With the incredible news that William Beckford’s long-lost grotto tunnel is found, Bath Preservation Trust now plans to restore historic feature. The paddocks surrounding a famous Bath landmark are being restored to enable visitors to experience a glimpse of William Beckford’s gardens as they were presented almost 200 years ago – and as part of the restoration works the long-lost grotto tunnel has now been discovered.
Development grants awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Historic England are also enabling Bath Preservation Trust to repair and conserve the tower, and to re-examine the way in which they share the story of William Beckford’s links to the transatlantic slave trade.
Alex Sherman, CEO of Bath Preservation Trust explains: “Opening up the Grotto tunnel for visitors to enjoy is one of the key objectives for the ‘Our Tower’ project. While the east end of the tunnel has been blocked by development, our intention is re-open this space, for the first time in perhaps 60 years, reinstating the steps from which one would have first caught sight of the tower.”