Become a modern-day subscriber in support of Bath Assembly Rooms

Bath Assembly Rooms has launched a new fundraising campaign to support the restoration and conservation of the building and it’s ten original chandeliers.

The Luminaries has echoes of the original subscriber model used by John Wood the Younger in 1769 to build the Assembly Rooms, then known as the ‘New Rooms’, and offers supporters a chance to play their part in the National Trust’s ambitions plans for the building.

Image: Bath Assembly Rooms Exterior, credit James Beck

Between 1769 and 1771, the architect John Wood the Younger financed the creation of the building through a ‘tontine’ subscription, where individuals were invited to invest in his plan. Around 70 individuals supported the plan, many of whom lived within Bath. Research has shed a light on these original subscribers, with a fifth being women and one listed as James Leigh-Perrot, uncle to Jane Austen who set two of her novels in Bath with direct references to the Assembly Rooms. In return, the subscribers had a say in how the building was run and what events took place inside.

By pledging to join the Luminaries today, individuals will receive exclusive benefits including a welcome pack, a set of limited-edition postcards, a Bath Assembly Rooms pin badge and regular email updates about the fascinating conservation work going on behind the scenes. They’ll also receive two tickets to visit the new Georgian experience when the Assembly Rooms reopens.

Image: Bath Assembly Rooms chandeliers, credit James Beck

Lily Wonham, Philanthropy Manager for Bath Assembly Rooms said, “We’re delighted to launch this new giving circle, it echo’s the subscriber model of the past which feels like a fitting tribute to the building and people of Bath, as we once again look to bring the Assembly Rooms back to its full glory.”

People do not need to be a National Trust member, the only ask is for a donation of at least £250 to secure a place as a Luminary for the next 12 months. Every Luminary that joins in 2025 will have their donation matched by a generous local benefactor.

All funds raised will go directly towards the project work that is now underway. It will support the restoration of the ten original Georgian chandeliers, the installation of a Georgian-inspired staircase and the creation of a new oak floor crafted from National Trust timber. Once complete, the Rooms will be brought back into the heart of the World Heritage City of Bath and serve as a thriving place for local communities and for visitors far and wide.

The restoration of Bath Assembly Rooms is estimated to cost £17 million. With a fundraising target of £3.2 million, the team have so far raised £2.4 million from a range of sources including Individual Donors and Charitable Trusts and Foundations. The Luminaries has been launched to help the Assembly Rooms to reach this target. To find out more about the Luminaries, visit: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/luminaries.