The Project
Built between 1826 and 1827, Beckford’s Tower is one of Bath’s most distinctive historic landmarks and the only surviving example of William Beckford’s major architectural achievements. The Grade I listed building was once home to one of the most significant collections of books, furniture and art in Georgian England.
In October 2019, Beckford’s Tower was added to the national Heritage at Risk Register, followed by development funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its conservation and restoration.
As part of the Our Tower: Reconnecting Beckford’s Tower and Landscape for All project, improved visitor access was planned, including the creation of safe access to the rooftop.
The Requirements
Providing rooftop access within a historically significant building required a solution that combined visitor safety with sensitivity to the existing structure and roof finish.
The system needed to provide a stable, anti-slip walking surface while protecting the lead roof beneath. With the rooftop intended to accommodate visitors, the walkway also needed to provide additional width and collective edge protection.
The Solution
The Ascent™ Aluminium Walkway system was specified by height safety installer JK Safety to provide safe, levelled access around the rooftop.
To accommodate the anticipated number of visitors, a double-width walkway configuration was specified, with guardrails installed to both sides to provide collective fall protection.
The walkway is levelled to create a stable walking surface and supported by non-penetrative feet positioned directly onto the lead roof. This approach avoids unnecessary penetrations through the roof finish while helping to distribute loads and protect the historic roof surface.
The result is a practical rooftop access solution designed to complement the sensitive restoration of this important heritage building while providing a safer route for visitors.
Designed for Long-Term Performance
The Ascent™ Aluminium Walkway system is designed and tested in accordance with BS EN 516:2006 and BS EN ISO 14122-2:2016 and BS EN ISO 14122-3:2016.
Manufactured at Safety Fabrications’ Sheffield facility from 6082-T6 structural-grade aluminium, the system combines strength, durability and corrosion resistance with a lightweight construction suitable for a wide range of rooftop applications.
Aluminium is also highly recyclable, helping to support a more circular approach to construction by allowing the material to be recovered and repurposed at the end of the system’s service life.
Related Products: Ascent Walkways
