Much of the ensuing decade was wasted promoting schemes for civic improvement he would never see realized, several of which are on show here.

The object of the society was the civic improvement of the village and the town.

One of the symbols of the late-19th century civic improvement, the baths were subsequently demolished.

This resulted in major civic improvement projects such as a pumping stations and water mains in 1896.

Now civic improvements and an increase in buyers looking for year-round cultural buzz mean it has swung back into vogue.