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http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031261609

HANDBOOK

TO

BATH

PREPARED ON THE OCCASION
OF THE VISIT OF

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION,
1888.

BY VARIOUS AUTHORS.

EDITED BY

J. W. MORRIS, F.L.S.
oC

BATH:
ISAAC PITMAN AND SONS
AND SOLD BY ALL BATH BOOKSELLERS.

Entered at Stationers’ Hall.

KR

ISAAC PITMAN AND SONS, PRINTERS, BATH.

PREFACE.

WENTY-FOUR years have elapsed since the British
Association assembled in Bath, under the Presidency
of Sir Charles Lyall.

The changes which have taken place in the city, and
which will attract the attention of those who now re-visit it,
are more remarkable in the disclosure of Ancient remains
than in the development of the modern city, though this has.
been considerable and continuous.

The “ Handbook” which is now tendered for the accept-
ance of the Members of the Association, has been written
with a view to presenting concisely and readily, not merely
the characteristics of a residential city of exceptional attrac-
tiveness, but the continuous history of an ancient borough
rich in monumental evidence of varying fortune in changing
times, and illustrating in that history the revolutions of race,
the changes of manners, the progress of society, in no
ordinary degree.

The charms of the delightful neighbourhood, the attrac-
tions of the stately and regular domestic architecture of the
Queen of the West, speak for themselves ; but the historical
associations need the narration of the Annalist, and the
unique remains of ancient Art, of ancient luxury and
civilization, the elucidation of the Antiquary. These are
here supplied, not certainly with the completeness which

Iv. Preface.

might be desired, but at least with the accuracy of con-
tributors competent to speak with authority upon the sub-
jects assigned to their care.

The restrictions of space have indeed imposed upon the
several writers a limitation which has been fatal to much
pleasant enlargement, a brevity of treatment most unfavour-
able not only to the scope of enquiry but to all that literary
delightfulness which less severe conditions would have
allowed ; but a Handbook is all that was designed, and a
Handbook is all that is secured. Prominence has been
given to those features of interest which are peculiar to the
city, and it will probably be observed that in a very marked
measure, in the Topography as in the History, these features
represent a remarkable natural development and veritable
growth, determined largely by conditions long antecedent
to the earliest records. The Geologist will recognize not
only the rock formations from which has been hewn the
uniform and workable freestone employed alike in the most
ancient edifices and most modern buildings of the city,
but the conformation of the hills and intersecting combes
which have suggested the sites of its stately crescents and
well proportioned streets. The camps which crowned the
hills and the baths which occupied the valley alike tell of
the acceptance of natural conditions, but the former have
passed away with the times to which they belonged, while
the latter have attained a perfection of adaptation to modern
requirements which only the advance of modern science has
rendered possible. Turn where we may, the city is eloquent
of the past; turn where we may, we see the evidences of
Nature’s bountiful provision for the creation of a fair city,
the health resort of the afflicted, the home of culture, and
centre of refinement. The geniws loct is everywhere in

Preface. v.

evidence, and the reputation of the past is maintained in
the progress of the present. Centralization has perhaps told
more upon the accidental than the essential features of the
city and the city life. The healing Springs still yield their
beneficent supply, and still attract from far and near the
sufferers who find in “health restored” Bath’s chief attrac-
tion and best right to fame. The “resources of civilization”
here wear a smiling face, and so far from being ‘ exhausted”
are extended and applied with every assiduity of enterprise
—the City of the Sun is still the rendezvous of wealth and
fashion, of marriageable youth, of reverend and graceful
age. Undistinguished as a city by the possession of great
institutions for the prosecution of Science, Bath welcomes
none the less the return of the British Association to her
borders, appreciative of their admirable labours, sympathiz-
ing warmly in their patient investigations, and honoured by
their acceptance of the hospitality of which it is hoped the
“‘ Handbook” may be a perpetual memorial.

CORRIGENDA ET ADDENDA.

Page 34—For 1016, vead 1013.

Page 61—Battle of Lansdown, add—The Parliamentarians were encamped
on the south of what was then known as Stoke Wood, a quarter of
a mile east of North Stoke Church, on a slightly sloping ground.
This position commanded the whole valley of the Avon as far as
Keynsham. The Royalists were distant (north of this) 114 miles, on
the south side of Frisen Hill, Beach Brook being in front.

Page 101—For Parliamentary, vead Parliamentarian.
Page r10—For 1860, read 1862.

Page 144, line 7—A/ter the words ‘‘known to exist,” read ‘‘ on the site,
(though many fragments are preserved in the Museum of the
Institution).” :

Page-157—A/fter second paragraph, add—The view of the Cross Bath in
Dingley’s History from Marble, drawn, it is believed, in. 1684, is so
very indifferent a sketch that it fails to give any correct idea of the
Bath. In the centre is a most extraordinary and disproportionate
structure called an ‘‘ Umbrellon,” which is said to have been erected
and leaded by Mr. Coo in 1674, a year before the gallery, pump, and
cistern were given by Lord Brooke.

Page 240—After concluding paragraph, add—Those who wish to ascertain
more details as to the climate of Bath, so important to the increasing
number of visitors and invalids who come here for rest and health, may
consult the various communications made to the Bath Natural History
and Antiquarian Field Club by the Rev. Leonard Blomefield. ‘‘ Pro-
ceedings,” vol. i., p. 43; vol. ii., p. 161; vol. iii., p. 205: vol. iv., p. 209;
vol. v., p. 111; and vol. vi., p. 185.

CONTENTS.

ETHNOLOGICAL HISTORY.—By Dr. Beppor, F.R.s. .
BRITISH AND ROMAN ANTIQUITIES OF BATH.—By Rev.

Pres. SCARTH, M.A. . : ‘

BATH DURING BRITISH INDEPENDENCE.—-By Rev. Pror.
Earle cS °

BATH UNDER WEST SAXON DOMINION—By Rev. Pror. Earte

BATH—ITS GENERAL HISTORY FROM THE NORMAN CON-
QUEST TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.— By Austin
J. Kine

BATH IN ITS RELATION TO ART, SCIENCE, LITERATURE
AND EDUCATION.-—By Jerom Murcu, D.t.

