Montpellier is a district of the

Regency In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

town

Cheltenham Spa Cheltenham () is a historic spa town and borough adjacent to 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 mo ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. Montpellier is one of the most historic areas of the Cheltenham, based at the end of the Promenade and south of the town centre. Originally developed in the 1830s in conjunction with the

spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa health treatments are known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters and hot springs goes back to pre ...

s, it is now known for its

Grade I In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...

and II* listed buildings,

Regency architecture Regency architecture encompasses classical buildings built in the United Kingdom during the Regency era in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to earlier and later buildings following the same style. The period c ...

, 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.

History

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 John Buonarotti Papworth (24 January 1775 – 16 June 1847) was a British architect, artist and a founder member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He adopted the middle name "Buonarotti" in around 1815. As well as being active in ...

as a pump room in 1825. There was a branch of

Lloyds Bank Lloyds Bank plc is a major British retail banking, retail and commercial bank with a significant presence across England and Wales. It has traditionally been regarded one of the "Big Four (banking)#England and Wales, Big Four" clearing house ...

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 Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (; 1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was a British Army officer and statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures in Britain during t ...

and many of his distinguished contemporaries. Many concerts were held in Montpellier Rotunda including

Jenny Lind Johanna Maria Lind (Madame Goldschmidt) (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in ...

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 Gustav Theodore Holst (born Gustavus Theodore von Holst; 21 September 1874 – 25 May 1934) was an English composer, arranger and teacher. Best known for his orchestral suite ''The Planets'', he composed many other works across a range ...

. 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 A caryatid ( ; ; ) is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term ''karyatides'' literally means "maidens of Karyai", an ancient tow ...

supporting the shop fronts. 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. 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. The gardens contain a Grade II listed statue of

King William IV William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded hi ...

. The statue was erected by public subscription in 1833 to commemorate the Kings coronation.

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 Bang & Olufsen (B&O) is a Danish high-end consumer electronics company that designs and manufactures Sound recording and reproduction, audio products, television sets, and telephones, originally from Denmark, founded in 1925 by Peter Bang (enginee ...

and Tokyotattoo Studios. The unique tattoo & piercing studio opened its doors in 2012 on November 5. The tattoo studio won Independent Business of the Year in 2018. Montpellier's bars and restaurants include ''The Montpellier Wine Bar'', ''The Ivy'', ''

All Bar One All Bar One is a chain consisting of 56 bars in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Mitchells and Butlers plc which was part of the Six Continents group (previously Bass Brewery, Bass) until 2003. Décor The concept was designed by Bass ...

'', ''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.'' 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 Times'' and ''The Sunday Times'' Cheltenham Literature Festival, a large-scale international festival of literature held every year in October in the English spa town of Cheltenham, and part of Cheltenham Festivals: also responsible for th ...

, the

Cheltenham Music Festival The Cheltenham Music Festival is a British music festival, held annually in Cheltenham in the summer months (June, July) since 1945. The festival is renowned for premieres of contemporary music, hosting over 250 music premieres as of July 2004. ...

, the

Cheltenham Science Festival Cheltenham Science Festival is one of the UK's leading science festivals, and is part of Cheltenham Festivals: also responsible for the Jazz, Music and Literature Festivals that run every year. The 2018 Cheltenham Science Festival (6–11 June) ...

and the

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 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. Introduction and history The Chelten ...

Notable Cheltonian

Birthplace of Edward Adrian Wilson - geograph

Cheltonian and English polar explorer,

Edward Adrian Wilson Edward Adrian Wilson (23 July 1872 – 29 March 1912) was an English polar explorer, ornithologist, natural historian, physician and artist. Early life Born in Cheltenham on 23 July 1872, Wilson was the second son and fifth child of ...

was born at 6 (now 91) Montpellier Terrace on 23 July 1872. 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 Captain Robert Falcon Scott (6 June 1868 – ) was a British Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the ''Discovery'' expedition of 1901–04 and the ''Terra Nova'' expedition of 1910–13. ...

on the

Great Ice Barrier The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf of Antarctica (, an area of roughly and about across: about the size of France). It is several hundred metres thick. The nearly vertical ice front to the open sea is more than long, and between high ...

