Finding a Home for the Sydney Building

When thinking about constructing a new building for a site, whether it is a university or otherwise, an integral part of that planning process is to consider the question ‘where is it going to go?’. Generally, in the 21st century and particularly in Bath, this kind of enterprise comes with a host of practical concerns of the potential impact that such a building might have on the surroundings.

 Now, we all love our campus here at Newton Park for it’s great beauty and peaceful atmosphere; it’s sparsely built and seems to co-exist with the countryside around it. Much of what we appreciate today of the site is down to the famed 18th-century landscape gardener, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown who beautified the grounds for the Langton family who were living there at the time, in what we now know as the Main House. From dainty ornamental trees to the beloved lake, his mark has truly been left on the site, and it is him we have to thank for wonderful views such as these;

The view from in front of Main House (2015).

   It is truly a lovely view. So, you can imagine our bemusement in the archive when we came across two black and white photographs of this exact view here, largely unchanged. These photographs were dated from the 1950's, when Newton Park was home to Bath Teacher Training College, which opened in 1946. However, they had not been left as they were. In some kind of collage, a small drawing of what we would now know as the Sydney Building which is used for accommodation has been superimposed over it.

The view directly in front of Main House.

A view we will be familiar with today (1954).

   Disregarding the imposing presence of the prototype Sydney Building, the view seen in these edited photographs is one that is very familiar to us, even sixty years on. Particularly distinctive is the tree that can be seen in the foreground of both the modern and the 1950's photographs. 

   These two photographs were most likely dated from the year 1954 which is the year that the Sydney Building was constructed. Given some of the notes scrawled on the back of the two photographs, it is likely that these collages were an attempt to visualise how suitable the Sydney Building would be if it were to be placed in this location. What we do not know, however, is exactly who came up with the idea to place the building in such a location, and more importantly, what their motives were for doing so.

   These collages look remarkably similar to images that some building projects generate in the modern day to simulate how the end result of the ongoing project may look. Often, software such as Photoshop will be used in order to create a realistic looking image. Obviously, we know that this kind of opportunity was not available in the 1950's, however the level of detail that the artist has gone to in order to create a realistic image is striking, and gives us a good idea of how the building may have looked, had the decision been approved to place it there.

The Sydney Building (2015).

   Above is the Sydney Building as we now know it, and where it has been for the past sixty years. The location that was decided on allows the campus to retain the same stunning view that it has boasted since the 18th-century, and the serene vision of Lancelot Capability Brown continues to live on at Newton Park.

Heritage, Popes, Bones and stay-at-homes

Last week, the archive had a week off, as two of us were involved in a history field trip to Rome. Of course, the trip was arranged long before anyone knew about the papal elections, but what a time to be there...

The view towards the Vatican, from the Capitoline Hill, Rome

The main purpose of the trip was research: into aspects of heritage, the practical application of history and the history and landscape of the Grand Tour. All of these things are relevant to the cross section of students and staff who joined the field trip. And of course, we enjoyed the good food, wine and chatting that took place as well!

St Peter's, 11.03.13. Preparations for the pre-Conclave service.

Italy, and Rome in particular, houses a vast array of heritage from every era. Whether your interest lies in Roman, religious, Renaissance or Risorgimento history, there is a seemingly limitless supply of things to see, to experience and to wonder at.

Your archivist communes with Socrates!

We were struck by one site in particular, as a highly individual use of artefacts. This was the Capuchin Crypt, where an explanatory museum has been built over several small crypt rooms. These rooms contain thousands of bones, artistically and bizarrely arranged into pictures, images, altars, archways, chandeliers and ceiling displays. Complete skeletons in monk's habits stand and lie amidst the bones, overlooking the graves of real monks of the Capuchin Order.

The Capuchin Crypt

The whole thing is strange and intriguing, and a fascinating way to tell a story with archival resources. We pondered long and hard about the interpretation, and considered the way we look after archives today.

Meanwhile, following news of 'fumata nera' and 'fumata bianca' Pope Francis was elected and made his balcony appearance. Those studying the Grand Tour could identify with their 18th century counterparts, who travelled to Rome and witnessed the full grandeur of Catholicism for themselves, and were either impressed or distrustful, as the tourists from two hundred years ago had been.

A Nun celebrates Pope Francis' election with a selection of delicious  cakes! 

Back at home, the other half of the archive team carried on transcribing our most recent set of oral history interviews. We've had a batch of former Bath Academy of Art students visit the archive office recently, and we've enjoyed meeting them and finding out more about this fascinating aspect of our corporate history. As the office is based at Corsham Court, we have loved hearing about student life here in the 1950s - 1980s. It seems the peacocks have always been here, calling, screeching and chasing one another, just as they are today!

Hayley, still transcribing...