THE ABBEY-CHURCH.-—By Cuartes W. Dymonp, F.s.a.

THE BATHS, ANCIENT AND MODERN.—By Cuartzs E. Davis,
F.S.A.

THE BATH THERMAL WATERS; AND BATH AS A HEALTH
RESORT. —By Toun Kent SPENDER, M.D.

THE ENVIRONS OF BATH.—By Wiiiam DavuBeny
NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF CLAVERTON.—By Henry

Duncan SKRINE, M.A., D.L. % Be
HAMPTON CAMP.—By Cuartss E, Davis, F S.A. ,
GEOLOGY.—By Rev. H. H. Winwoop, M.A., F.G.S. .
METEOROLOGY.—By Rev. H. H. Winwoon, o.A., fos.
BOTANY.— By Wituram G, WuEatcrorr “
ZOOLOGY.—By Cuartes TERRY, M.R.C.S. :

a
i.

AFTERWORD BY THE EpITor.
1

21

137
147

163
180

198
203
208
237
241
258

AUTHORITIES AND WORKS OF REFERENCE.

The Bibliography of Bath is far too extensive to be repre-
sented in the space here available. The works now mentioned
are those deemed most likely to be at once serviceable and
accessible.

Abbey Church of Bath, The (BRITTON).—R. E. PEACH.
Aquz Solis, or Notices of Roman Bath.—Rev. Preb. SCARTH.
Bath, Ancient and Modern.—Rev. Prof. EARLE.
Bath, Annals of—Captain MAINWARING.

» Antiquities of—Rev. R. WARNER.

» Description of—J. Woop,

» History of—Rev. R. WARNER.

» Historic Guide to—Rev. G. R. WRIGHT, M.A.

1, Historic Houses of—R. E. PEACH.

», Mineral Waters.—A. B. BRABAZON, M.D.

», Municipal Records of—A. J. K1nc and B. H. WarTTs.

», Old and New.—R. E. PEACH.

», Rambles about—R. E. PEACH.
Bathes of Bathes Ayde, The (Dr. JoNnEs),—C. E. Davis.
Flora Bathoniensis.—C. C. BABINGTON.
Manual for the Park.—F. HANHAM, M.R.C.S.
Mineral Waters.—Louis KING, M.R.C.S.
Popular Guide to the Use of the Bath Waters.—J. G. Kerr, M.B., C.M.
Thermal Baths of Bath.—H. W. FREEMAN, F.R.C.S.
Thermal Waters.—J. K. SPENDER, M.D.

Handbook to Bath.

ETHNOLOGICAL HISTORY.
Dr. BEppog, F.R.S.

HE ethnological history of the district surrounding Bath

is not without interest. The City lies not far from the
Wansdyke, an ancient earthwork which runs to the south of
it, and is conspicuous near the village of Englishcombe, and
which is generally believed to have been a frontier between
the Celtic Belgee and the (possibly Iberian or at least Celti-
berian) Boduni or-Dobuni. To the south and south-east,
and along the Cotswolds to the north, is a land of dykes,
camps, and primeval fortifications : much learning and keen
observation have been expended* on attempts to attribute
these earthworks to their right owners among the successive
waves of Celtic colonization ; but the subject must remain
full of doubt. At a later date, the Roman occupation of Bath
must have brought together a mixed population, of whom
some may have been of genuine Roman or at least Italian
blood. The skull of a man whose remains were lately found

* By Dr. Guest, for example, and by Dr. Bryan Walker (Camb, Antiq.
Soc. Rep.)

2

2 Ethnological History.

in a stone sarcophagus at North Stoke exhibits indications
which may be so construed. Of earlier skulls there are in
the Museum of the Philosophical Institution one or two of
small size and inferior development, which Dr. Henry Bird
describes as “tump skulls,” and refers to the earliest race ;
but the attribution is uncertain.
Saxon Bath was taken, according to the Chronicle,
Conquests. by Ceawlin of Wessex, after his great victory
at Deorham, in a.D. 577, when he slew three kings and took
three chesters, of which Bathanceaster was one (see Hallett,
“ Bristol and Gloucestershire Archeological Transactions,”
viii, 62). It is believed that Bath lay waste for some time
after its capture, and its inhabitants were probably dis-
persed or amalgamated with the Britons who formed the
lower strata of the neighbouring population. It is doubtful
whether the West Saxons crossed the Avon southwards
after the battle of Deorham. Englishcombe, a village to
the south-west of Bath, already mentioned as close to the
Wansdyke, must at some time have been again a boundary,
this time between the Welsh and the invading Saxons, but
whether this was immediately after Deorham fight, or some-
what later, is not quite clear. Dr. Guest ingeniously shewed
the probability that the Damnonian kingdom, for some time
after that event, still included the valley of the Upper Avon,,
and the western borders of Wiltshire ; though no one doubts.
that the valleys which radiate northwards and westwards
from Salisbury, including Wilton, the mother settlement of
Wiltshire, had been occupied by the West Saxons at a very
early date. Certainly the race frontier hereabout, though
often strongly marked, is very winding and irregular.
Malmesbury (Maildulfs-bury ? Moelmydsbury ?)* was an

* Founded by Maildulf, Meildulf, or Meldun, an Irish Monk,

Lthnological History. 3

old Celtic ecclesiastical foundation. There
may seem to have been something, so late
as the days of Athelstan, which marked off the freemen of
Malmesbury from their neighbours; else why the unique
gift of land which rewarded their valour at Brunanburgh ?
Chippenham was probably | the centre of a strong Saxon
colony ; and its capture by the Danes brought about the
temporary ruin of the West Saxon kingdom. Calne seems
to have longer remained Celtic. In these cases the physical
aspect of the population still gives some confirmation to these
conjectures. Further south, the vale of the Wiley has a very
blond Teutoniform population, and further still the observa-
tions of General Pitt Rivers concur with my own, in shewing
that the physical type changes as one passes from the tribu-
tary valleys of the Southern Avon towards those of the Stour.

