As the historic heart of Newton Park, Main House is a shared space for students and staff alike.
If you’re looking for a unique place to work on Newton Park Campus then Main House is for you!
In this brief user guide, you will fnd helpful information on the spaces within Main House which are open for both students and staff to use. You’ll also beneft from a handy map to guide you through these spaces.
Main House started life as a Georgian country house for the Langton family, constructed in 1762-65 according to the design of Stiff Leadbetter. The house later became the home base for the suffragist Lady Anna Gore-Langton, who used it as a seat for her activist work across Somerset and within the larger UK.
At various times in its life, Main House has also been a World War I Red Cross Hospital and a teacher training college, before its conversion to Bath Spa's Newton Park campus later in the 20th century.
We'd like to encourage you to use the Main House spaces, but please bear in mind that it is a listed building and needs to be treated with respect. Staff and students who use Main House are temporary guardians of this historic building and the spaces require a little more care than usual from all users. For example, staff and students may not attach notices or signs to the walls, and the doors can be heavier than you expect and require gentle handling.
If you would like to flm in Main House for a project then you should contact the Library: (library@bathspa.ac.uk) to fnd out what you can do and if there are any restrictions.
Please also help us by noting the opening times for Main House:
Main House is open from 8am - 8pm Monday -Friday during term time, with the exception of East Wing which is open 8am - 8pm Monday - Sunday. The space is open for you to use and we encourage you to enjoy it respectfully.
During university vacations all spaces will be open: 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday, and East Wing will be open 9am - 5pm Monday - Sunday.
The nearest toilets are downstairs in the basement (through the Common Room and The Pantry).
We are sorry that due to the historic nature of the building, the toilets in Main House are not accessible to all due to stairs. The nearest accessible toilets are in the Library (through the library’s main entrance).
We have aimed to make the student spaces as inclusive as possible, and the open spaces on the ground foor are accessible to all students. We include the following map to help you plan an accessible route to each room.
All of the spaces on the ground foor of Main House are wheelchair accessible via a stair lift in the West Wing. There is also access to Main House via stairs in the East Wing and via the Library through the Library link door which is wheelchair accessible. If you are at all unsure on how to access the East Wing, then please ask the staff at the Library reception and they will be happy to guide you.
If you have any questions you’d like to ask in advance of your visit to Main House please contact reception via:
chancelry@bathspa.ac.uk
If you have any issues or suggestions to improve accessibility please email: studentvoice@bathspa.ac.uk
There are a cluster of rooms on the Ground Floor of Main House that are now open for both students and staff. In the summer of 2022, each room was refreshed with new furniture and planned to be as user-friendly as possible. Such as the opulent Common Room now leads through to the Pantry - the place to grab a coffee with a fellow student or colleagues - and is open and free to use by anyone.
Other rooms such as our Seminar Room and the Sitting Room are timetabled and bookable spaces. These welcoming rooms can be used by all alongside the Careers Space which is open for all students to drop-in.
If there is a fre alarm a continuous bell will ring; please evacuate the building by the nearest emergency exit. The fre alarms are tested weekly on Tuesday mornings. You will know it is a test if it stops after a few short rings.
In the case of an emergency please phone Security on: +44 (0)1225 875555
Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. Please follow this up with a call to Security.
The beautiful grand entrance hall to Main House, the Foyer, greets and takes you to all the other spaces in Main House. Use the handy map to fnd your way around. Turn right from here into the Common Room, or head straight on to the Inner Hallway and turn left to the West Wing corridor where you can fnd Reception, Go Global and the accessible stair lift.
Perch for a moment on the benches in the inner hallway and look up at the magnifcent staircase and skylight window. You can also admire the digital installations and display cabinets where students can display artwork.
To get your work displayed here contact: University Gallery Director, Poppy Clover (p.clover@bathspa.ac.uk)
Find out more information about other opportunities to display your artwork here.
The Sitting Room is a dedicated space for wellbeing activities.
The type of events or activities you might see taking place here is:
• Mindfulness sessions
• Mind Student Wellbeing group
• Meet and greet with the Bath Spa Care Dogs
This space is set aside for events and activities with a Student Wellbeing focus but can be booked by all students and staff at other times.
The Study is a bookable room for student group study or meeting with staff/student colleagues. The room is also available for drop-in use when not being used by others.
Room No. MHG14
How to Book
Capacity
Contact: rooms@bathspa.ac.uk to book
Seated Capacity: 10
Staff and Students
Who and When?
