Built between 1826 and 1827, Beckford’s Tower is an extraordinary building that was once home to one of the greatest collections of books, furniture and art in Georgian England and now stands as the only surviving example of William Beckford’s great architectural achievements.
William Beckford’s ability to build, and to collect, was made possible by the wealth he inherited and continued to accumulate as an owner of Jamaican sugar plantations and enslaved people, and through the compensation he received from the government following the abolition of slavery. This aspect of his life is explored within our museum displays and you can read more about it here.
Thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, plans to conserve and re-interpret the Tower and its landscape setting are being developed. Bath Preservation Trust owns and operates Beckford’s Tower and must also raise a considerable amount to fund this project – called ‘Our Tower’.
Beckford’s Tower Archives and Library
Beckford’s Tower has a significant library collection and archive about the restoration of the Tower building that is available to researchers by appointment. The library includes works by Beckford and books once owned by Beckford, as well as an extensive collection of publications related to Beckford’s writing, his architecture, and his collection.