Central Dorsetshire was politically Saxon, we may suppose,
in A.D. 636, when Cynegils was baptized at Dorchester. It
was from this side, according to Mr. Kerslake, if I understand
him rightly, that the conquest of central Somerset was effected :
in any case, it can hardly have been later in date than 658,
when Kenwalh fought the Britons at Peonna, and pursued
them to the Parret. The invaders settled pretty thickly in
many parts of eastern and central Somerset ; but less so," I
think, in Mendip, and within the old forest of Selwood, and
towards Wincanton.

Nounai The Norman conquest did not apparently

sehen: affect the ethnological constitution of the three
counties with which we have to do, so much as it did that of
some other parts of England. Wiltshire is especially remark-
able for the extent to which the Saxon owners retained their
estates under the new regime,

At a much later period there was a considerable immigra-

2?

Celtic Element.

4 Ethnological History.

tion from the Continent into some of the towns of this
district, where the manufacture of “West of England ” cloths
has since been carried on. The immigrants were partly
Flemings, partly Walloons, partly natives of different parts
of France. The evidence of surnames proves that there has
been, during the last few centuries, a very considerable
immigration of Welshmen from beyond the Severn, especially
into Gloucestershire. That of Scotchmen and Irishmen has
been comparatively small, except into Bristol: and even
there the Irish element is smaller than might have been
expected from the constant intercourse with the Irish seaports.

Proportion of | The varying proportions of the race-elements
Race-elements. of population are hereabouts indicated much
more clearly by complexion and colour of hair, and by facial
features, than by stature or by the principal dimensions of
the head. Thus, the people of the Cotswolds and of Eastern
Wiltshire are generally fairer in complexion and smoother in
feature than those of Selwood and Mendip. In Wiltshire I
find 35 per cent. of adults to have dark brown or black hair, in
Gloucestershire 42, in Bath 36, in Somerset 51, the proportion
increasing as we proceed westwards. The average stature,
according to the Report of the Anthropometric Committee,
is in Wiltshire 66°34 inches (without shoes), in Gloucester-
shire 66°31, in Somerset 66°30 ; the figures being thus almost
identical. The material for these schedules was mostly of
my own collection. I am inclined to think that the average
in Upper Wiltshire would be greater. The ratio of head-
breadth to length is in Wiltshire very low, only 76-8 in the
living subject ; in Gloucestershire it is 77°6 ; in East Somerset
77°73; in Bristol, where the population has of course been
chiefly recruited from Gloucestershire and Somerset, it is
77°65, being exactly the mean of the two.

BRITISH AND ROMAN ANTIQUITIES OF BATH.
Rev. PREBENDARY SCARTH, M.A.

ATH was known to the Ancients under the title of Upata
THERMA, Ague Calida, according to the Geography of
Ptolemy, who wrote about A.D. 120. It was then known
as one of the principal cities of the Belgic Tribe which
inhabited the South and West of Britain.

In the 14th Iter of Antoninus it is called Ague Solis.

In consequence of several altars having been found in
Bath, dedicated to the Goddess Sul or Sul-Minerva, it has
been conjectured that the name was “ Ague Sulis.” It
may have been so, but no direct proof of this has yet been
obtained, although of late the idea has become current
among some whose opinions are entitled to respect.

In the Ravenna list, it is simply called Aguzs.

Solinus, who wrote, as some suppose, as early as the year
A.D. 80, but most probably at a later date, mentions the
“Calidi Fontes,” ‘‘ad usus Mortalium,” and further describes
them as “ opiparo exculti apparatu,” which shews that daths
and bathing-rooms had then been built and adorned; he
also speaks of AMinerva.as the presiding divinity, which
quite accords with the inscriptions found on Roman altars
dug up in Bath. He tells us also of the “perpetui ignes”
kept burning in her temple, and states that they were fed
with a peculiar fuel, which seems, from his description, to have
been coal, then no doubt a great rarity, but which is known
to have cropped out at the surface of the ground not far
from Bath.

6 British and Roman Antiquities of Bath.

The city most probably owed its early celebrity and enrich-
ment to its Thermal Springs, and it is not at all improbable
that these springs were first utilized by the Romans, in the
reign of Claudius, when the south and west of Britain were
brought under Roman rule (crca A.D. 49):

The extent of the Roman baths in Agu@ Solis has only
lately been ascertained with any correctness, and is not yet
complete, as much remains to be explored; but what has
been brought to light indicates massive structure, excellent
masonry, a noble plan and arrangements, and indications of
elegant ornamentation. The pipes were made and conduits
and baths covered with lead drawn from the abundant
mines spoken of by Solinus, “largam Variamque Copiam,
quibus Britanniz Solum undique generum pollet venis locu-
pletibus.” The lead was no doubt drawn from the Mendip
mines, to which further reference will be made. The con-
struction of the baths and their plan, is of the best age of
“Roman workmanship. They are probably not later than
the time of Agricola, and may have been the work of the
preceding governor, Frontinus, whose work “de Aqui-
ductibus ” still exists, and who had done so much in Rome
for the water supply of the city.

From an early date improvements were doubtless carried
out in these baths until the final close of the Roman rule
over Britain. For further particulars reference must be
made to the description by Major Davis.

The circuit of the Roman city extended about a mile
in compass, enclosing the hot springs and a considerable
habitable area.

The Medizval walls followed the course of the Roman,
and are ascertained to have been built upon the Roman
foundations.

British and Roman Antiquities of Bath. 7

The site of the Roman Forum may be laid
down with tolerable certainty. Thus the
Abbey Church marks the eastern limit, and the Pump Room
Hotel the western. The Baths formed the southern sidé,
covering the whole space between the present Pump Room
and the Abbey, and the opposite, or northern side, reached
from the Abbey nearly to the Pump Room Hotel, leaving
the space now occupied by the Abbey churchyard open,
but much wider than at present. When the Pump Room
Hotel was built, the remains of a temple, the platform on
which it stood, and of the colonnade that surrounded it,
could be made out.*

The site of the present Abbey Church is believed to be
that of a Roman temple, or other public building.

In other parts of the town, and within the enclosure of
the Roman walls, many tesselated pavements have been
found, and can still be inspected. They are left i sctu,
one under the Mineral-Water-Hospital and the court and
garden adjoining it, another under the Blue-coat-school, and
a third under the wing added to the United or Casualty-
Hospital 24 years ago. Adjoining this latter, Roman baths,
apparently belonging to a private residence, were also
discovered.

