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Academy Drive

Off the A4 from Bath, at a mini roundabout before the Hare and Hounds, is the appropriately named Academy Drive that sweeps up into Beechfield House. It cuts through the original walled area that encompassed the site from the main road and now provides access into this development.

Something looks different here!

A new entrance from the A4

Something looks different here!

A new entrance from the A4.


A suitable name, Academy Drive.


Leading up to Beechfield House.

A suitable name, Academy Drive.

Leading up to Beechfield House.send as a postcard


A closed gate - 'Private Land'.


Look no huts!

A closed gate - 'Private Land'.

Look no huts!

The only other route in is around the back, up Middlewick Lane, but that is gated off with a 'Private Land' sign that reminds you not to go any further. All remains of the huts have long gone, replaced by well manicured grounds with direct paths to owners properties. Except for a few small paths that go nowhere, reminders of what was at the end of the paths.

Some names are familiar.

Paths with no place to go.

Some names are familiar.

Paths with no place to go.


Farthingale Cottages, a new path leading onto....


... a view!

Farthingale Cottages, a new path leading onto....

... a view!

On the site of the sculpture school - (remember that factory looking hanger?), is now a development of 'tastefully' erected Cotswold stoned houses sweetly named 'Rowan Cottages' and 'The Orangery' - right, in the panorama below. 'Farthingale Cottages' are mews houses built near the side of Middlewick Lane and complete the sites current redevelopment.

Panorama of the old, refurbished and the new.

Panorama of the old, refurbished and the new.

From the rear of Beechfield you can now see those new houses in abundance. A change for the better or a blot on the landscape, well you would have to make your own mind up on that one. The grass field was to be the rebuilding plot for the new college of art, and that never happened. It still remains green and empty... I wonder for how long!

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Beechfield 1
Prospectuses from 1950, 58, 61, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72 & 82          
Prospectuses from 1950, 58, 61, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72 & 82