I am still getting used to writing ‘2025’ – it’s a change that seems to take a while to stick and it has got me thinking about some of the other transitions happening around Cheltenham at the moment.

Perhaps the biggest change for us will be the sale of the Municipal Offices and the resulting change of our location in the town centre. The sale will not happen overnight, so I feel this is a good opportunity to reflect on some of the history of this beautiful landmark.

Our town first put itself on the map in the early 1700s when mineral springs were discovered here, leading to Cheltenham becoming a holiday destination for people across the country to unwind and rejuvenate in the spa waters. The visit of King George III and his family cemented Cheltenham’s reputation as a fashionable place to live, work and visit.

Beautiful regency buildings sprang up as Cheltenham’s fame grew. Construction of what would become the Municipal Offices (then a row of terraced townhouses) started in 1823. The thirteen five-storey homes were initially known as the Harward Buildings for their developer Samuel Harward.

An argument led to the Offices ‘turning their back’ on the Crescent

The story goes that the residential buildings were originally designed to face the Royal Crescent but an argument between developers led to the Municipal Offices ‘turning their back’ on the Crescent and facing the other way!

By the end of Victorian times the buildings had largely fallen into disrepair, becoming ‘common lodging’. In 1916, the council acquired the seven central houses for use as our headquarters.

As the purpose of the Municipal Offices has changed over time, so has the interior. Despite many original features being removed or replaced, the beautiful Regency-style external façade has, thankfully, been protected; and looking at the front of the building from the Long Gardens is like gazing back in time.

So, we come to the present day. By now the building has been our offices for longer than they were homes and it is time for a change. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this special building.