Bath

Bath was England's most fashionable spa town in the 18th century.  Everyone who was anyone headed to this town on the river Avon to "take the waters" and attend the theaters. It is known for the Roman baths, sweeping Georgian style terraces and buildings made from the honey-hued Limestone. 

 

 

The entire city of Bath is a world heritage site. It owes its existence to water - the natural hot springs from under the ground that are between 4,000 and 10,000 years old. The river springs pump out about a 1,000,000 liters a day, the water full of minerals including iron. The water is supposed to be a healthy living cure for things like arthritis and rheumatoidism. Here is the Cross Bath, favored by the royals of the time. 

 

Legend says that Prince Bladud (rumored to be King Lear's father), had leprosy and so was banished to be the swine herd out in the country.  The pigs caught the leprosy from him, but were cured from rolling in the natural springs. So Prince Bladud bathed in the spring, was cured, and went back to found the city of Bath. In reality Bath was founded by the Romans who worshiped their goddesses in the city when they saw steam rising from the earth.  There is quite a bit of acorns found in the architecture, in honor of the pigs' favorite food and Prince Bladud. See them on the top of this building. 

 

Bath is known for its Neoclassical architecture in the Palladian style. It is the first example of town planning in England. The first circular street (a Circus) was built here in the classical style - like an inside out coliseum.  It was started in the mid 1700s and is actually the same dimensions as Stonehenge. 

 

 

 

 

We started at the top of the hill and walked through the Circus over to the next area along with our guide. The Royal Crescent is another famous part of the city - 31 houses built in a half moon shape overlooking a beautiful green area once used for promenading in finery during the Season (when men and women were paired off as part of the Marriage Mart and wanted to see and be seen). The comedian John Cleese from Monty Python lives in one of these Georgian houses. This is where the rich gentlemen would hire a house for the Season to come find a wife. It became fashionable to take the waters of Bath - by bathing in or drinking the water   The rich and powerful would come here during the Season and many others followed them with the intention of making marriage matches.

 

 

On the way down toward the baths we passed a beautiful garden with tulips in bloom!

 

 

Jane Austen lived in Bath for 4 years and the first line of Pride and Prejudice line is, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that any man of considerable fortune must be in want of a wife." We drove by her house (the one with the white door) and several students and of course Mrs. Davala stopped by the museum gift shop. 

 

 

 

We ended our walking tour in the center of the city right in front of the Roman Baths we will see later his afternoon. For now, we are sending the kids out for lunch and some free time - I'm sure they will shop :)