The Forum.

ANCIENT Camps, EARTHWORKS, AND ROADS, ADJACENT
TO Batu.

In the neighbourhood of the city, many traces of ancient
camps remain. The earliest, or pre-Roman, are to be found
(1) on the isolated hill above Bath-Easton, called Salisbury
or Solsbury. There are traces of an earthen rampart sur.
rounding the hill, and there ancient interments have been

* See p. 18.

8 British and Roman Antiquities of Bath.

found, and flint flakes, used for weapons or other primitive
purposes.

The isolated position of this hill must have always rendered
it a point of importance. Water is abundant on its sides.

(2) The camp overlooking North Stoke, on the western
extremity of Lansdown, under which an interment in a
stone coffin has lately been found.

This camp is cut off by a ditch and mound, which
separate it from the down. There isa mound in the centre,
and a road passes through the middle of the earthwork.
Ata short distance from this, eastward, are the remains of
a rectangular earthwork, apparently of Roman construction.

Further to the East, along the down, are the remains of
a quadrilateral earthwork, apparently Roman, through which
the turnpike road passes. The two last-mentioned earth-
works were probably summer camps for Roman soldiers.
At Langridge, many remains of Roman occupation have
been found, and stone coffins, in one of which was dis-
covered, about 25 years ago, a weapon of medizeval times,
the coffin having been used for a second interment.

(3) On the opposite side of the valley, on Hampton
Down, are the remains of a Belgic settlement, the divisions
of which and the road passing into it have been traced.*
The forest country around Bath, and bordering on the
course of the River Avon and its tributary streams, must
have harboured many of the original inhabitants, who
were held in subjection by the Romans, and were no doubt
largely employed by them. (See Elton’s “Origins of English
History, pp. 106, 223; and Green’s “ Making of England.”)

The earthwork of early date, called the Wans-

‘Wansdike: DIKE—probably constructed by the Belgze, as

* See Index, ‘‘ Camps.”

i ka R
British and Roman Antiquities of Bath. 9

the limit of their territory, which has been traced westward to
Maesknoll, and eastward to Savernake Forest—forms the
northern boundary of their settlement on Hampton Down.
On the side of the hill an ancient interment was discovered,
and some long barrows, but the quarrying on the hill, and
other disturbances of the ground, have obliterated many of
the primeval marks. Before the down was brought under
cultivation, and in the direction of Prior Park, could also be
seen traces of a Roman camp. The same is stated to have
been the case above Bloomfield (formerly Cottage) Crescent,
(see Phelps’ “Somerset,” vol. i, p. 171, and ‘“ Aquz Solis,”
p: 130,) but the quarrying has effaced nearly every vestige of
this work, which still bears the name of Brerewick Camp.
Looking to the East from the summit of Hampton Down
we trace the line of Wansdike into Wiltshire. After leaving
Hampton Down it runs into the valley and crosses the Avon
about midway between Bathford and Warleigh, on the pro-
perty of Mr. Skrine, where it can be clearly seen. From
thence it ascends the hill to Farley Down, but the traces
are effaced by quarrying. On the summit of the down it is
found adapted to the purpose of a Roman road made upon
it, and it is thus clearly shown that the dike is much earlier
than the road. (See Hoare’s “ Ancient Wilts, Rom. Azra,”
and Rev. A. C. Smith’s “Brit. and Rom, Antiq. of Wilts,”
p. 52, and following, with plan and drawings, and Som.
Arch., and N. H. Proc., vol. vii, p. 9.) The road is clearly
traceable past the grounds at Neston Park, until it comes
upon the open down, not far from Marlbro’, where it sepa-
-rates from the dike, and the dike can be seen in its full
proportions traversing the Wiltshire Downs. South-West of
Bath the course of the Wansdike may be traced behind Prior
Park, but the traces are indistinct until it passes through

10 British and Roman Antiquities of Bath.

Newton Park, where they are very plain ; thence it continues
to English Combe and Stantonspury CAMP.

(4) This camp is distant about four miles from Bath, and
occupies an elevated and insulated hill, commanding a fine
view over the adjacent country. The Wansdike runs along
the northern side, and from thence can be traced at inter-
vals as far as Maesknoll, but from this point its course is
only conjectural. It is supposed to have terminated either
at the Avon near Clifton, or lower down at Portishead.

Stantonbury Camp is divided into two portions, and in-
closes a wide area, wherein are remains of hut circles.

(5) MAESKNOLL is another earthwork on the line of
Wansdike, and occupies the east end of Dundry Hill, from
which it is severed by a deep ditch. It is defended on three
sides by the nature of the ground, and follows the shape of
the hill, which has been scarped to render it more difficult
of access. It is defended on the south and east sides by
earthworks, within which is enclosed the spring which sup-
plied the camp with water.

Not far from Maesknoll, on the side of Bath, is the little
village of Compton Dando, and here may be seen a Roman
Altar built into an external buttress of the church, on the
North side. The sides of the Altar have two figures, one of
Apollo playing the lyre, the other apparently Hercules with
his club, (see “‘ Aquze Solis, p. 41.) Both are much defaced
and difficult to make out. The camps on the line of Wans-
dike give evidence of Roman occupation.

Two important roads entered the city. One
called the Foss, coming from Seaton through
Ilchester (an important city in the country of the Belge in
Roman times,) entered the city by crossing the river at. ,
the point where the modern bridge now stands, and which

Roads.

British and Roman Antiquities of Bath, II

probably succeeded a Roman bridge. This road quitted the
city by the North gate, and passing through Walcot, followed
the river to Bath-Easton, whence it passed up the hill in
a direct line to Cirencester, the Roman CorINiIuM.

Asecond came from S. Wales. It crossed the Severn near
Aust, approached Bath by Bitton, and entered the city at the
South gate, leaving it at the North gate, and uniting with the
Foss Road until it came to Bath-Easton, where it branched
off, ascended Bathford Hill, and made straight for Marlbro,’
the Roman CuNETIO.

The lines of these roads outside the city walls, are marked
by ancient Roman interments.

