenticeships and alternative pathways with equal success, equipped with the independence and moral compass needed to thrive.
From 2026, we’re introducing new sixth form scholarships, recognising excellence across Academic Achievement, STEM, Performing Arts, and the John Baptiste de La Salle award for endeavour. These opportunities reflect our commitment to developing every dimension of each young person.
Our Catholic Lasallian values aren’t words on walls. They’re lived through every interaction, every lesson, every moment of support. When students leave after seven years, they carry not just qualifications, but deep belonging and knowledge that they are loved, valued, and capable of anything.
We educate the whole person because we understand that exceptional futures require more than academic preparation alone.
ACADEMIC & SPORTS MINDSET SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
The term is now well underway. Routines have settled, expectations are rising, and deadlines are piling up. For many students, this is when the challenges appear: motivation dips, confidence wavers, and balancing different commitments becomes more complicated to manage.
IS YOUR CHILD:
• Finding it challenging to stay focused and organised?
• Feeling the pressure of coursework, exams, or upcoming performances?
• Struggling to balance schoolwork with extracurricular activities?
• Showing signs of stress, worry, or slipping confidence?
AT ASPIRIO, I SUPPORT STUDENTS TO:
• Strengthen resilience when challenges arise
• Build lasting study habits that create calm, not chaos
• Develop confidence that goes beyond the classroom
• Set achievable goals to stay motivated throughout the year
Through one-to-one mentoring, I help students embed strong routines, manage pressure, and develop the confidence to perform at their best — academically, socially, and in their chosen passions.
Small steps now prevent bigger struggles later.
KYLIE STEWART
07917 755744 | info@aspirio.co.uk | www.aspirio.co.uk
Anxiety in children is on the rise. According to a report by The Guardian published last year, more than 500 children a day in England are being referred to NHS mental health services for anxiety, a rate of one every three minutes or almost 4,000 a week. School-related anxiety is a common issue, and while it is normal for children to feel anxious or worried from time to time, there are occasions when it can impact health and wellbeing. Kylie Stewart is a Bathbased children’s mentor who provides young people suffering from anxiety with the support and guidance they need, helping them to feel more confident, capable, and ready to take on school life. With the new academic year now well underway, she shares how parents can help their child navigate feeling anxious.
What are some common signs of schoolrelated anxiety?
School-related anxiety can show up in all sorts of ways. Physically, children may complain of headaches, stomach aches, sleep difficulties, or changes in appetite. Emotionally, it can look like irritability, anger, or tearfulness. Behaviourally, they might avoid school or suddenly lose interest in things they once enjoyed. Cognitively, you may notice difficulty concentrating, negative thinking, or perfectionism. A helpful clue is timing; symptoms often peak on school mornings or Sunday evenings and ease off at weekends or holidays. Any parent who’s heard “I feel sick” at 7am Monday and then watched their child bouncing on the trampoline by 4pm will know precisely what I mean.
What can make children anxious at school?
The triggers range from the big; exams, new teachers, friendship changes, to the small but surprisingly powerful, like a forgotten PE kit or finding a seat in the lunch hall. Some children feel pressure from performance and homework, while others are unsettled by the sheer unpredictability of the day. Even the noise and bustle of busy spaces can feel overwhelming. It’s often not one big hurdle, but a steady build-up of smaller stresses that make school feel harder to cope with.”
For children who are still adjusting to a new school routine, what can parents do to make the transition smoother?
Even after the term has started, structure and reassurance make a big difference. Keep routines consistent and focus on the controllable: uniform, PE kit, homework timetables, a balanced diet, hydration, and sleep.
When your child comes home, check in about how their day went, not with a grilling, but a calm, open conversation. They don’t need a big speech; they just need to know you’re in their corner. Encourage them to notice the positives and look ahead to the next thing they can enjoy. And don’t forget to keep in touch with teachers; open dialogue helps everyone pull in the same direction.
What are some practical tips to manage school-based anxiety throughout the term?
Small, consistent habits go a long way:
• Keep a wall calendar visible so deadlines and commitments don’t creep up.
• Break the week into bite-sized chunks. Focusing on one day at a time makes tasks feel more manageable.
• Model calm problem-solving when things go wrong (a missed bus, forgotten kit) so children see setbacks can be handled without panic.
• Protect downtime: whether it’s sport, music, reading, or even guilt-free sofa time, children need regular moments to reset.
• Create little traditions, like a Friday night treat or weekend activity, to give them positive milestones to look forward to.
• Keep communication open with school staff so you’re not firefighting problems on your own.
How important is it that parents validate their child’s feelings ?
Hugely. A well-meaning “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine” can feel like dismissal. Validation isn’t about agreeing with the fear but showing you understand. Simple responses like, “I can see that’s worrying you”, or “That sounds tricky let’s figure it out together”, can make a big
difference. Children who feel listened to are far more likely to keep talking, which is half the challenge won.
How can parents work to build resilience in their children to manage future transitions and challenges?
It’s hard to avoid wobbles, but resilience comes from learning how to bounce back. Parents can nurture this by building strong, supportive relationships, modelling a positive approach to challenges, teaching problem-solving skills, encouraging independence, and helping children manage their emotions. Letting children tackle difficulties on their own, rather than rushing in with a rescue plan, is powerful. Helpful strategies include viewing mistakes as learning opportunities, maintaining steady routines, fostering a positive sense of self, and ensuring they have a reliable support network. Praise effort as much as results and remind them it’s perfectly normal not to get things right the first time.
Finally, how can working with an experienced mentor help?
Sometimes the hardest voices for children to hear are the ones closest to them. A mentor provides a safe, neutral space where they can offload, gain perspective, and learn practical strategies that are effective and lasting. Mentoring helps children develop confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and emotional skills, while also encouraging them to make positive choices. Mentoring isn’t about replacing parents or teachers; it’s about complementing them with another steady source of support.
Visit aspirio.co.uk
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As the temperature drops and we retreat into layers of cosy knits, winter presents the perfect opportunity to invest in beauty treatments that work best in the absence of summer sun. With reduced UV exposure and the added benefit of skin being naturally shielded under clothing, select aesthetic treatments, such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), skin resurfacing, or semi‐permanent makeup, can deliver their most effective results. This seasonal pause offers the ideal opportunity to refresh and enhance your look, so you can step into the warmer months with radiant, polished confidence. We asked the beauty experts at The Orangery Laser and Beauty Clinic for their top winter treatments.
After a summer of sun, skin often craves extra care, making winter the perfect time to invest in an M3 Matrix Face Treatment. This advanced facial is designed to deeply hydrate, nourish, and stimulate collagen production, helping to restore firmness and radiance. Suitable for all skin types, it’s ideal for anyone wanting to improve hydration levels, soften fine lines, and enhance overall skin condition. The treatment combines gentle microdermabrasion for exfoliation, non-needle mesotherapy to deliver active ingredients into the deeper layers, and radio-frequency to stimulate collagen and elastin for a tightening and lifting effect. Best of all, there’s no downtime; just instantly refreshed, revitalised skin.
