Kingsmead Square

Kingsmead Square is a public square in Bath, Somerset, England. It was laid out by John Strahan in the 1730s; many of the buildings are now listed structures.

History

The square was originally the junction of a number of routes entering the Bath [city walls|West Gate] of the medieval city. In 1727, John Strahan started a large-scale Georgian expansion in this area of pasture owned by St John's Hospital. The West Gate was demolished in the 1760s, enlarging the road junction. In 1902, the square became part of a Bath Tramways route. In 1925, a street-widening scheme to tackle traffic congestion established the modern street lines of the square.
During and after World War II, the square became run down. In the mid-1970s, the south terrace was restored, saving it from demolition and starting a revival of the area. In the 1990s, investment in street furniture and on the square, further revived it, making the square an attractive location for cafés.
In September 2018, Bath and North East Somerset Council initiated an informal consultation on a proposal to partially pedestrianise the square.

Buildings

Rosewell House comprises 12, 13 and 14 Kingsmead Square and 1 and 2 Kingsmead Street. Originally, Rosewell House was situated at the end of a rank of houses, but the neighbouring 11, 12 and 13 Kingsmead Square were demolished to construct New Street on a diagonal alignment out of the square to provide better access to the new Bath Green Park railway station.
At the centre of the square is a large London Plane tree, about tall. The square has full public access, with a ground surface of concrete slabs and cobbles.