Military It seems doubtful if Bath was an ancient Mili-

Station. tary Station, although fortified and rendered
capable of defence. Monumental stones erected to com-
memorate soldiers of the znd and the 2oth legion, (the one
stationed at Caerleon in S. Wales, the other at Chester,) and a
monument to a soldiér of the Spanish cavalry, have been dis-
covered, but the soldiers whose names are recorded may have
come to Bath for the benefit of the Thermal Springs and the
recovery of health. Votive altars also remain which had been
set up as thank-offerings for benefits received from the Springs.

An inscribed stone which was discovered at Combe Down,
a mile from Bath, $.W., about forty years ago, records the
restoration of the “ Principia,” or Officers-quarters by Vevius,
a freedman of the Emperor, PRO SALVTE IMP. CAES. M. AVR.
ANTONINI PII FELIcIS. It had been used for the purpose
of covering a stone coffin of a later date, but is now in
the Museum of the Literary Institution. This leads to the
idea that there must have been a military force stationed in
Bath, though not probably a large one. At Caerleon, we
have the second legion permanently located, a colony planted

12 British and Roman Antiquities of Bath.

at Gloucester, and a body of cavalry at Cirencester, but no

bricks or stones having a legionary stamp or that of a cohort

have been found in Bath, as at the former places.

At WELLow, about four miles S. from the city,

is the site of a villa, with good tesselated
pavements, which, though now covered, remain i# si/z, and
have been drawn and engraved; as also have those found
on the site of a villa near Newton St. Loe. Villas have
also been found at Colerne, and near Tracey Park, at Box,
at Warley, and on the skirts of Lansdown. These indicate
a settled condition of the country, improvement of the land,
and the introduction of more civilized life.

At Wellow can also be seen a large chambered tumulus,
not far from the site of the Roman villa. This has been
described and drawn in the “ Archeologia,” and in the
“ Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archeological and Natural
Listory Society,” vol. viil., p. 35.

A list of Roman ViLas is given in “ Aque Solis,” (p. 112
and following). The principal are at Wel/ow, the pavements
of which were drawn and published by the Rev. J. Skinner,
Rector of Camerton, 1823 ; at Vewton St. Loe, in which was
a tesselated pavement, drawn in “ Aquee Solis,” p. 115 ; at
Combe Down, (see p. 115 for drawings of the Roman Pot-
tery and Glass found on the site, also for interments, an ac-
count of which is given in the “ Proceedings of the Somer-
setshire Archeological and Natural History Society,” vol. v.,

-pp. 59, 60); at Warleigh, where a sculptured capital was
found, now in the Museum of the Bath Literary and
Scientific Institution, (see “ Aquze Solis,” p. 119); also at
Hazlebury Farm, see Dr. Musgrave’s “ Belgium Britanicum,”
and “ Aquee Solis,” p. 120; at Farley Castle, between that
place and Iford; at Colerne, Wilts., (see Archeological

Roman Villas.

British and Roman Antiquities of Bath. 13

Journal, vol. xiii., p. 326, and “ Aquz Solis,” p. 120); and
at North Wraxall (see Wilts. Archeological and Natural
History Magazine, vol. vii). Many more have been found
on Lansdown; at Langridge, where stone coffins have been
dug up; at Box, on the London road, where pavements, a
hypocaust, and a bath, were laid open; at Congrove, on
Beach Farm, where stone coffins have also been found ; at
Hanham Green, and near Tracey Park; at North Stoke, at
Burnett, and at other points too numerous to specify.
Monumental There are ten funereal monuments at present

Remains. either existing, or recorded to have been
found, in Bath, and two more which are commemorative,
and several portions of others of which the inscriptions have
been destroyed. Besides these we have an altar, dedicated
to the Genius Loci, a fragment of a stone, apparently monu-
mental, bearing the name of Q. Pomperv(s) ANIcETVs, (found
1879,) and a stone which commemorates the Restoration and
Repurgation of a Locus religiosus, by C..SEVERIUS EMERITUS,
and is dedicated to the Wumina Augustorum.

One stone, apparently the side stone of the ascent to a
building, has sculptures on it representing Hercules Bibax
and /upiter, and another the bust of a Roman wearing a
toga. One represents a standard-bearer, and another a
dog carrying a deer. These are apparently parts of tomb-
stones. ‘

A COLOSSAL FEMALE HEAD, now in the Literary and
Scientific Institution, was found in 1714, and carried to
Exeter, where it remained for some years. It has since
been restored to Bath. It probably stood on a pedestal,
or formed part of a figure, which must have been more than
eight feet high. The head-dress is covered with small curls.
Dr. Musgrave considered it to be about the date of Agricola,

14 British and Roman Antiquities of Bath.

but it is probably later, and may be assigned to the reign of
the Emperor Titus. (See “ Aquz Solis,” pp. 27, 28.)
There are other fragmentary remains which we have
not space to enumerate. The most interesting are those
contained in the vestibule of the Royal Literary Institution,
being portions of the pediment of a temple, having in the
centre of a shield a human face, the hair and beard inter-
twined with snakes, and with a moustache. This sculpture
is drawn in Lysons’ great work, and in the Archeologia,
and has been variously interpreted. The carving is of a
good period. Here is also another smaller pediment con-
taining a head of Diana the charioteer, or Luna, with a
crescent at the back. With it were found fragments of sculp-
tures representing the four seasons. The whole seems to have
formed the front of a small chapel dedicated to the goddess.

Roman Bronzes, Fictivia, TILEs, Coins, &c., FOUND
IN Batu.

The Bronze HEaD, now in the inner room of the Bath
Literary and Scientific Institution, was found in 1727, in
Stall-street, near the corner of Bell Tree Lane, and with it
were found Roman coins. It has formed the head of a
statue, but it is not agreed whether it had been erected to
the Goddess Sul-Minerva, or to Apollo or other divinity.

A Bronze MEDALLION, with a female head on the
obverse, and an inscription running round with the lettering,
PoMPEIA. 1.C.v., is placed in one of the cases. Here are also
THREE PENATEsS and some bronze keys (see “‘ Aquze Solis,”
p. 85). The medallion was found on the site of the Pump-
room. Many articles have been carried out of the city
and exist in private collections.