IPL is a form of laser. It can be used for permanent hair reduction, skin rejuvenation, thread veins, and acne. Now is the perfect time to invest in IPL treatments, as the treated skin must be kept out of the sun for 30 days before and after treatment. The Orangery uses the Ellipse System, a trusted, medical-grade machine with over 30 years of proven success. Permanent hair reduction can be achieved with six to eight monthly treatments, providing benefits that extend beyond convenience, leaving the skin smooth and eliminating the need for regular shaving or waxing. IPL skin rejuvenation fades away damaged pigmentation and stimulates the collagen, fibroblasts, and elastin to reveal a brighter, tighter, and clearer complexion.
Performed by The Orangery’s medical doctor using the Ultracel machine, this treatment is completely non-invasive, requiring no injections, surgery, or downtime. By harnessing the rejuvenating powers of high intensity focused ultrasound, Ultracel works by gently stimulating the deeper layers of the skin to improve skin laxity and restore firmness. It is suitable for anyone concerned with sagging or loss of definition, with results beginning to show immediately, and continued improvements over the following months as the skin naturally tightens. With no side effects and results tailored to the individual, it offers a safe, effective way to refresh your appearance over the winter months.
The coming months are the ideal time to consider semi-permanent makeup, allowing the treatment to settle without the added impact of sun exposure. Eyebrows are the most popular area to enhance, the experts at The Orangery say, though eyeliner and lip treatments are also growing in popularity. These enhancements subtly define your natural features, restore pigment for a fresher, more youthful look, and save time on daily makeup application. The process begins with a consultation, followed by careful measuring, colour matching, and the application of pigment with fine, precise strokes. Healing typically takes around two weeks, during which the colour softens beautifully. A follow-up appointment between four to 12 weeks helps perfect the final result. Done correctly, semipermanent makeup looks effortlessly natural, making it an ideal winter investment that leaves you stepping into the warmer months with a polished appearance.
Using advanced electrolysis, the beauty experts at The Orangery can safely and effectively treat skin concerns such as thread veins, skin tags, warts, sun damage, and some moles (with a doctor’s note where required). The treatment works by delivering a tiny electrical current through a fine probe, generating controlled heat to break down or seal the lesion. The body’s natural repair process then clears the treated cells, revealing clearer, smoother skin. While the procedure can feel slightly uncomfortable, a local anaesthetic can be applied for added comfort, and healing typically takes between one to four weeks, depending on the type of lesion treated. Starting in the cooler months is ideal as the treated area needs to be covered while it heals.
BODY TREATMENTS
AESTHETICS
• Wrinkle treatments
• Non surgical skin tightening & lifting treatments for face, eyes & neck
• Profhilo
• Dermal fillers
• Lip enhancement
FACIALS
• Radio frequency facials
• Environ skin care & facials
• Bespoke facials to treat all skin concerns
• Slimming
• Cellulite reduction
• Skin tightening and toning
• Massage therapy
IPL PERMANENT
HAIR REDUCTION TREATMENT
• Scientific skincare that really makes a difference, outstanding results for all skin types and ages
• Skin peels
• Microdermabrasion
• Wow facial
• Microneedling treatments
COSMETIC TEETH WHITENING
• Suitable for face & body
• Permanent hair reduction for men and women
IPL SKIN REJUVENATION
• Reverse skin damage, tighten pores & skin
• Boost collagen & elastin production
• Reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles
• Treat vascular lesions (broken capillaries, blood vessels & rosacea)
Olga Brennand’s passion for skincare is rooted in her childhood in Kazakhstan. Growing up in such an extreme climate, Olga became only too aware of how environmental aggressors can impact the complexion and how natural remedies can help protect it.
After studying scientific skincare at the Institute of Cosmetology in Moscow, she went on to work with some of the world’s leading skincare pioneers including Swiss Line, Mila D’Opiz, Guinot, Cosmedix and Carole Franck, before becoming Senior Spa Therapist with Estee Lauder.
Following a move to the UK in 2010, Olga continued her professional skincare journey at Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and a number of Harley Street skincare clinics, including the Avanti Aesthetics Academy, where she still practices.
Olga runs a successful independent skincare clinic and offers bespoke treatments and programmes, using her own method of skincare therapy, known as sculpting face massage.
Based on her expertise in advanced skincare and a deepfound belief in the power of organic, plant-based ingredients, she has developed her own skincare brand, Thirns.
Wild and cultivated thorns – in particular Rose, Sea Buckthorn, Rosehip, Raspberry and Juniper – are at the heart of Thirns skincare. The formulations contain only sustainably grown and sourced natural ingredients and eco-friendly preservatives that are gentle to your skin.
Olga uses modern science to create each product, ensuring that the active botanical ingredients - which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids - work instantly to regenerate, repair and protect the skin. The results are compounding, meaning your skin’s condition improves with every application.
She is continuously exploring ways to reduce the ecological impact and carbon footprint of her skincare products. The bottles, jars and lids are crafted from glass and Thirns packaging is FSC-certified, all of which are 100% recyclable, meaning each product is as kind to the planet as it is to your skin.
With quality and sustainability at their core, all Thirns products are hand-crafted in Olga’s laboratory and have been rigorously tested and clinically approved.
For more information about Thirns, visit www.thirns.co.uk
Instagram: @thirns_skincare
To book an appointment with Olga please get in touch via info@thirns.co.uk or send us a message on 07832 571094
THIRNS Skin Health Clinic
1 Derrymans Green, Bath, BA2 2FX
n the evolving field of cataract and lens surgery, premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) have revolutionized how patients experience vision correction. We sat down with consultant ophthalmologist Adam Ross to discuss these advanced options, including toric, trifocal/spiral, and extended depth/enhanced monovision lenses.
Thank you for joining us. To start, could you briefly explain the role of intraocular lenses in cataract surgery?
Absolutely. In cataract surgery, the natural lens of the eye, which has become cloudy, is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). This lens restores clarity to vision and can be tailored to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Premium IOLs go a step further by offering additional benefits, such as reducing the need for glasses and providing enhanced visual quality.
What are premium IOLs, and how do they differ from standard lenses?
Standard monofocal lenses correct vision at a single distance, usually either near or far, so patients often need glasses for other tasks. Premium IOLs, on the other hand, are designed to improve focus at multiple distances or correct specific vision issues like astigmatism. Options like toric, trifocal, and EMV lenses are tailored to individual needs and lifestyles, significantly enhancing visual outcomes.
Let’s delve into the different types. Could you tell us about toric lenses and their benefits?
Toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) are specialized lenses used to correct astigmatism in patients undergoing cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens has an irregular shape, causing distorted or blurry vision. Toric IOLs are available in monofocal, multifocal, trifocal and EMV designs, and their use depends on the patient's visual needs and lifestyle.
How do trifocal/spiral lenses stand out compared to other multifocal lenses?
These lenses allow patients to focus at three distinct ranges: near, intermediate, and far. This means activities like reading, working on a computer, and driving can all be done reducing the dependency on glasses. The design of newer trifocal/spiral lenses reduces the visual disturbances—such as halos or glare—that were more common with earlier multifocal IOLs. However, a careful examination and discussion about the pros and cons of these lenses is essential on an individual basis.
You also mentioned extended monofocal lenses, or EMV lenses. What makes them unique?
