No. 1 Royal Crescent

No. 1 Royal Crescent stands at the eastern end of Bath’s Royal Crescent, a sweeping curve of Georgian terraced houses built between 1767 and 1774. Designed by John Wood the Younger, it represents the peak of Palladian architecture in the city. The house’s symmetrical five-window front and central Doric doorcase mark its importance. It was first occupied by Thomas Brock in 1769, followed by Prince Frederick, Duke of York, in 1776. Henry Sandford, a retired Irish MP, lived there from 1777 until his death in 1796. The building now serves as a museum of Georgian domestic life, owned by the Bath Preservation Trust. A major restoration reunited it with its original service wing at No. 1A, which had been separated in the 20th century. The project restored Venetian windows to their 18th-century appearance and recreated ten Georgian rooms, including kitchens and a learning centre. Portraits of figures like Alexander Pope and Ralph Allen hang on the walls, adding to the historical atmosphere. Visitors find furnished rooms showing life above and below stairs in the late 18th century. The dining room displays a sumptuous meal, while the drawing room sparkles with mirrors. The kitchens show servants preparing meals, and the restored servants’ wing adds to the authenticity. The house has also appeared in films and TV series, including *Barry Lyndon* and *Bridgerton*, linking it to wider cultural history.