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Corsham Court
Bath Spa University has established a new Centre in Corsham Court after an absence of more than 20 years. Corsham Court became the home of the Bath Academy of Art (now Bath School of Art and Design and part of the University) when its premises were destroyed during the Second World War. Walter Sickert, who taught in that School was also a mentor to Lord Methuen RA, owner of the Court.
The Centre will build on these traditions to provide a focus for Higher Education in the wider region. It will include development support for research projects, postgraduate and research studios and study areas for artists and designers undertaking Masters level study and Doctorates, facilities for project work for all undergraduate students, and a conference suite for the use of academic and support departments across the University.
A History of Corsham Court and its Relationship with Bath Spa University
The present house was initially built in 1582 for a Mr. Thomas Smythe. The initial construction is still a key part of the overall makeup of the building as it stands today.
The Methuen family purchased the building in 1747. With very little of the Elizabethan structure remaining, the house was substantially rebuilt and extended during the mid and late 1700s to accommodate the substantial collection of Old Master paintings. Capability Brown was engaged to style the landscape surrounding the Court.
Currently Corsham Court is in the private ownership of the eighth generation of the Methuen family. Talking about the new collaboration with Bath Spa University, James Methuen Campbell said "I am especially happy that artists will continue to draw inspiration from these beautiful surroundings, the setting here is unique." The building holds many beautiful and significant artworks and furniture, and is also home to an extensive library collection.
Corsham Court became the "home" of the Bath Academy of Art (the Bath School of Art and Design, a part of Bath Spa University) in 1946 from which time many key figures of the British Modernist Art Movement were either teachers or students. These included Kenneth Armitage, Terry Frost, Peter Lanyon, Adrian Heath, Bernard Meadows and William Scott. Sir Howard Hodgkin enjoyed his teaching time here saying "…the other teachers shone out and we all wanted students to take art as seriously as possible. Amazingly enough they listened"
Professor Ron George has recently moved from his post as the Head of the University's Bath School of Art and Design to re-open the Court as the University's Campus for Postgraduate Practice, Research and Educational Development. In his role as its Head, he says "It is particularly gratifying to have the opportunity to restore and now extend the long tradition of higher arts education at Corsham Court. The new Campus will provide a stunning base for Bath Spa University in the region and contribute significantly to its already rich cultural life. Our new facilities will be a resource for the schools, colleges, business and cultural enterprises in the area and provide them with direct access to one of the most successful new universities in the UK. We regard this initiative as an important part of delivering our Mission to be a leading contributor to liberal arts education, and it will be a significant addition to University-level provision in Wiltshire."
