Beckford’s Tower
Beckford’s Tower was built between 1826-27 for the writer and collector William Beckford (1760-1844), and funded by the wealth he gained from his complicity in the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved African people. Beckford has a role in the story of British LGBTQIA+ history and the building he created at Fonthill Abbey has been acknowledged as a significant queer space. However, Beckford’s relationship with William Courtney of Powderham Castle, (the public exposure of which led to Beckford’s ten-year exile from Britain), was an abusive one. At the Tower we are working on exploring Beckford’s contribution to LGBTQIA+ heritage and revealing the truth about his relationship with William Courtenay in a safe and affirming way.
“We are excited to be part of Queer Bath and explore how our museums and the collections they house can be explored and interrogated to reveal, and reevaluate, LGBTQ+ history and narratives. At Beckford’s Tower in particular we want to find ways of telling the story of William Beckford’s place in Queer history while also revealing fully his problematic and abusive relationship, and do it a safe way for everyone. Working with the other brilliant organisations involved with Queer Bath will be core to that.”
Dr Amy Frost, Bath Preservation Trust
Getting There
Lansdown Road
Bath, BA1 9BH
Accessibilty
Museum is located on the first floor of the Tower building and access is up a flight of stairs (154 steps to the top). Those who cannot explore the tower itself can explore through a new accessible digital binoculars tour in the Tower Vault, a step-free space.