Berkeley Place has completed the restoration of Bloomfield House, a Grade II listed Georgian mansion on the southern slopes of Bath, bringing together careful conservation of the 18th-century property with contemporary interventions.

Designed in the 1790s and reputedly attributed to architect Thomas Baldwin, the house was once home to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bath. The 18-month project focused on retaining and reinstating its historic character while adapting the property for contemporary use.

Original architectural details, including ornate cornicing, mouldings and stonework, were carefully restored. Five historically blocked-up windows were also uncovered, their decorative painted treatments reinstated. The windows had been blocked following the introduction of Window Tax in 1696, a period detail that provides an insight into the building's history and the changing relationship between architecture and legislation.

Elsewhere, Berkeley Place commissioned a new bespoke staircase connecting the ground and lower-ground floors, replicating the Georgian character of the original. A Tom Howley kitchen was introduced within the restored interiors, while the grounds were comprehensively landscaped to strengthen the relationship between the house and its setting.

The project demonstrates the particular balance required when working with listed buildings: retaining the material and architectural qualities that give a property its character while introducing new elements that allow it to function as a contemporary home.

Nick Cryer, founder and managing director of Berkeley Place, says: “We are incredibly proud to have been part of this prestigious restoration. Our client’s vision, passion for quality, and appreciation for contemporary design made this an exciting and fulfilling collaboration.”

At Bloomfield House, restoration is therefore less about recreating a historic interior than understanding and retaining the existing fabric while making considered additions. The result is a Georgian property adapted for present-day life without losing the architectural details and craftsmanship that define its character.