Mon - Fri | 8am-8pm term time Mon - Fri | 9am - 5pm vacations unless booked
The Seminar Room is a beautiful space set at the back of Main House overlooking the lake. This room is timetabled for seminars and available for use by clubs and societies in the evenings or for drop-in use at other times.
Students who want to book this space in the evenings should contact the Students' Union who will make the booking on their behalf.
It is very important that this room is returned to the correct layout if used for the next days teaching.
Email the SU at: su-opportunities@bathspa. ac.uk to request to book an
Screen
Staff and Students This room is timetabled and only available to be booked in the evenings
Name The Seminar
This is your go-to space for all careers and employability advice. No need to book an appointment, just drop in and chat - our Careers team can help you with specifcally dedicated careers advice, help you to access the job shop, and much more.
Opening times: 10am - 4pm (term-time)
Head Back to the foyer…
The Common Room is a great place for both students and staff to enjoy the grandeur of Main House. This place is open for you to grab a seat and relax, enjoy a coffee and a snack from The Pantry with friends, study or meet with your fellow students or colleagues.
Room No. MHG17
How to Book Not available to book Additional Features
Access to the Pantry and East Wing
Who and When?
Staff and Students Mon - Fri | 8am - 8pm term time
Mon - Fri | 9 - 5pm vacations
From The Common Room head to The Pantry...
With both vending machines for hot drinks and snacks you can enjoy a coffee in The Common Room or maybe take it through to the outdoor terrace. There’s also a hot and cold water dispenser if you’d like to make your own hot drink, along with a sink for you to wash up any home brought items.
Room No. MHG17
How to Book
Not available to book
-A hot drinks vending machine
-A snack and confectionery vending machine
-A hot and cold water dispense tap for DIY drinks
-Access to East Wing and the Common Room
Staff and Students
Who and When?
Mon - Fri | 8am - 8pm term time Mon - Fri | 9 - 5pm vacations
From The Pantry head to East Wing…
Grab a coffee from The Pantry and relax outside on the Terrace with your friends. The comfortable outdoor furniture means you can enjoy the outside views while still being sheltered on the Terrace.
Please note that as with all buildings on campus, smoking is not allowed inside or within ten metres of a building, including The Terrace.
From The Terrace head back into the East Wing…
A small sanctuary at Newton Park campus. Come to the Quiet Space to relax, rejuvenate and take a moment. This space also hosts the Wellbeing Collection. This is a collection of books that aim to support your wellbeing across many different areas including mental health, university life, relationships and gender identity.
Mon - Sun | 8am -
Mon - Sun | 9am - 5pm
A designated space for prayer, contemplation, meditation and refection. The Multi-Faith Space has been made available in partnership with the University’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy for the beneft of students and staff. The shared nature of the space is intended to be as inclusive as possible and relies on the respect and generosity of users to work effectively. Please observe these guidelines when using this room.
Room No. MHG19
Not available to book but please respect the ‘in-use’ sign and wait for the room to become available
A prayer mat generously gifted by one of our students
Who and When?
Mon - Sun | 8am - 8pm Mon - Sun | 9am - 5pm Vacations
At the end of the East Wing corridor, there is a handy door that links through to the Library. Pop in to pick up the book you need for your latest essay, to fnd something for a bit of light reading or for a change of focus. There are also some stunning study spaces available in the Library such as the Library bookhall with easy access to browse the bookshelves, our PC and MAC suites, or take a seat in our quiet spaces and plug in your own devices.
Don’t forget to use the self-return kiosks when you are borrowing or returning items. The nearest computers (PCs and Apple MACs), copiers, printers and scanners are also in the Library.
The Library Link doors are open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm during term time and 9am-5pm during vacations.
The library itself is open 8am-10pm during term-time.
Main House Reception can be found in the corridor leading to the West Wing. Friendly staff will be here to greet you (see reception door for current opening times).
Go here for….
• Help with fnding the right room
• Checking whether spaces are available
• Finding your way around campus
• To borrow umbrellas and picnic rugs.
Down the West Wing corridor you will fnd our Go Global team. They provide opportunities to study, work and undertake research worldwide. Go here for information on studying abroad and other international opportunities such as BSU's unique Global Citizenship Certifcate.
Contact details: bsuexchange@bathspa.ac.uk
- 4pm
- Friday
www.bathspa.ac.uk