These lenses, bridge the gap between traditional monofocals and multifocal lenses. They provide a greater range of vision than monofocals without the compromises in visual quality sometimes associated with multifocal lenses.
How do you determine which lens is best for a patient?
It’s a personalised process. We start by evaluating the patient’s eye health, including the presence of astigmatism or other refractive errors. We then discuss their lifestyle, hobbies, and expectations. For example, someone who frequently reads or works at a computer might prefer trifocal lenses, while a patient who drives a lot and values distance clarity might lean toward Extended Depth or EMV lenses. If astigmatism is a factor, a toric lens can be incorporated into the plan.
Are there any risks associated with these advanced lenses?
Premium IOLs are generally very safe, but as with any surgery, there are potential risks, including infection or lens misalignment. Additionally, some patients may notice halos, glare, or difficulty with night vision, particularly with trifocal lenses, though these symptoms often improve over time. Careful preoperative assessments and discussions can mitigate these risks by ensuring the chosen lens suits the patient’s eyes and lifestyle.
Lastly, what advice would you give to someone considering cataract or lens replacement surgery with premium IOLs?
Lastly, what advice would you give to someone considering cataract or lens replacement surgery with premium IOLs? Do your research and have an open discussion with your surgeon. Understanding the options, the benefits, and any potential trade-offs is key. Make sure your choice aligns with your visual needs and lifestyle. With the right lens, cataract surgery can transform your vision and enhance your quality of life.
Premium intraocular lenses have ushered in a new era of vision correction, offering patients a range of customized solutions. With the expertise of specialists like Mr Adam Ross, patients can navigate their options confidently and achieve outstanding visual outcomes. ■
To make an appointment contact: 01225 220 295 Email: office@theeyeunit.co.uk www.theeyeunit.co.uk
When William Gibbs bought Tyntes Place near Wraxall in 1843, he acquired a Tudor‐style Regency villa set in a 300‐acre estate overlooking the Land Yeo Valley, writes Andrew Swift, who urges us to visit the property and walk around its gorgeous grounds. Gibbs renamed it Tyntesfield, set about enlarging it and, by the time he had finished, had transformed it into a baronial Gothic pile replete with turrets, towers and pierced parapets…
What distinguished Tyntesfield from the scores of other gargantuan edifices built around the country in the mid-19th century was the religious fervour that informed its design. The novelist Charlotte Yonge, a frequent visitor, summed its impact up succinctly, describing this ‘holy and beautiful house’ as ‘like a church in spirit’.
Tyntesfield not only bristled with devotional imagery; in a nod to the layout of medieval monasteries, a bridge linked the bedrooms on the first floor to a chapel fit to grace an Oxford college.
Throughout the house, wood and stone predominated – timber-beamed ceilings, oak-panelled walls and gothic arches making the rooms dark on the brightest of days. Ornamentation and embellishment were everywhere.
The pious medievalism that imbued Tyntesfield was rooted in a conviction that the Middle Ages embodied a paradigm of society and morality which needed to be revived in the modern age, and, at a time when mass production was all pervasive, Tyntesfield was a showcase of craftsmanship.
The irony was that the money to create this evocation of a glorious past did not come from wealth inherited through a lineage stretching back to feudal times; it literally fell from the skies. The Gibbs were merchants, based in Exeter but trading with Spain and the former Spanish colonies in South America.
On uninhabited islands off the coast of Peru lay mountains of guano, made up of layers of bird droppings, built up over thousands of years, which the Peruvians quarried to use as fertiliser. Spotting a business opportunity, William persuaded the Peruvian government to grant him a monopoly on exporting it to Europe.
The gamble paid off, making him, for a time, one of the wealthiest men in England – but there was a dark side to this success story. As the scramble to meet the demand for this wonderful new product intensified, indentured Chinese labourers were brought in.
Despite reports of atrocious working conditions, shipments continued to flow across the Atlantic until there was no more guano left. Although there is no hint of the source of William’s wealth in the paintings hanging on Tyntesfield’s walls or in the carvings and furnishings adorning it, this autumn, in its drawing room, a film installation explores the impact of the guano trade in a ‘haunting reflection on empire, exploitation and the environment’.
This tangled legacy is yet another strand to the story of Tyntesfield –and one that is hardly unique. What makes Tyntesfield so special today –and so important – is not so much the religious fervour that underpinned it, but its survival. Many grand Victorian houses were demolished in the 20th Century, after death duties took their toll and they fell into disrepair. Most of those that survived were sold off, stripped of their contents and converted to other uses.
Tyntesfield, however, remained a family home, essentially unchanged
apart from the loss of some of its more audacious architectural features – until William’s great-grandson, Richard Gibbs, died in 2001 – at which point it was put on the market. Which is why the National Trust stepped in, acquiring it and embarking on the herculean task of reversing the ravages of time.
Today it stands as a monument not only to the hundreds of craftsmen who created it, but also to the master craftsmen of today who have restored it to its former glory.
But if the house is an echo from a bygone age, the grounds surrounding it are anything but. The Tyntesfield estate is one of the glories of Somerset. Conservation here has not been about opening a window into the past but of helping nature to thrive and to provide a green space to explore and enjoy.
For many, it is the kitchen garden, along with the glasshouses and buildings surrounding it, that is the real joy of Tyntesfield. Produce grown here is served in the nearby Cow Barn restaurant, and the ranks of heated greenhouses, filled with colour as summer plants bloom on into autumn, are a succession of delights.
Beds outside the walled garden lie packed with gourds, pumpkins and squashes, ripening for the harvest display in the Orangery.
The planting of the terraces below the house, by contrast, in its formality, exuberance and dazzling colours, reflects the taste of the late Victorian age – at least until the first frosts arrive. From here, the land drops away, with views south-westward across rolling parkland to where the ridge of the Mendips drops seawards.
There is so much to discover – a newly restored rose garden, an arboretum which the Gibbs family called Paradise, and, for the more adventurous, the deep woods above the house, up whose steep paths few visitors venture, with views at the top as far as Steep Holm, almost 20 miles away.
And then there are Tyntesfield’s hidden corners – Gothic lodges repurposed as holiday cottages, a stable block with a half-timbered nod
to Merrie England, a courtyard behind the house looking for all the world like the back quadrangle of an Oxford college. n
Dogs are allowed on most of the estate, and, to help you find your way around, there is a choice of guided walks, including – for the autumn half term – a Halloween Trail. Details of these, along with information about the history, restoration and natural wonders of Tyntesfield, can be found at nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield
Discover more of Andrew Swift’s work at akemanpress.com
When it comes to creating timeless, elegant interiors, the surfaces you choose play a defining role. From kitchen floors to bathroom walls, tiles are no longer a purely functional detail, they are a key element of your home’s design narrative.
Established over 35 years ago – with its first showroom opening here in Bath in 2000, Mandarin Stone has become one of the UK’s leading suppliers of natural stone, porcelain, and decorative tiles, with a reputation for quality, style and innovation. With soon to be 17 showrooms across the UK – including beautifully designed spaces on Fulham Road and Primrose Hill and a new store in Shoreditch early 2026, the brand has become a go-to resource for homeowners, interior designers and architects alike.
