Urgent action needed to save Ashton Court Mansion

Overlooking rolling parkland and the colourful city skyline, Ashton Court Mansion is interwoven into Bristol’s historical fabric – but its future is hanging in the balance.

Conservationists, campaigners, residents, business representatives and organisations gathered in a packed public meeting on Friday (November 24) to discuss urgent action and pledge their support to save the Grade I-listed property.

People from across the city and beyond spoke up to fight for the future of Ashton Court Mansion

The building’s future was thrown into uncertainty last month when its cash-strapped owners, Bristol City Council, decided to pull the plug on the ailing business that runs weddings and events in the mansion house from December 2017.

With around 80 per cent of the mansion currently in a derelict state, the estimated costs of restoring the house to its Grade I listed state are estimated to be in the region of £20m-£40m.

But Simon Birch of Bristol Civic Society believes the people of the city – to whom the estate was gifted – will rise to the challenge and get behind a major campaign to save it.

“People in Bristol need to be aware of the fate of the house and have a say on what on earth is going to happen to it,” he told Bristol24/7.

“No one seems to be aware of, or doing anything to prevent its closure. We are looking at setting up a trust to take it on and hope to see the mansion restored to its former glory.”

Sarah Kurnow, a volunteer with Friends of Ashton Court, added: “It’s such an iconic and beautiful place for Bristol and it used to be a place for celebrations. It would be an awful loss if it’s not saved.”

Mike Fox of Save Britain’s Heritage (left) with Simon Birch of Bristol Civic Society

The society already has the backing of Save Britain’s Heritage, a national organisation that campaigns to protect buildings of important historical significance.

Deputy director Mike Fox spoke at the meeting and sought to prove that with enough people and drive behind a project, it is possible to turn around the ailing fortunes of a building such as Ashton Court and see it thrive once more.

Speaking to Bristol24/7, he said: “Ashton Court Mansion is clearly a beautiful, historic building that is hugely important to Bristol. Now, it’s really important to get a conversation going about the future of the house and explore ways to save it.”

Among the options being considered are setting up an independent trust to manage the house and bring in a mix of commercial, residential and public uses to make it sustainable in the long term.

Dee Ryding, of Divine Ceremony, is among those who spoke up for Ashton Court, saying it is an iconic and important part of Bristol’s history

Urban natural burials and expanding existing woodwork projects to provide training for people who could then take part in the restoration process were among the ideas thrown into the mix.

Gemma Dando, the council’s director of neighbourhoods and communities, said: “One of the key things is that this is an estate for Bristol and we need to come up with options for it, but we do not want to do it alone.

“There is no intention of selling it to the highest bidder. We need to find a way to keep it in Bristol. Worst case scenario is that it stays as it is and deteriorates.”

She said the council could not afford to subsidise the catering business that was operating at an annual loss of £150,000, but stressed it would not be closing the mansion’s doors.

Dando revealed that a feasibility study for the site, started in 2013, was inexplicably halted in 2014 and pledged to get it finished in the near future.

The estate and mansion is currently owned and managed by Bristol City Council

The house, that sits in 850 acres of historic parkland, has been through its share of turbulent times.

Speaking at the meeting, Hotwells resident and former councillor Bob Walton, remembered the groundswell of support when the future of the building was uncertain in the 1980s.

He said: “In developing a vision for the future, we have to think about restoration but also transformation which needs to include a considerable amount of public access.”

Historic picture of Ashton Court Estate

UWE Bristol, which has recently opened a £9m creative hub at Ashton Court, and James Durie, CEO of Business West were among some of the city’s major players to pledge their support at the meeting.

Inside the main entrance

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