Montpellier, Cheltenham

Last updated

Montpellier Rotunda area Montpellrotund.jpg
Montpellier Rotunda area

Montpellier is a district of the Regency town Cheltenham Spa in Gloucestershire, England. Montpellier is one of the most historic areas of the Cheltenham, based at the end of the Promenade and south of the town centre. [1] Originally developed in the 1830s in conjunction with the spas, it is now known for its Grade I and II* listed buildings, Regency architecture, bars, cafés, restaurants and range of specialist shops. In April 2008 Montpellier was one of the most expensive areas in Cheltenham to buy property, with apartments ranging from £300,000 to over £1,000,000, townhouses from around £400,000, and houses over £4,000,000.

Contents

History

19th century Montpellier Montpellier Spa, Cheltenham. Steel engraving by J.C. Hunter Wellcome V0012488.jpg
19th century Montpellier

Montpellier Spa was initiated by Henry Thompson after springs were discovered on land he bought in 1801. The Spa buildings of 1817 were by George Allen Underwood. Thompson's son Pearson extensively developed the area and arranged for supporting entertainment for the spa facilities. He commissioned the distinctive Montpellier Rotunda by John Buonarotti Papworth as a pump room in 1825. There was a branch of Lloyds Bank from the early 1960s but The Ivy restaurant chain replaced Lloyds Bank in 2017. The interior of the Rotunda was used as a ballroom, graced by the presence of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and many of his distinguished contemporaries. [2]

Many concerts were held in Montpellier Rotunda including Jenny Lind in 1848 (two years before touring the US with P.T Barnum) and the first performances of Scherzo and Intermezzo by local composer and Cheltonian Gustav Holst. Opposite the Rotunda, "Montpellier Gardens", also laid out by Papworth. The architects and developers R. W. and C. Jearrad took over the running of Montpellier Spa from Thompson in 1830. Montpellier Walk, leading to Montpellier Spa and designed by W. H. Knight in 1840, is noted for the caryatids supporting the shop fronts.

Entrance to Montpellier Arcade Montpellier Arcade, Cheltenham - panoramio.jpg
Entrance to Montpellier Arcade

In 1832 The Montpellier Arcade was built by local architects Robert and Charles Jearrad. The Arcade was one of the first covered shopping areas in the UK and people who had taken the waters would browse and purchase products from the many shops available. [3] [4]

On 3 October 1838, John Hampton became the first Englishman to make a successful parachute drop, when he descended from his gas-filled balloon which had risen near the Bandstand in Montpellier Gardens. Hampton jumped from his hot air balloon at a height of 6000 feet in a descent lasting 12 minutes 40 seconds. [5] [6] The gardens contain a Grade II listed statue of King William IV. [7] The statue was erected by public subscription in 1833 to commemorate the Kings coronation. [8]

Present day

Commercial activity

Montpellier is home to restaurants, bars, several clothing boutiques, three jeweller's shops, including Metal and Stone, a working goldsmiths, a Scandinavian specialist shop and also a varied selection of cafes. The Montpellier Courtyard is home to internationally recognised brands such as Bang & Olufsen and Tokyotattoo Studios. [9] The unique tattoo & piercing studio opened its doors in 2012 on November 5. The tattoo studio won Independent Business of the Year in 2018. [10] Montpellier's bars and restaurants include The Montpellier Wine Bar, The Ivy , All Bar One , The Rotunda Tavern, Brasserie Blanc, Ask Italian, John Gordon's, Door 4 Cocktail Bar, Harry Cook, The Circus Bar, The Thai Brasserie, Tarragon, Indian Voojan and Côte Brasserie. [11]

Montpellier Gardens

Throughout the year, Cheltenham hosts a number of festivals and events, many of them held in and around Montpellier Gardens. Cheltenham festivals include the Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival, the Cheltenham Literature Festival, the Cheltenham Music Festival, the Cheltenham Science Festival and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. [12] [13]

Montpellier Gardens Benches HBM Montpellier Gardens... - Flickr - Orchids love rainwater.jpg
Montpellier Gardens

Notable Cheltonian

Birthplace of Edward Adrian Wilson Birthplace of Edward Adrian Wilson - geograph.org.uk - 5975794.jpg
Birthplace of Edward Adrian Wilson

Cheltonian and English polar explorer, Edward Adrian Wilson was born at 6 (now 91) Montpellier Terrace on 23 July 1872. [14] Wilson was the Chief of the Scientific staff, artist and zoologist of the Terra Nova Expedition 1910-1913. He reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912 and died with Captain Scott on the Great Ice Barrier March 1912. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheltenham</span> Town and Borough in Gloucestershire, England

Cheltenham is a spa town and borough on the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716, and claims to be the most complete Regency town in Britain. It is directly northeast of Gloucester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull Ring, Birmingham</span> Major shopping centre in central Birmingham

The Bull Ring is a major shopping area in central Birmingham England, and has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages, when its market was first held. Two shopping centres have been built in the area; in the 1960s, and then in 2003; the latter is styled as one word, Bullring. When coupled with Grand Central it forms the United Kingdom's largest city centre based shopping centre, styled as Bullring & Grand Central.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leamington Spa</span> Spa town in Warwickshire, England

Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or simply Leamington, is a spa town and civil parish in Warwickshire, England. Originally a small village called Leamington Priors, it grew into a spa town in the 18th century following the popularisation of its water which was reputed to have medicinal qualities. In the 19th century, the town experienced one of the most rapid expansions in England. It is named after the River Leam, which flows through the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrogate</span> Town in North Yorkshire, England