At the heart of Mandarin Stone’s offering is a carefully curated collection of materials, ranging from limestone, marble, and slate, to terrazzo, patterned tiles and large-format porcelain tiles. Whether you’re renovating a period townhouse or designing a sleek modern apartment, Mandarin Stone’s extensive range ensures there’s something to suit every aesthetic.
Natural stone remains a core part of their identity. Each is unique, offering an organic texture and warmth that simply cannot be replicated. Their limestones and marbles come in a variety of finishes – from honed and polished to tumbled and brushed – allowing for both rustic and refined interiors. Stone’s durability also makes it a long-term investment, adding value to your space as it ages gracefully over time.
In recent years, the company has also expanded its porcelain tile range to include hyper-realistic stone and wood-effect tiles, as well as bold, modern designs that bring colour and pattern into the home. Porcelain is favoured not only for its beauty, but also for its practicality – it’s low-
maintenance, hardwearing, and ideal for underfloor heating systems.
Beyond the products themselves, what truly sets Mandarin Stone apart is their expertise and service. Each showroom is staffed by knowledgeable consultants who can advise on everything from grout selection to laying patterns and technical requirements. The website (mandarinstone.com) also offers a wealth of inspiration, with room galleries, trend guides and sample ordering options to help make the decision-making process seamless.
Sustainability is also increasingly central to the Mandarin Stone ethos. The company is committed to responsible sourcing, working only with suppliers who meet high standards for environmental and ethical practices. Their porcelain tiles are manufactured with low water usage and energyefficient processes, and their natural stones are sourced with care to minimise environmental impact.
Ultimately, Mandarin Stone offers more than just tiles, they offer a foundation for exceptional design. Whether you’re dreaming of a serene marble bathroom, a dramatic statement hallway, or a tactile, earthy kitchen floor, their collections make it possible to bring your vision to life with confidence and style. n
To explore the full collection, visit the Bath showroom at: 15-16 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ. Tel: 01225 460033 or browse the website mandarinstone.com for inspiration.
leep may feel like the ultimate act of rest, but inside your brain and body, it’s a nightly masterpiece of repair, reorganisation, and renewal. While we spend roughly one-third of our lives asleep, modern life, with its blue-light glow, late-night scrolling, and endless to-do lists, has made quality rest harder to come by. Two often-overlooked factors, your mattress and your sleep environment, play a decisive role in how restorative your rest really is. Richard Hayes, managing director of TR Hayes, the largest supplier of high-quality furniture and mattresses in the area, spoke with leading sleep experts from Hypnos, Vispring, Harrison Spinks, and TEMPUR® to learn more about getting a good night’s rest.
According to the UK’s Sleep Council, one in three adults suffers from poor sleep, and research from the NHS links chronic sleep deprivation to higher risks of heart disease, obesity, and depression.
“Most adults need between seven and nine hours each night to feel and function their best, while children, teenagers, and babies require more to support growth and development,” Michael Galloway from award-winning mattress manufacturer Hypnos says.
“When we miss out on quality sleep, our mood and concentration dip, reaction time slows, and our ability to cope with stress is reduced. Even worse, this can lead to a negative cycle, where stress and anxiety make it harder to rest, which can deepen those feelings. And, for children and teenagers, the impact of missing out on quality sleep is even greater,” he says.
Emma Sharp, education and advocacy manager from TEMPUR®, a leading mattress brand that creates a range of mattresses and pillows born from NASA technology, adds that people should view sleep as a “factory reset.”
“If you don’t power down at night, rest properly and restart your day in the correct way, then the many things we juggle through the day will start to fall,” Emma explains, adding that there are four stages of sleep falling into two sections, Non-REM Sleep and REM Sleep.
“Each stage helps our bodies rest and rejuvenate through the night, to enable us to be the best version of ourselves day after day.”
But if you want better sleep, the solution isn’t just about going to bed earlier, according to the experts. Rather, the key to getting the required rest each night is a highly quality mattress.
“The right mattress will support your spine in a neutral position, relieve pressure points, and keep your body comfortably aligned throughout the night,” Michael from Hypnos explains. “If your mattress is too soft, too firm, or worn out, your body may struggle to relax, leading to tossing, turning, and poor-quality rest. A well-crafted mattress works in harmony with your body, allowing your muscles to relax fully and your joints to be supported. This helps you fall asleep more easily, stay asleep longer, and wake without discomfort.”
Clare Schifano, global marketing director at sleep specialist Vispring, echoes this sentiment.
“Scientific evidence demonstrates that settling for a mattress ill-suited to your physical characteristics and sleeping habits can lead to significant health complications.”
She adds: “Your bed is arguably the most important piece of furniture you will buy as it affects your quality of sleep and, in turn, your overall health and wellness. It is therefore recommended you buy the best mattress you can afford, and one which is made to stand the test of time will offer a lifetime of great sleep whilst also being a better choice for the planet.”
So, how do you choose the right mattress?
Jimmy Caines from mattress specialists Harrison Spinks suggests starting the process by making a list of what you like and don’t like about your current mattress. Key things to consider are firmness and support, materials, construction, and durability.
All the experts agreed that finding the right mattress requires careful consideration and time.
“The best way to know if a mattress is right is to try it in person,” Jimmy says. “Lie down in your usual sleep position for around 10 minutes and check whether your shoulders, hips, and knees feel supported. Couples should also consider motion isolation to minimise disturbances.”
Mattresses come in a variety of tensions, from soft to extra firm. However, all the sleep experts noted that, contrary to popular myth, a firm mattress is not always best. Instead, you should be guided by your weight, ensuring that the mattress correctly supports you to stay comfortably in one position for longer.
Jimmy from Harrison Spinks notes that different sleeping positions need different levels of support.
“Side sleepers need more joint support than other sleepers, so their mattress must allow the hips and shoulders to sink slightly while keeping the spine aligned. On the other hand, back sleepers require more support for their back and spine, so a slightly thicker, firmer mattress is usually best. While front sleepers generally benefit from firmer support to keep their hips from sinking too far into the mattress.”
All the sleep experts agreed that the key is good quality materials, whether they be all natural, such as wool and cotton, or scientifically researched, like TEMPUR® Material, an advanced viscoelastic material born from NASA technology and certified by the Space Foundation.
Clare from Vispring notes that mattresses made from natural materials help to keep your body cool in summer and warm in winter.
“Natural materials such as wool, cotton, and horsehair are tried and tested in bed making and have been used for centuries. These fibres are known to have properties that can contribute to a good night’s sleep, including breathability and temperature regulation; cool in summer and warm in winter, natural spring for resilience and support, and importantly, softness for comfort.”
Additionally, Michael from Hypnos notes that natural fibres like wool are not only comfortable year-round, but also wick away moisture, are chemical-free, and naturally repel dust mites, helping you to sleep more comfortably.
By contrast TEMPUR® Material provides proven pressure relief that gives your body total comfort and support. It can help to reduce tossing and turning and absorbs motion from your partner, so you are less likely to disturb one another.
But, beyond choosing the right mattress, what else can we do to ensure a good night’s sleep? The experts all agree that you must optimise your environment for sleep.