The fragment of a TasuLa Honest& Muissionis was

British and Roman Antiquities of Bath. 15

found in 1819, but has passed out of the city. Many
remains have been found in the course of excavating the
Roman baths ; these are placed under cases in the Pump-
room, and belong to the account which will be given by
Major Davis of the latest discoveries.

The site of Roman Bath has yielded specimens of every
kind of pottery, and coins from the date of Augustus to that
of ‘Theodosius.

The Literary Institution contains many specimens of fine
SAMIAN WaRE, and other kinds of Roman pottery, also good
specimens of Roman bricks and flue tiles, as well as querns
or hand-mills for grinding flour.

Raman Coins have been found in great abundance in

Coins. and around the city. (See “ Aquz Solis,”
p. 121). The earliest coins preserved are one of the Emperor
Augustus and a second brass of Claudius. The series con-
tinues to the fall of the Roman Empire. Many coins have
been found at Combe Down on the site of a Roman villa
there, and also at Camerton, which seems to have been the
site of a Roman posting station, about 7 miles from Bath,
on the line of the Foss road to Ilchester.

There are, in the Museum of the Literary and Scientific
Institution, seventy-eight coins, belonging to the Bath Cor-
poration, which date from the time of Claudius to that of
the Emperor Gratian.

Dr. Guidott in his “ Discourse of Bath” gives a list and
drawings of the coins found in Bath when he wrote. He
has also given drawings of the Roman antiquities then
remaining in the walls of the city, which are also given in
“Dingley’s History from Marble,” printed by the Cam-
bridge Camden Society. These have all disappeared.
Many coins were found in excavating for the site of the

16 British and Roman Antiquities of Bath.

new portion of the Mineral-Water-Hospital. These extend
from the time of Trajan to that of Maximus. Many coins
have been found on the Mendip hills, and some hoards near
Bristol (see “Bristol, Past and Present,” by J. F. Nicholls,
F.S.A., and J. Taylor, vol. i, p. 24). A large hoard, con-
sisting of silver or debased silver coins, of the later Roman
Empire, was lately found at E. Harptree.

Pics or Leap, aND LEADEN REMAINS—STONE COFFINS.

Lead, as we have seen, has been used profusely in the
Roman baths recently laid open, and the leaden conduit
pipes may be seen there still. This lead was most probably
brought from the Mendip mines, distant about four and
twenty miles from Bath. A Roman road traverses the
Mendip hills to the Port of Uphill on the Severn, and
fortified camps are to be seen on the line of it at different
distances. These mines were probably worked during the
whole period of Roman occupation.

The pigs of lead found in these hills among the old
washings and mining refuse are of early date, as early as the
time of Claudius. A pig of lead, bearing his stamp was
found at Wookey, near Wells. Other pigs of lead have been
found at Blagdon and at Charterhouse on Mendip, one
bearing the stamp of Vespasian at the date when he be-
came Emperor.

A pig of lead bearing the Stamp Imp. Hapriani. Avc.
was found near Sydney Buildings in Bathwick, in 1822,
and is now in the Literary and Scientific Institution. The
weight is 1cwt. 83 lbs. For an account of these remains,
see Journal of the Archeological Association, vol. xxxi, p. 136,
and following.

Stone coffins and Roman Interments have been found in

British and Roman Antiquities of Bath. 7

abundance in and around Bath; some of them are recorded
in “ Aquee Solis,” p. 97 and following.

It is impossible to arrive at any correct idea
of the population of the City and neighbour-
hood in Roman times.

From the many Roman villas, the remains of which are
found on both sides of the River Avon, and along the sides
of the principal roads, there seems to have been a consider-
able period of quiet and prosperity, which would cause a
growth of population, of which a large proportion were pro-
bably slaves.

The Roman Roads, taking Bath as the centre, have been
already noticed. The great road called the “ Foss,” trace-
able from Ilchester to Lincoln, or even beyond, to the sea-
shore at Seaton on the South coast, and to the estuary of
the Humber on the East, passed through Bath. For an
account of the course of this road, see ‘‘ Aque Solis,”
p. 107. At Batheaston it was met by the Roman road
from Silchester (Calleva), which passed through Marlbro’
(Cunetio) on its way to Bath, and coincided with the Foss
until it passed out of the city.

The Foss continued its course up Holloway, in the direc-
tion of Camerton, and on to IIchester (Ischalis), while the
Road called usually the “Via Julia” kept on the North side
of the Avon to Bitton (Abone?) and passed on to the
estuary of the Severn, with a branch to Sea Mills, S.W. of
Bristol, where a station existed, and where the remains of
ancient docks have been found, and an inscribed stone,—
though Aust seems to have been the usual ferry in the
Roman age. (See Ormrod’s “Strigulensia,” p. 20 and
following.) The 14th Iter of Antoninus is carried along
this Road, “from Isca (Caerleon) to Calleva” (Silchester).

3

Population.

18 British and Roman Antiquities of Bath.

These were the great Main Roads, but others of less
importance are traceable. (See “ Aque Solis,” p. 110.)

Discoveries MapDE ON THE SITE OF THE OLD WHITE
Hart Hore:

The excavations for the foundations of the Pump Room
Hotel were begun in September, 1867, and revealed remains
of medizeval buildings, and others of the first half of the
16th century. As the work proceeded, remains of an earlier
date were brought to light, and eventually there was dis-
closed a wall of Roman construction built upon blue clay.
At the N.E. angle of the excavation a small portion of
Roman road was cut through. This was formed of rough
stones covered with gravel, and probably ran out of the
Roman main road now represented by Stall-street. Under
this were found a bronze pin, and, at a depth of about 16 ft.,
a rough Roman pavement, partly destroyed, formed of con-
crete, covered with slabs of pennant.

Next were found a SaMIAN BOWL, broken in pieces, and
two large moulded Roman stones. The larger measured a
Roman foot (11% inches) in thickness, and had lewis holes.

Another Roman wall was discovered to the south. A
Roman drain of an earlier date, and a terra cotta head were
also found here.

Next were disclosed two walls of Roman date, the space
between them indicating the width of a room, divided by a
cross wall. The portion of the cornice of a building, prob-
ably a temple, which is now in the Museum of the Literary
Institution, was discovered here.

