Lower Borough Walls first existed as a pedestrian route outside the enclosing walls of the Roman and medieval city of Bath. In the early years of Bath’s 18th century expansion, Hope Chapel was built here alongside the St James burial ground.
The burial ground remains one of a very small number of public green spaces in the dense heart of the city. As such, the now much altered and consequently unlisted chapel was an excellent opportunity to create a new city living offer for residents of Bath, easily accessible to its stimulating centre but close to its public transport hubs.
Its tightly framed site has only two boundaries, one to the former cemetery, the other to Lower Borough Walls. The ability to offer windows in several new dwellings and a restaurant needed some ingenious design thinking. A new mansard at the top has been part of the solution.
As a result, this challenging building has been saved. Although unlisted, it still has a story to tell in this historic city. Its carefully thought out adaption will offer several new households and future businesses the opportunity to enjoy this relatively quiet part of Bath’s many urban attractions.