“A bedroom is a space that should radiate a soothing and calm atmosphere. Select soft lighting, calming colours, and think about your bed accessories, such as your pillows and bedding,” Clare from Vispring says.
A good quality pillow is a must the sleep experts note, helping to maintain spinal alignment and supporting the head and neck so muscles can relax.
“The thing you need to remember is that your head is the weight of an average bowling ball, and it’s carried around by your neck and shoulders all day,” says Emma from TEMPUR®. “Through the night, all those muscles need to relax and repair themselves. So, it’s very important that when you find the mattress that’s right for you, you choose the correct pillow for your sleeping position and body frame.”
All agreed that choosing the right pillow depends on your sleeping position, with side sleepers often needing more loft, while back and front sleepers will likely prefer a pillow that isn’t too high.
Bedding also influences comfort and temperature.
“Natural fibres, such as cotton or wool, are breathable and help regulate heat, keeping you comfortable through the night,” Michael from Hypnos explains.
Jimmy from Harrison Spinks adds that keeping your bedroom cool and well-ventilated can also improve sleep quality. Additionally, he notes that keeping your mattress and bedding clean so it’s dust-free can also help you to breathe clearly while sleeping.
“Reduce disturbances from noise and light, which can be achieved with blackout curtains, an eye mask, or soft background sounds to create a calmer atmosphere.”
Finally, Emma from TEMPUR® noted that air purity is another consideration. “Dry or moist air purity can be a problem, and that could be what is keeping you awake or waking you up in the night.” n
Ready to get your best night’s sleep? TR Hayes is Bath’s largest furniture store with a handpicked selection of the finest mattresses from leading brands, including TEMPUR®, Harrison Spinks, Vispring, and Hypnos. Visit TR Hayes’s showroom on London Street or visit trhayes.co.uk
Our A/W guide features all our favourite trades and services to help spruce up your home. Whether it’s a small decorating touch or an ambitious major project, this directory has a treasured range of expert services to make all those home, interior and garden ideas become reality
37 Kingsmead Street, Bath BA1 2AA Tel: 01225 427057 Web: avonvalecarpets.co.uk
Your choice of flooring is vital in transforming any room and the range of options can sometimes overwhelm; fortunately, Avonvale Carpets is on hand to assist. It has served homeowners and businesses throughout the city of Bath and Wiltshire for over 50 years, providing an excellent choice of flooring, in-depth expertise and perfect fitting. An independent, second-generation family-run business, Avonvale Carpets uses professionallytrained fitters and deals directly with major manufacturers, offering customers a great selection of quality flooring solutions that’s second to none –LVT, natural, stain resistant, vinyl, wood, wool and tailor-made options too. You’ll be amazed at the variety on offer in the shop, located just off Kingsmead Square. Pop in and see.
4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath BA2 4EN Tel: 01225 428072 Web: woodhouseandlaw.co.uk
Woodhouse and Law are a full-service interior and garden design company, working from their showroom and studio on Bathwick Hill. Founded in 2009 by Nick Woodhouse and John Law, the team takes pride in developing stylish, individual and creative schemes across the residential and commercial sectors. Alongside their current collaboration with the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, the Woodhouse and Law studio is currently working on a number of projects across the city of Bath, and further afield, including London, Somerset, Devon and Dorset.
14–15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD Tel: 01225 920210 Web: thebathpictureframer.co.uk
The Bath Framer, owned by Kelly, is a friendly boutique picture framers that has a beautifully quirky front of house and an amazing naturally lit workshop. Both are a joy to work in and to visit for customers wanting to see how frames are created. Since opening, the business has gone from strength to strength, building a client list of local residents and businesses based in Bath, Bristol and beyond. A bespoke framing service, tailored to suit all individuals’ needs runs alongside a gorgeous selection of cards, gift wrap and stationery.
3 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HA
Tel: 01225 312003 Web: bathkitchencompany.co.uk
Established in 1990, Bath Kitchen Company is an award-winning, well-regarded family business based in Bath. With vast experience, the company takes pride in its close attention to detail and its understanding of what each client requires. Whatever an individual client’s tastes, the team will find a bespoke kitchen that strikes a perfect balance between aesthetic and practical requirements. Consequently every kitchen is unique, beautifully designed and perfectly functional. Handmade using premium materials and to the highest standards, a beautiful kitchen can be carefully crafted to make the most of available space, existing features and the latest technology. Whether designing for Bath’s oldest private homes or cutting-edge city apartments, the principle is the same – Bath Kitchen Company will create a place that enhances your lifestyle.
15–18 London Street, Walcot, Bath BA1 5BX Tel: 01225 465 757 Web: trhayes.co.uk
TR Hayes is the largest furniture store in the region and has been selling furniture in Bath for over 100 years with a reputation for quality and good service. The store features an amazing array of furniture of all types on display – sofas and chairs, dining and living room furniture, beds and mattresses, with brands such as Vispring, Stressless and Ercol on show. Styles range from classic to contemporary, with something to suit all budgets. There is also a highly respected made-to-measure curtain and blind department, with a large array of blind styles and shutters, as well as fabrics from leading design houses. With friendly and knowledgeable staff to help guide you, and excellent aftersales care, you can rely on TR Hayes.
Tel: 01225 583520 / 07779 236242 Web: joelbugg.co.uk
Joel Bugg Furniture & Spaces designs and creates elegant, bespoke fitted furniture and interiors, which are architecturally thought through to seamlessly fit and suit your property. Joel and his team offer a fully managed service from initial space planning and concept designs, using teams of skilled cabinet makers in their manufacture through to final installation. They will also recommend, source and provide lighting, flooring and other finishing touches as required. Their expertise spans all interiors from kitchens and bathrooms to libraries and boot rooms, and as well as working directly with clients they work collaboratively with architects and interior designers to deliver a truly tailored solution.
Dunsdown Lane, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA
Web: dunsdonbarn.com
With joined-up thinking by three of Bath’s most-loved independent homes, interiors and exterior businesses, Dunsdon Barn is a destination showroom for Boniti, with its beautiful stone, porcelain and timber flooring products; the brilliant kitchen designs by Ben Argent - with working kitchen displays on show, and Coopers Home Appliances for a fabulous range of the highest quality kitchen appliances - including AGA, Everhot, La Cornue, Lacanche and Smeg as well as Fisher & Paykel, Miele, Bora and many more. The showroom space is has been completely re-imagined and all three businesses are well-known for offering the highest standards of customer service, care and can work together to provide excellent delivery and fitting by skilled craftspeople.
Conveniently located just a few miles north of Bath near Dyrham Park and J18, and with free parking, Dunsdon Barn is the perfect place to start your next dream project.
Tel: 07595 775359
6 Victoria Terrace, Bath BA2 3QZ
Web: futurebuildingsolutions.co.uk
Established in 2015, Future Building Solutions Bath Limited is a family-run business carrying out various projects from house build to small works, including loft conversions and extensions. With a free quotation service Future Building Solutions are fully insured and registered with the Federation of Master Builders. To give customers peace of mind, a contract is agreed between customer and builder – to make sure the work is carried out to a high standard and to building specifications. Contact Tom for any enquiries. References are available from previous and ongoing customers, in the local area.