March 1912.

Gallery

File:The promenade leading up to Montpellier Spa, Cheltenham. Par Wellcome V0012487.jpg, The promenade leading to Montpellier File:Montpellier Rotunda and Pump Room - geograph.org.uk - 5975367.jpg, Montpellier Rotunda and Pump Room File:Montpellier Wine Bar - geograph.org.uk - 7075803.jpg, Montpellier Wine Bar File:Montpellier Street, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 4138414.jpg, Montpellier Street File:Montpelier Street-Parabola Road, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 1133834.jpg, Montpellier Street-Parabola Road File:Montpellier Walk, Cheltenham Geograph-3214529-by-Jaggery.jpg, Montpellier Walk File:Italian restaurant, Montpellier, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 5237255.jpg, Italian restaurant, Montpellier File:Montpellier Street Cheltenham NE of the rotunda - geograph.org.uk - 3214131.jpg, Montpellier Street (North East) File:SE side of Montpellier Street, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 3214108.jpg, South East side of Montpellier Street File:The Montpellier, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 3214381.jpg, The Montpellier restaurant File:Shops on Montpellier Walk, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 4012387.jpg, Shops on Montpellier Walk File:Montpellier Spa Road, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 3214507.jpg, Montpellier Spa Road File:The Montpellier Chapter hotel, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 4651042.jpg, The Montpellier Chapter hotel File:Montpellier Arcade, Cheltenham.jpg, Italian restaurant in Montpellier File:Penfold pillar box and caryatids, Montpellier - geograph.org.uk - 288726.jpg, A rare Victorian Penfold pillar box File:Montpellier.jpg, Malmaison Hotel File:The Montpellier Rotunda, Cheltenham; interior. Line engravin Wellcome V0012472.jpg, The Montpellier Rotunda interior File:Montpellier Rotunda and Pump Room, Cheltenham.jpg, Montpellier Rotunda and Pump Room File:Mews Arch, Montpellier, Cheltenham Geograph-4075392-by-Chris-Allen.jpg, Mews Arch, Montpellier File:Montpellier Spa, Cheltenham. Lithograph by G. Rowe after him Wellcome V0012469.jpg, Montpellier Spa File:Caryatid, Montpellier - geograph.org.uk - 1224201.jpg, A Montpellier Caryatid File:Edward Adrian Wilson memorial, Montpellier Terrace - geograph.org.uk - 4423117.jpg,

Edward Wilson (explorer) Edward Adrian Wilson (23 July 1872 – 29 March 1912) was an English polar exploration, polar explorer, ornithologist, natural historian, physician and artist. Early life Born in Cheltenham on 23 July 1872, Wilson was the second son a ...

birthplace File:View towards Montpellier - geograph.org.uk - 991190.jpg, View towards Montpellier from the promenade File:Montpellier Rotunda and Pump Room - geograph.org.uk - 6887710.jpg, Montpellier Rotunda and Pump Room File:Avenue in Montpellier Gardens - geograph.org.uk - 5975346.jpg,

William IV William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded hi ...

statue in Montpellier Gardens File:Caryatids in Montpellier - geograph.org.uk - 6887790.jpg, Caryatids in Montpellier File:Montpellier Gardens - geograph.org.uk - 6326860.jpg, Montpellier Gardens File:Cheltenham, Montpellier Street, Cafe Culture - geograph.org.uk - 2842386.jpg, Restaurants Montpellier Street File:Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 3214692.jpg, Montpellier Gardens File:Montpellier Street - geograph.org.uk - 991198.jpg, Cheltenham Ladies College close to Montpellier Street File:Lansdown Road near the Gordon Lamp, Cheltenham - geograph.org.uk - 1471991.jpg, The

Bicycle Path A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist. ...

into Montpellier from

Lansdown, Cheltenham 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. Origins Like Montpellier Montpellier (; ...

References

* Verey, David (1976) ''Gloucestershire: the Vale and the Forest of Dean'', (The Buildings of England), 2nd ed. Penguin Books

External links

* {{coord, 51, 53, 44, N, 2, 4, 57, W, scale:10000, display=title

Montpellier Montpellier (; ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of France, department of ...