SHOWCASE Contemporary apartments in a historic setting

HIGH HOPES A prestigious address steeped in history gets a new lease of life with these swanky, ready- to-move-in apartments

By Matilda Walton

O

ne of the biggest draws to a city like Bath is the closeness of history. Buildings that have stood for hundreds of years line the streets, architectural wonders from back when homes were about grandeur more than just function. It’s a feast for the eyes those of us lucky enough to call the city home never become totally immune too. But we want both, right? We want the Georgian, maybe-my-second-cousin-is-an-earl-but-I’m-coyabout-it aesthetic with the up-to-the-minute trappings of modern life. Enter Hope House, where apartments F1, F2, F4 and F5 have been designed with gratifying care to appear stylish and contemporary with nods to the rich history of the building, which has played host to earls viscounts *ritain¼s first commercial vintner and most exciting of all, a young Mary Berry.

Another of John Palmer’s creations – the Bath architect known for such illustrious projects as Lansdown Crescent, Church of St Swithin and St 2ames ;Yuare · the magnificent /eorgian mansion has been through many iterations. Built in 1782, it spent its first couple hundred aears as a private residence to gentry and the like (gossip: apparently once Sir William 0amilton visited with his fiancue -mma who went on to become the famous mistress of the Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson), before 1926 saw it start its second life as the Royal High School. We’ve arrived at perhaps Hope House’s most distinguished guest, the queen of cakes: cook, food writer and TV presenter Mary Berry. It was in the very walls of Hope House that a young Mary attended the domestic science classes where she would learn to maSe her first treacle sponge courtesa of Miss Date, her cookery teacher. These apartments exist on hallowed ground, and, I like to think, a little of 5ara¼s talent still Æows through the walls · should you be interested in honing those lockdown baking skills further.

Now, Acorn Property Group and Galliard Homes have transformed the place, returning the mansion and its surrounding parkland to a prestigious residential address. The restored mansion is built for grand entrances, fronting onto an upper garden terrace, with a grand staircase leading to the communal formal lawns and informal parkland beyond.

Inside, the two-to-four-bedroom luxurious apartments are thrilling examples of a contemporary Georgian residence – huge windows provide panoramic views across the grounds and out toward the city proper, as well as making the most of the natural light, which Æoods these bright openplan spaces. <he Sitchens are handfinished ba ;tephen /raver with integrated 5iele appliances, and the stunning engineered wood and stone Æooring is included. It¼s entirela reada for aou to move in, and bake a celebratory cake or two. HOUSE NUMBERS Apartments: F1, F2, F4 and F5 Bedrooms: 2-4 Bathrooms: 2-5 Outside: A mix of shared gardens and

private terraces, tennis courts Price: £895,000-£2,350,000 Where: Hope House, Lansdown Road Savills, Edgar House, 17 George Street, Bath, BA1 2EN, 01225 474500; www.savills.com