Jolly’s

Refurbishment of the existing Jolly’s Department Store in Bath.

A Grade II Listed building situated in the centre of the Bath World Heritage Site; Jolly’s (7-14 Milsom Street) is one of the earliest examples of department stores in the country; opened originally on a temporary basis at 12 Milsom Street in 1831. The store is an interconnected terrace of buildings running along Milsom St to the east and John St to the west, with an internal floor area of circa 8,000 sq/m. Various historic modifications and extensions have occurred to meet the growing demands of the store and has led to the building having a complex mix of roof forms and internal level changes.

The proposals include extensive roof renewal works, window and door refurbishment, plus external wall repairs and improvements to the drainage of the interconnected roof forms. FMA, together with Buro Happold (structural and civil engineers) and Ingleton Wood (M&E engineers), have worked collaboratively during 2024 to gain listed building consent for the works. FMA worked alongside an architectural historian to enable the historic development of the site to be fully understood and inform the proposals.

FMA have carried out a series of on-site investigations, leading to preparation of a RIBA Stage 4 Tender package of information. Any new interventions are intended to be installed from above generally, with disturbance to existing lath and plaster ceilings and decorative mouldings minimised. Works on site are set to commence in 2025 and FMA are excited for this historic building to be restored and become a key retail destination once again.

Drone photograph courtesy of Bath & North East Somerset Council.