2. The Apprentice Store is set into a steep hill
2. The Apprentice Store is set into a steep hill (Image 2 of 12)
In a steep valley in Somerset, near Bath, the Apprentice Store started life as storage space for an old mill next door. In its 200 year old, varied, industrial history, it has never been lived in - and for the last 25 years it’s been empty. It’s now on the ‘Buildings At Risk’ register and is pretty well being held together by plants. This industrial wreck is all but a ruin.
"We found it on the internet believe it or not," explains Sophie. "We just typed in 'old mill building' and it popped up. In a moment of madness we insisted that we come and see it but that was in 2003. So it was quite a long time ago."
The couple paid £400,000 for the ruin "...and a beautiful view and two acres of land," Sophie reminds Kevin.
It’s taken them three whole years to get their listed building consent. The conservation officers in the City of Bath have a formidable reputation and this near-ruin is Grade II listed, it’s within the Bath World Heritage boundary, it’s also in an Area of Outstanding National Beauty... not forgetting the Green Belt! "So it’s very much about rescuing the building, restoring and reconditioning things like the stone, the existing timbers, the flooring, the flagstones... all those thing we will be reused as much as possible,"
explains Sophie.
From The Bath Apprentice Store Episode
Bath: The Story
Bath: Where To Buy Everything From The Show
Bath: House Tour
Bath: Behind The Scenes
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