A solid bed of concrete was reached at the depth of 16 ft.
below the present level of the street, and measured 24 ft. 3 in.
east and west by 20 ft. 3in. north and south, with large
stones laid upon it. These had formed the foundation of a

British and Roman Antiquities of Bath. 19

temple or other building. Through this solid bed, shafts
had been sunk for cess-pits in more recent times. One of
these was forced to the depth of 4 ft. through the solid bed.
Later on the south wall of the same building was brought
to light, but only one course of very large stones, of which
the lower part had been built, remained. One stone was more
than 5 ft. long, and had a sawn face. Another wall, parallel.
to this, seems to have run parallel to the present street.

Close to the south wall of the building, at a depth of
16 ft., a beautiful piece of embossed glass, and at 15 ft. a
large fragment of window glass were exhumed, the latter
perfectly iridescent. Near these, besides other pieces of
glass, the bronze head of a spear, a fragment of pottery, and.
part of an amphora were obtained. At the level of the bed.
of concrete a few coins were secured: a brass of Marcus.
Agrippa, B.c. 27-12; another brass of Antonia, daughter of
Mark Antony, and wife of Claudius, struck in the reign of
Claudius, and several small coins of the Constantine family ;
also a coin of Antoninus Pius, on the reverse Britannia.
seated on a rock, a.D. 150, and one of Constantius, the son
of Constantine the Great.

For “Notes on the Remains of the Roman Temple and
Entrance Hall to Roman Baths found at Bath in 1790,” see
a Paper by Mr. J. T. Irvine, printed in the “‘ Journal of the
British Archeological Association,” vol. xxix. (1873), p. 379
and following, and “ Archeological Journal,” vol. xxv., p. 159-

List OF RoMAN ALTARS AND OTHER INSCRIBED STONES.
FOUND IN BaTH.
One Dee Suliminerva.
One Dee Suliminervee et Numinibus Augustorum.
Two De@ Sul.
One Su/evis (Nymphs of the Goddess Su),
3”

20

British and Roman Antiquities of Bath.

One Tombstone to Capurnius Receptus, Priest of the Goddess Su/.

(Su/ is also found on an inscribed stone, supposed to be the
dedication of a building.)

Seven Inscriptions mention the Goddess Su/ or Sul-Minerva.

FUNERAL MONUMENTS.

1.—To Rusonia Avenna, a citizen of the Gallic People—Mediomatrict,

2.—To Ser (villius) Magnus, a Nicomedian, who had completed
his term of military service in the Leg. XX. (This Stone
like the other was erected by his Heir.)

3.—Julius Vitalis (found on the London Road). Legio XX., V.V.
(Valeriana Vietrix). Fadriciensis (Smith or Armorer),
native of a Belgic Tribe, buried by his “ Collegium” or
Company, aged XX1X., Served 9 years.

4.—Stone erected to Vibia Secunda, aged XXX.

5.—Lucius Vitellius Tancinus, a Spanish citizen of Caurium, a
Soldier of the Vettonensian Cavalry (heavy armed Roman
Auxiliaries with the right of Noman Citzenship), aged 45
years. Served 26 years.
Caurium was a district of Estramadura.

D. M.
6.—S. Petronia, aged 3 years, 3 months, 9 days. Erected by the

parents, Vefomulus and Victiserina.
D.M.
7.—Mercurti Magnit Alumna, aged 1 year, 6 months, 12 days.
Also a stone erected in consequence of a vision by the son
of Novantus, for himself and family.

INSCRIPTIONS RECORDED, BUT NOW LosT.

8.—C. Murrius Modestus, of the tribe (Arniensis) of Forum Julii
(Friuli), a soldier of Legio /I., adjutrix Pia Fidelis, of the
century of Fulius Secundus,aged XXV. Served VIII years.

D. M.
9.—Marcus Valerius Latinus, Horse Soldier of the 20th Legion,

aged XXXV. Served XX. Probablea Decurzo or inferior ....

Cavalry officer, the head or chief of a “ decuria.”
10,—Decurio* Colonie Glev(um), lived LXXXVI years.
We learn from the above inscription that Glo’ster was a Co/onia.

* Decurio here signifies ‘‘ Magistrate,” or member of a '' Provincial Senate.”

BATH DURING BRITISH INDEPENDENCE,
Rev. PRoFEssOR Ear.e, M.A.

For many a petty king ere Arthur came

Ruled in this isle, and ever waging war

Each upon other, wasted all the land;

And still from time to time the heathen host

Swarm’d over seas, and harried what was left.

And so there grew great tracts of wilderness,

Wherein the beast was ever more and more,

But man was less and less, till Arthur came.

For first Aurelius lived and fought and died,

And after him king Uther fought and died,

But either fail'd to make the kingdom one.

And after these king Arthur for a space,

And thro’ the puissance of his Table round,

Drew all their petty princedoms under him,

Their king and head, and made a realm, and reign’'d,
The Coming of Arthur.—TENNYSON.

FRoM THE DEPARTURE OF THE ROMAN LEGIONS TO THE
DESOLATION OF AKEMAN,* A.D. 410-577.

The departure of the Legions must have greatly lowered
the splendour and the commercial activity of Aquz, and have

* The name Akeman is distinctively the property of the Roman-British,
or, to speak more domestically, of the Welsh period. It is the name which
stands midway between the Roman Aquz on the one side, and the Saxon
Akemanceaster on the other. I have explained it long ago as follows :—»
Ake is the local equivalent of the literary form Aquze; and the second part
is the British word maz, place. If anyone wishes to verify the fact that
man was British for place, I would say—(z) that it is at any rate Welsh
for place, as may be seen in the Welsh Bible repeatedly, e.g., John xi. 30,
in the place where (yn y man lle) Martha met him; 1 Cor. i. 2, with all
that in every place (ym mhob man) call upon- the Name; (2) that this
Welsh maz is an ancient word, and not one that has been formed or
borrowed since the fifth century. Professor Rh¥s tells me that it is iden-
tical with the old Irish agez enclosure, arena, place.