2 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD
Meetings by appointment. Studio: 01225 426905 Mob: 07855 797311 info@clairstrong.co.uk Web: clairstrong.co.uk
Clair and her experienced team at Clair Strong Interior Design Ltd provide a full range of interior design services for both residential and commercial projects. Established over 18 years ago, Clair works with a trusted network of professionals and trades to offer a complete interior design service for projects of all types. From city centre apartments and shops to large family homes and hotels, her portfolio includes contemporary projects through to listed Georgian properties. The company ethos is to take a collaborative approach with clients, working with them to create spaces that meet their needs, improve their lives, and exceed their expectations. Call or email Clair to discuss your project.
Tel: 07786 886360 Web: www.thewaterdr.com
Pollution is putting increasing pressure on our drinking water – sewage overflow, pesticides, microplastics, heavy metals, ‘forever chemicals’ and even chlorine are making it harder than ever to ensure purity at the tap. The team at The Water Doctor is dedicated to purity and providing bespoke solutions to achieve the highest standards of drinking water for your family. The Water Doctor’s advanced reverse osmosis and whole-house solutions are the gold standard for removing these harmful contaminants, delivering pure, safe, great-tasting water. No more worries about hidden toxins or the expense and waste of bottled water – peace of mind and healthier hydration every day. Affordable, easy to install and built to last. Call The Water Doctor for a free consultation.
Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA
Tel: 01225 892270
Web: benargentkitchens.co.uk
Award-winning creators of beautiful bespoke kitchens. Ben Argent Kitchens is a local independent company run by Ben and Emi Argent, who have been designing and hand crafting timeless, sophisticated kitchens since 2011. Every design detail you see has been meticulously refined. Every function and material application has been imagined with the most in-depth level of consideration. And every kitchen has been installed with the highest level of precision and finesse. Their beautiful showroom is conveniently located near M4 J18 with plenty of free parking. Please contact them to arrange a viewing.
Tel: 07920 051549 Web: compassgardendesign.co.uk Email: office@compassgardendesign.co.uk
Working with a professional designer is the key to creating the garden you’ve always imagined — whatever the size of your space or your personal style. Compass Garden & Landscape Design can guide you through every stage, from layout and materials to planting and lighting, helping you make the right choices with confidence. Whether you’re seeking a full redesign or a subtle transformation, creative ideas are balanced with practical requirements and budget. With technical expertise and horticultural knowledge, the team will ensure your garden is beautifully built and planted, giving you an inspiring outdoor space to enjoy for years to come.
Radstock Road, Midsomer Norton, Bath BA3 2AA Tel: 01761 412934 Web: hobbsmarbleandgranite.co.uk
Hobbs Marble & Granite specialises in the fabrication of kitchen and bathroom worktops in granite, quartz, marble, limestone and slate. A natural stone worktop brings an unrivalled unique beauty to the heart of your home. Whether you choose the rich tones of granite or one of the many colours of quartz for contemporary style, a professionally fitted work surface from Hobbs Marble & Granite will give you a stunning finish to your kitchen or bathroom. You are welcome to visit our showroom just outside of Bath to view the wide selection of materials and our friendly and knowledgeable team are on hand to discuss your requirements.
Tel: 07733 263844 Web: themarmaladehouse.co.uk
Marmalade House is an award-winning, professional furniture painting and design company, based in Bath. It specialises in French and Gustavian finishes that include the layering of colours, distressed paintwork and lime-washing as well as gilding, colourwashing for ageing and waxing services. The focus is all about colour and style and how that fits into a customer’s home. The team of trained interior designers also offer a design and styling service that brings together the client’s style and aspirations for change. For those who prefer to do everything themselves, the company also offers popular training courses on how to paint furniture to professional standards, and the use of colour within your home. Run by Vanessa Sayce, Marmalade House is an established, friendly company that has its clients’ interests at heart, whatever changes they would like to make, and at whatever scale.
13–15 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BN
And at: Dunsdon Barn, Dunsdown Lane, West Littleton, SN14 8JA Tel: 01225 311811 Web: coopershomeappliances.com
For many years running, Coopers has been a popular entry in our ‘Best of Bath’ guides and it’s easy to see why. With over 70 years’ experience, Coopers is a highly acclaimed and award-winning kitchen appliance retailer with an eye for high quality and the unusual. Their large showroom in Bath and now at Dunsdon Barn (just a few miles north of Bath near J18) displays an extensive array of range cookers, refrigeration, laundry, dishwashing, built-in appliances, small appliances, and much more. Coopers provide customers with a unique live experience where you can physically interact with the appliances before you buy them. The store frequently holds demonstrations and events, and often collaborates with other local specialist traders. The expert team are always on hand and is competitive when it comes to purchase, and helpful with delivery, and installation. With so much choice, you’re sure to find the right product to complement your taste and home environment. With superb customer service, buying home appliances is a personal and pleasurable experience – it’s independent retailing at its very best.
Tel: 07971 106546; Email: lola@lolaswift.co.uk Web: lolaswift.co.uk
Lola Swift offers a creative and comprehensive design service, effortlessly blending style with practicality. She brings personality, colour, and texture into every home, ensuring each space is both beautiful and functional. Whether you're moving house or refreshing a room, Lola makes the process seamless, designing schemes that reflect your taste and budget.
Bolwell Buildings, 1 Claverton Street, Widcombe, Bath BA2 4LE Tel: Tel: 01225 941 949 / 07885 278910
Web: noadroofing.co.uk
Noad Roofing Limited is a family-owned business based in Bath, proudly serving the community since the 1920s. With four generations of experience, they are known for our quality craftsmanship and exceptional customer service. They offer a consultative approach, providing free pre-installation inspections to ensure your needs are met. Services include roof repairs, complete replacements, leadwork, roofing carpentry, and personalised projects tailored to each homeowner. Fully insured, they use only the best materials, guaranteeing both the materials and our workmanship. they are committed to giving back to the community that supports them.
6 Locksbrook Court, 88-89 Locksbrook Rd, BA1 3EN Tel: 01225 318378, Web: newmansjoinery.co.uk
Newmans specialise in superior-quality, bespoke architectural joinery, hand-crafted by a highly skilled team in Bath. With decades of experience, Newmans provide sympathetic solutions that enhance the character and integrity of your property, offering thorough attention to detail and craftsmanship. From the Bath workshop, the team deliver a full range of joinery services, handling projects of any size – from simple window repairs to extensive property refits. Having worked on an array of buildings across Bath, including its iconic Crescents, Georgian, Edwardian, and Victorian townhouses, churches, cottages, mews houses, and contemporary homes; Newmans dedication to quality has established a great reputation throughout the city and beyond. If you have a joinery project in mind, why not get in touch to discuss your requirements.
