Work to maintain our historic Bath property Fairfield House, once the home of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethopia, and now an important community base, is to get under way.
Bath & North East Somerset Council and Fairfield House Bath Community Interest Company (CIC) have started working in formal partnership and agreed a significant maintenance programme for Fairfield House in Kelston Road.
Fairfield House Bath CIC was awarded a two-year lease by the council last October. It will enable the historic site to continue being used as a lively community hub, day care centre for the elderly and heritage attraction for visitors worldwide.
Scaffolding is about to go up on the Victorian building. The council will manage the maintenance programme with an immediate focus on roof guttering and drainage repairs. A new partnership board, independently chaired by Tom Boden, the National Trust’s General Manager for its Bath Portfolio, will meet monthly.
William Heath, Co-Chair of Fairfield House Bath CIC, said:
“This is a very important building and we are pleased to have been able to agree the maintenance programme with the council to ensure its future. The urgency of the repair work was underlined by a significant collapse of decorative plasterwork in the hall in the early hours of Sunday 5 Feb when the house was empty. The ceiling will be fully restored by specialist contractors in coming weeks, who will carry out other safety checks.”
Councillor Tom Davies, cabinet member for Adult Services and Council House Building, said:
“Fairfield House with its history and its contribution to community life means a great deal to so many people so I am pleased that a maintenance plan has been agreed and that work will begin on the house to ensure its future.”
We are open for historical guided tours resuming on Sunday 19 Feb.
Visitors who had hoped to attend on 5 Feb are welcome to rebook or receive a refund - see our website https://www.fairfieldhousebath.co.uk
Photo : The plaster collapse due to water ingress
Photo: The quick clean up and temporary repair by our partners B&NES Council.
Fairfield House is now open again as usual for Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association, our Community Business Users and Visitors from Sunday 19th February and other Sundays in February and March.
Photo : A rainbow at Fairfield House and inspirational words from His Imperial Majesty