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For sale: Bristol building with bonus Banksy
One of the most famous artworks by Banksy still in its original Bristol location seems to come as an afterthought in the sale of a building in the city centre.
Well Hung Lover is included as part of a “development opportunity” for a property with a front door on Unity Street but which also faces onto Park Street and Frogmore Street.
Its location slightly set back from the road is because of a gas explosion in 1976 that destroyed 4 and 6 Park Street.
is needed now More than ever
Well Hung Lover was painted by Banksy in 2006 – photo: Martin Booth
Under the cover of scaffolding, Banksy painted Well Hung Lover in 2006 on the side of what is often reported to have been a sexual health clinic.
After the artwork of a man hanging from a window was revealed, Bristol City Council asked the public whether the piece should stay or not.
It was decided that the mural could remain in place and graffiti officially became part of ‘brand Bristol’.
The piece was vandalised with a paintball gun in 2009 while the Banksy Versus Bristol Museum exhibition was taking place, with splodges of blue and pink paint still visible.
1 Unity Street is being sold at auction on February 12 with a guide price of £700,000.
The listing with Hollis Morgan says that the vacant upper floors “offer scope for a residential conversion”, with the property also including Golden Crane cocktail bar that in years gone by was the Tube and Nocturne, owned by members of Massive Attack.
As for the original Banksy artwork, the estate agents report “there is no official BCC (Bristol City Council) policy with regard to street art, whether by Banksy or others as it is recognised that street art is created not as a permanent work of art but as a form of protest which is usually, but not always, created illegally and without the permission of the owner of the building”.
“As such, the life of any image as a work of art will evolve and change over time depending on how the work weathers or indeed is subsequently painted over or removed.
“Accordingly the purchaser will be required to accept a restrictive covenant in the lease ensuring that the image cannot be removed from the building, however, the vendor will not require a positive obligation on the purchaser to maintain the artwork or insure it for as long as it shall remain visible and in place on the building.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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