4 Kingsmead Street, Bath BA1 2AA
Tel: 01225 471888 Web: carpetsandflooringbath.co.uk
Supplying and fitting flooring throughout the South West since 2004. Bath Carpets and Flooring (BCF) offers a wide selection of carpets, all made from a variety of different materials including wool, polypropylene, nylon and sisals. With the combined experience of more than 100 years, the team’s extensive knowledge and expertise puts you at ease as they match your needs with the perfect flooring solution. BCF pride themselves on only giving impartial advice and hassle-free measuring and estimating, so there will never be any sales pressure or confusion. As the city’s largest Karndean flooring specialist, BCF’s luxury vinyl tile showroom will give you the freedom to create impressive floors, where the only limit is imagination. With showrooms over two floors offering an even greater selection of homely carpets, vinyl’s, LVT’s and modern rugs. Commercial flooring from all leading manufacturers is available through Bath Contract Flooring Ltd. So if it’s flooring for your home or your business BCF have got it covered.
22 Wellsway, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 2 AA
Tel: 01225 424199 Web: houseofradiators.co.uk
House of Radiators sells traditional and designer radiators that can be off-the-shelf sizes/finishes or bespoke sizes and colours - including a colour-matching service for many popular paint ranges including Little Greene, and Farrow & Ball finishes. This popular, family-run business opened its Bear Flat showroom in 2011 and not only sells to Bath areas but throughout the UK and overseas. Following a major re-fit, there are over 100 radiators on display and due to increasing popularity the traditional cast iron and column radiator range has expanded. With over 50 years experience in the heating and radiator industry they offer a friendly and high level of customer service. This is key in helping customers choose the right radiator for their home that will not only look amazing but will heat their room and do its job. Because the team work with leading manufacturers and distributors in the radiator industry, there’s always something to suit all budgets and styles. Locally the company are able to offer an at-home consultation where they’ll measure up and work out the correct heat requirements and size up radiators accordingly.
Tel: 0117 2510198 Web: ash-build.com
AshBuild are an established and experienced carpentry and building company covering the Bristol and Bath area. They specialise in timber frame and traditional extensions, new builds, renovations and conversions. Taking on projects from start to finish, from groundworks all the way through to kitchen fitting and the finishing touches. AshBuild are also very keen on taking on bespoke projects both residential and commercial. They take pride in being very upfront and transparent, making sure that communication with customers is at the forefront of every single job.
Email: info@ash-build.com
10 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JY Tel: 01225 282172 web: dreamdoors.co.uk/kitchen-showrooms/bath
Dream Doors Bath is a one-stop shop for beautiful kitchen makeovers. Visit the Bradford on Avon showroom and meet owners and kitchen designers Lorraine and Malcolm to discuss your ideas for your dream kitchen. From concept to completion (and beyond) they are there to oversee every part of the process. There’s a whole spectrum of services and options available from simple door swaps or worktop replacements that will revitalise your old kitchen quickly and cost-effectively or go for a full transformation with the design and installation of a completely bespoke new kitchen. All Dream Doors products and kitchens are made to measure, and there’s a wide selection of styles and finishes to match every taste, so whatever your preference Dream Doors will have the perfect solution. Lorraine and Malcolm enjoy a great ‘Checkatrade’ rating for their highly personalised service too, overseeing every part of the process and making sure customers are kept informed throughout the installation and are always satisfied with the end results.
Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA
Tel: 01225 892200 Web: boniti.com
Run by Giles and Simon Lunt, Boniti is a high-quality interiors and exteriors business. The showroom is a destination for all things natural stone, porcelain, and timber flooring. Boniti offers expert restoration and professional installation services, ensuring every project is completed to the highest standard. For large and small projects, the Boniti team are masters of their profession and it shows in every detail. The showroom is easily reached from J18 just off the M4.
28 and 31 Brock Street, Bath BA1 2LN Tel: 01225 259 646 and 01225 334 234 Web: beaunashbath.com
Antique lovers, over the last year, Beau Nash have expanded their collection to include an Antique Mirror Gallery, the only one of its kind in the city of Bath. With over 50 mirrors displayed on 4 floors and an updated online shop, they strive to make it easier for home owners to find stylish pieces for their homes. They ship internationally and deliver to London on Tuesdays. Situated between the Circus and the Royal Crescent, both of their shops now offer antique silverware, quality porcelain, and fashionable period furniture backed with personalised service. One of the loveliest shops in Bath, a visit is a must. instagram: beaunashbath
Bluesky House, Western Way, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8BZ.
Tel: 01225 707372 Web: skyinteriors.co.uk
The team at Sky Interiors (Bath) Limited have been designing, manufacturing and installing bespoke cabinetry and joinery for over 40 years. Based at its showroom and joinery workshop on the outskirts of Bath, experienced designers work closely with clients to guide them through the design process. The company takes great pride in building a relationship with its clients through listening to their practical requirements and their tastes for colours, textures and finishes and Sky Interiors will always delight in incorporating the sought after ‘fine detail’. With total flexibility to produce all aspects of interiors to exceptional standards, from kitchens to bathrooms, bedrooms to boot rooms, as well as one off pieces, the company also collaborates with interior designers across Bath, the home counties and London.
Tel: 07730 570162 Web: thelandscapeconsultancylimited.co.uk
Email: info@thelandscapeconsultancylimited.co.uk
Tel: 07776 255875 Email: heidi@heidiholistichealing.com
Web: heidiholistichealing.com
Experience the benefits of a harmonious space. Create calm: design an environment that soothes the soul and quiets the mind. Enhance relaxation: clear unnecessary clutter and invite natural flow for true tranquillity. Reduce stress: align energy to feel grounded, focused, and in control. Meditation: transform your space into a personal retreat for daily reflection and self-care. Radiate positive energy: use mindfulness to uplift your environment, making it a source of joy and inspiration.
Heidi Lerner Rearden offers bespoke packages to create balanced, harmonious living and work spaces. Every environment is unique, and with Heidi's expertise in Reiki, Feng Shui, Meditation and The ThetaHealing® Technique, she transforms your home or office into a calm, tranquil space where you can thrive.
The Landscape Consultancy, based in Bradford on Avon, is a leading design-and-build landscaping partnership creating beautiful gardens across the South of England. With expertise in all aspects of garden design, landscaping and planting, the team offers a bespoke, turn-key service tailored to each client. From the initial concept through to completion, every detail is guided and managed by experienced professionals, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable process. Whether it’s a compact city courtyard, a stylish new-build garden or larger rural grounds, The Landscape Consultancy delivers inspirational design and exceptional craftsmanship to create unique, high-quality outdoor spaces.
of a dying tree, as well as clumps of honey-coloured mushrooms appearing on infected stumps in autumn. There’s no cure, but removal of old tree stumps and good garden hygiene helps, and there are also plants that are less susceptible to the fungus, including pittosporum, sarcococca, jasmine, hydrangea, daphne and ornamental grasses, so consider planting these in areas where it might be present.
The largest living organism on earth is a honey fungus in Oregon, thought to be thousands of years old, covering around 10 square kilometres and weighing up to 35,000 tons.
In the UK, mushrooms generally appear from late summer through autumn, especially after rain followed by mild weather. If you know your mushrooms, then it’s a great time for foraging, as there are many edible species that can be found on a country walk, including the field mushroom and puffball.