Harrogate is a spa town in the district and county of North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters and RHS Harlow Carr gardens. 13 miles (21 km) away from the town centre is the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Nidderdale AONB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxo Tower</span> Building in London, England

The Oxo Tower is a building with a prominent tower on the south bank of the River Thames in London. The building has mixed use as Oxo Tower Wharf containing a set of design, arts and crafts shops on the ground and first floors with two galleries, Bargehouse and gallery@oxo. The Oxo Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie is on the eighth floor, which is the roof-top level with fine and casual dining. In addition to this, situated on the eighth floor is a viewing gallery open to the public. The third to seventh floors contain 78 flats owned by Redwood Housing. Much of the second floor can be hired out for events and weddings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheltenham College</span> Public school in Gloucestershire, England

Cheltenham College is a public school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The school opened in 1841 as a Church of England foundation and is known for its linguistic, military, and sporting traditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Blanc</span> French chef (born 1949)

Raymond Blanc OBE is a French chef. Blanc is the chef at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a hotel-restaurant in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, England. The restaurant has two Michelin stars and scored 9/10 in the Good Food Guide. He is entirely self-taught, but has himself taught or employed other chefs including Heston Blumenthal, John Burton-Race, Michael Caines, Paul Liebrandt, and Marco Pierre White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Bank Parklands</span> Brisbane parkland

The South Bank Parklands are located at South Bank within the suburb of South Brisbane in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The parkland, on the transformed site of Brisbane's World Expo 88, was officially opened to the public on 20 June 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Playhouse, Cheltenham</span>

Cheltenham Playhouse is a community theatre in Cheltenham, England, UK. It opened in 1945 as the Civic Playhouse and was run by the Corporation of Cheltenham; it was taken over by volunteers in 1958 who continue to run the operation as a registered charity. It is housed in the former Montpellier Baths and the building dates back to 1806/7, making it one of the two oldest surviving spa buildings in the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittville</span>

Pittville is a residential suburb of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, founded in the early 19th century by Joseph Pitt. The population of Pittville Ward at the 2011 Census was 5,327. It contains Pittville Park, with its long gardens, two lakes, boat house, three cafes, tennis courts, menagerie, children's play area, 9-hole pitch and putt golf course, and one of Cheltenham's grandest and most celebrated buildings, the Pump Room.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival is one of the UK's leading jazz festivals, and is part of Cheltenham Festivals' annual festival season, also including the Science, Music and Literature Festivals in Cheltenham Spa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittville Pump Room</span> Building

The Pittville Pump Room was the last and largest of the spa buildings to be built in Cheltenham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Buonarotti Papworth</span> English architect, artist and a founder member of RIBA

John Buonarotti Papworth was a British architect, artist and a founder member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malmaison (hotel chain)</span> British hotel chain

Malmaison is a British company that operates sixteen hotels in the United Kingdom. The company was established in 1994, and is now owned by Frasers Property.

Pearson Thompson was an English solicitor and property developer who was responsible for the layout of a great part of Cheltenham, and of the Ladbroke Estate in London. He subsequently emigrated to Australia where he practiced law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Covent Garden Hotel</span> Hotel in London

Covent Garden Hotel is a 5-star hotel in London, England. It is located in Monmouth Street near Seven Dials in the West End, a short walk away from the Royal Opera House, and is surrounded by some 21 theatres. The hotel is part of Tim and Kit Kemp's Firmdale Hotels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montpellier Rotunda</span>

Montpellier Rotunda is a Grade I listed building in Montpellier, Cheltenham, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Street, Edinburgh</span> Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

George Street is the central thoroughfare of the First New Town of Edinburgh, planned in the 18th century by James Craig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lansdown, Cheltenham</span> Human settlement in England

Lansdown is a district of the Regency town Cheltenham Spa in Gloucestershire, England. Situated in a conservation area, much of the architecture is listed, including the distinctive Lansdown Estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheltenham Municipal Offices</span> Municipal building in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

The Cheltenham Municipal Offices are a municipal facility on The Promenade, Cheltenham, England. The offices, which are the headquarters of Cheltenham Borough Council, are a Grade II* listed building.

References

  1. "An insight into the rich history of Montpellier, Cheltenham". Great British Life. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  2. Hockin, Lynda. "Montpellier Gardens". www.cheltenham.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  3. "An insight into the rich history of Montpellier, Cheltenham". Great British Life. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  4. "Montpellier Arcade". VoiceMap. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  5. "10. The Bandstand (Montepellier Gardens) – The Wilson – Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum". www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  6. "Ascent and Descent. Mr Hampton's Balloon and Parachute, from the Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, October 3rd 1838 | Science Museum Group Collection". collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  7. "STATUE OF WILLIAM IV AT EAST END OF CENTRAL WALK, Non Civil Parish - 1103872 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  8. "Geograph:: William IV statue Montpellier Gardens,... © Tom Jolliffe cc-by-sa/2.0". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  9. "Tokyotattoo® Studios - Cheltenham Specialised Tattoo & Piercing Services". TOKYOTATTOO STUDIOS. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  10. https://www.tokyotattoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/79137770_646743979195735_5921590098121457664_n.jpg [ bare URL image file ]
  11. "Shopping in Montpellier and The Courtyard, Cheltenham". Visit Cheltenham. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  12. "Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival". web.archive.org. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  13. "Events in Montpellier Gardens | The Gardens Gallery Cheltenham". 13 March 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  14. "Edward Wilson: Growing up in Cheltenham – The Wilson – Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum". www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  15. "Edward Wilson – The Wilson – Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum". www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2025.

51°53′44″N2°4′57″W / 51.89556°N 2.08250°W / 51.89556; -2.08250