However, if in any doubt, it’s probably safer to look but don’t touch – or take part in an organised foraging walk with an expert who can tell you what is safe and what isn’t. Steve England runs naturethemed walks, events and courses in Bristol, including wild food identification and foraging walks. n
Visit steveengland.co.uk to find out more. Or try goforaging.co.uk for foraging walks and courses taking place in Bath and the West Country this autumn.
Elly West is a professional garden designer, working in and around the Bristol and Bath area | ellyswellies.co.uk
Not technically a ‘plant’ as mentioned, but the giant puffball is probably the safest mushroom for novice foragers, as the only real look-a-like is a football when seen from a distance. I remember a certain excitement on country walks as a child if a puffball was ever found. It would be taken home and eaten (not by myself, as I’ve never liked any kind of mushrooms), but my mum would slice or cube it, then fry it in butter.
The fruit itself is up to around 30cm across with a smooth white, velvety surface. There isn’t a stem, although a fine root-like filament may connect it to the ground. Inside the flesh is pure white – any other colour and it shouldn’t be eaten as it means the spores are starting to form. Cooked puffball (I’m told) has a texture like tofu, and can be used much the same way in recipes, sauteed and added to pasta sauce, raw and cubed in salads, added to stir fries, or breaded and fried. The rind shouldn’t be eaten, only the flesh inside.
Look out for puffballs in grasslands, lawns, on commons and by roadsides and open woodland.
Tregunter is a handsome family home located in a fine residential position, with easy access into Bath city centre and on the edge of beautiful countryside and enjoying breathtaking views to the rear overlooking The Charlcombe Valley.
The property is presented in immaculate decorative order throughout and offers charming accommodation arranged over 2 floors with all the principal rooms enjoying the fine elevated aspect and views to the rear.
On the ground there is an impressive triple aspect formal drawing room which enjoys access onto a raised sun deck along with a pretty dining room and a beautifully appointed hand painted Shaker style kitchen with German appliances, an impressive range oven, granite work surfaces and a walk-in pantry. In addition, there is a glazed garden room which leads onto the rear sun terrace, a clever concealed utility area, workshop and guest WC.
On the first floor there are 4 lovely bedrooms, the master has a well-appointed en-suite bath and shower room, along with a further separate family bathroom and WC.
Externally to the front there is plenty of off-street parking. To the rear enjoying majestic views and award winning secluded terraced gardens that wrap around the side and rear of the property.
Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath; Tel: 01225 333332 37 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; Tel: 01225 866111
• 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
• Guest WC and utility room
• Triple aspect drawing room
• Formal dining room
• Well appointed ‘Cooks’ kitchen
• Garden room and workshop
• Award winning terraced gardens
• Plenty of off-street parking
£1,450,000
Northampton Street, Bath
£1,250,000
A handsome 3 bedroom Grade II listed Georgian townhouse of fine proportions, with beautifully appointed accommodation, located in a sought after residential area, to the rear of the Royal Crescent.
• 3 large double bedrooms, 2 spacious bathrooms
• Drawing room and withdrawing room
• Kitchen and open plan dining room
• Utility room and guest WC
• Mezzanine level garden room
• Lovely west facing garden and sun terrace
The Tramshed, Bath
OIEO £700,000
A beautifully appointed and comprehensively refurbished 3 bedroom ground floor city centre apartment with lift access to all floors, underground gated parking and a pretty riverside balcony.
• 3 lovely bedrooms, 2 beautiful bathrooms
• Stylish open plan, double aspect kitchen, living and dining room
• Riverside balcony
• Lift access to all floors
• Underground gated parking
• Sought after central development
01225 333332 | 01225 866111
Known for developing exceptional homes across the South West, Ashford Homes also offers its award-winning construction services to private clients looking to build something bespoke.
Whether you’re planning a one-off new build, barn conversion, or listed property restoration, Ashford Homes can be your trusted construction partner, with over 35 years of experience, expert project management, and a reliable network of skilled local tradespeople.
We work closely with homeowners, architects, and landowners from concept to completion. Our flexible, client-first approach ensures we understand your vision, navigate the design and planning stages with care, and deliver a home that reflects your lifestyle, budget, and goals.
From sustainable builds to complex renovations, we embrace the projects others avoid. Our reputation is built on quality, service, and attention to detail. Strong relationships with local planning authorities and suppliers help streamline the process and minimise delays.
If you’re looking for a contractor with a proven track record, collaborative spirit, and commitment to quality, we’d love to hear from you.
Great Pulteney Street, Bath OIEO £490,000
Stunning ground floor one bedroom apartment in prestigious Grade I Listed townhouse · Period features throughout · Shower room · Living room · Kitchen · Share of freehold · EPC Rating D
Northanger Court OIEO £650,000 Southbourne Mansions OIEO £350,000
Penthouse apartment in central Bath · 3 double bedrooms, including a striking mezzanine-style room and 2 en-suites · Galleried hallway · South-facing living area with breathtaking views · Leasehold · EPC Rating B
2 bedroom apartment, in Grade I Listed townhouse, offering a blend of period character and modern convenience · Situated in a prestigious location · Bathroom, open plan living area/kitchen · Leasehold · EPC Rating D
Grade II Listed apartment offers a rare blend of tranquillity and convenience, just moments from the heart of Bath · 2 bedrooms · Open plan kitchen/living area · Bathroom · Courtyard parking · Leasehold · EPC Rating E
Moravian Place, Oldfield Park OIEO £300,000
An individually designed, modern two-bedroom/2 bathroom apartment offering stunning, far-reaching views across the historic Bath · Situated within Moravian Place in the heart of Oldfield Park near to all the local amenities in Moorland Road · Leasehold · EPC Rating D
A beautifully presented one bedroom apartment · Attractive private garden · Spacious living room, contemporary kitchen · GCH · Vaulted storage · Unfurnished · EPC Rating C · Council Tax Band C · 12 month tenancy
This charming two-bedroom top-floor apartment offers a delightful blend of modern living and historic elegance · The fully furnished property comprises a good size sitting/dining room · Kitchen with appliancess · Two double bedrooms · Bathroom · Council tax C · EPC Rating C · Available for a 12 month tenancy
Luxury fourth floor, one bedroom apartment set on the banks of the river Avon · Spacious sitting room/kitchen, master bedroom and luxury bathroom · EPC Rating B · Council Tax Band B · 12 Month Tenancy
One bedroom apartment in the much favoured St James Square · Sitting room overlooking the Square · Double bedroom with ensuite · Permit parking is available · Walled communal garden · Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating E
Marshfield • Guide Price £750,000
detached family home
Bathford • Guide Price £525,000
A fantastic three bedroom semi-detached property in an elevated position in the village of Bathford, boasting stunning far reaching views, double garage, off road parking for two cars and pretty front and rear gardens.
A well presented four bedroom family home situated in a quiet cul-de-sac with off road parking, garage, large garden and far reaching views across Bath. Freehold, EPC rating D, Council tax band F.
Exquisitely renovated cottage blending historic charm with modern elegance, showcasing flagstone kitchen, log-burning stove, bright living spaces and French doors opening to sunlit mornings.
• 4 Bed, 3 Bath £2,750p/m An exceptional home seamlessly blending modern family living with timeless period charm, meticulously refurbished to the highest standard, preserving character while introducing a stunning contemporary interior.