22 Bath during British Independence.

made it seem to its denizens a dull and miserable place. I
assume that Aquz was the usual and colloquial name, and
that the full-length designation Aque Solis was not employed
in speech but only in formal writings, or in lapidary inscrip-
tions. This “ Aqu” would in pronunciation have sounded
like Ak-& We are not without data in this matter; in
Roman times there were various places called Aque, and
the modern forms which such names now bear afford ele-
ments of evidence concerning the pronunciation in the time
of the later- Roman Empire. The German name Aachen
represents an Aquze, so do the French names Aix, Ax, and
Dax; the latter, the name of a town in the Pyrenees, is for
De Aquis.

As I said, the withdrawal of the Roman legions must have
been a great let-down for Aque. ‘This place was the chief
resort of seekers for health, and the chief place of relaxation
from military duties ; and it must naturally have been a scene
of ease amusement and festivity, abounding in every sort
of entertainment that was known to the Roman world and
suited to the taste of military society. After centuries of
such a life, when the prosperity of Aqua must have seemed
as stable as the Empire, and the Empire as firm as the solar
system, suddenly, about the year 410, the list of arrivals fell
off, and came to an abrupt termination. For Rome was
captured by the Goth, and it was as if chaos had come again.

As may be supposed, we have few records of these times,
but the few which do survive are suggestive enough to enable
us to sketch the general course of events with a reasonable
sense of probability. The cities in the Roman provinces
had been centres of districts, for the Romans used the towns
as instruments for the rural administration, both in the way
of collecting revenue, and also in the dispensation of civil

Bath during British Independence. 23

justice. Aquze was the capital of a territory of its own, and
the public business of this district was administered by
municipal officers, who were elected from time to time, ac_
cording to the Roman method of governing the provinces.
The Romanizea “nd here it seems natural to enquire what
British manner of people these Britons were, who at

Population. —_ the withdrawal of the Roman power remained
behind as masters of this city and territory? What was
their religion, their language? What were their habits,
prospects, capabilities ?

. Perhaps it may be convenient to deal with the latter and
more general question first. They were the trading, purvey-
ing, labouring classes, who in the Roman world had got
separated from the military caste, and who were called by
the soldiery paganz, burghers, townsfolk. These had for
generations ministered to the wants of an aristocracy of
warriors ; and now that their habitual and ancestral superiors
were gone, they were left to shape a world as they could,
to discover a modus vivendi among themselves, to carry on
the administration of town and country, and to provide
means of defence in case of attack. In the latter respect
they must have been poorly off ; perhaps there is no kind of
population less capable of self-defence than one that for
generations has lived under the shadow of a military or-
ganization in which it has borne no part. There would have
naturally remained behind a certain number of old officers
and soldiers, whose time of service was past, who had
formed local connections, and with these would rest the sole
available knowledge of military affairs. There is no difficulty
in understanding the general helplessness which appeared
when the land was overrun by barbarians from the north.

As to their religion, we cannot doubt that Christianity

24 Bath during British Independence.

was more or less disseminated and accepted, though it is
hard to define the degree of progress it may have made.
We must remember that for nearly a hundred years past
Christianity had been the recognized religion of the Em-
pire, and that heathen temples had been demolished or
turned into Christian churches by imperial edict. The
temples of which we see the fragments in the Museum may
perhaps owe their demolition not to Christians, whether
Roman or British, but to the indiscriminate ravages of the
Saxon invaders. It is quite possible that Christian assem-
blies may have been familiar with the interior of those
buildings for some two hundred and fifty years before the
fatal date of 577. On the other hand it is quite possible
that the Gospel still maintained a struggling existence in
the face of old superstitions, and that when the natives
were delivered from the law of the Empire, the quarrels
which convulsed the land had their origin in religious
differences.

As to their language, there is no doubt that the language
of Aquz at this time was Latin, and that everything was in
a fair way to lay the foundation of a Romanesque nation,
like the French. There existed no other public language
here at that time, as the language of administration, of law,
of commerce. All educated people spoke and wrote Latin ;
indeed everyone who had any pretensions whatever. Such
was the language of the city, at least in regard to the whole:
of the more respectable citizens.

Of the inferior grades of the population, the masses in the
city, and the agricultural population (largely slaves) in the
country, it is not so easy to speak with certainty. That
their speech was much latinized, there can be no doubt;
the only question is, how much of the original British speech

Bath during British Independence. 25

still survived. This old Keltic speech had been for three
hundred and fifty years imbibing elements of Latin, and its
vocabulary must have been deeply romanized. When the
Saxons came, they designated them Walas, the name_ they
gave to all Latin-speaking races with which they came in
contact. The probability is that the speech of the poorer
folk in town and country was Keltic impregnated with
Latin, and ‘that it was substantially the same language as
that which to this day lives as the vernacular of the princi-
pality of Wales.

So long as peace lasted, the well-established mechanism
of government would probably have gone on in its usual
routine even after the removal of the Legions. But they
were not long to enjoy that continued peace which is favour-
able to the stability of institutions. The absence of military
control let loose the elements of domestic strife, and, if we
know anything of the interval between the Roman and the
Saxon dominion, it is mingled with the distant sound of in-
ternal convulsion. The untamed barbarians to the north
of the Roman Wall were not blind to their opportunities.
Now opened a vent for energies long pent up ; they swarmed
over the barrier, and trooped southward, and luxuriated in
the stored abundance of a Roman province which had grown
rich through centuries of peace. The Picts carried war to
the extreme south, and their terror was spread even more
widely than their arms. The Scots from Hibernia infested
the western coasts. To these commotions may perhaps be
attributed the fact that, when next we hear of Aquz, it
appears to be under the command of a king.

As a counterpoise against one set of barbarians
the Britons hired another. They brought over
the poor and hardy Saxons of the Elbe, men who had never

The Saxons.

26 Bath during British Independence.

bowed the neck to the Roman yoke, to do battle for them
against the untamed Kelts from beyond the northern wall.
The date assigned to the coming of Hengist and Horsa is a.D.
449. The place of their first camp and head-quarters was the
Isle of Thanet, a spot which, though it is not rich in natural
attractions, has for Englishmen an imperishable interest, as
the cradle of our settlement in this Island of Britain. Called
in as mercenaries, they began before long to carry on the war
on their own account. This fruitful country presented such
a contrast to the niggard yield of their native land that they
were loth to return, and preferred to invite new comrades
from over sea, They came at different times, in various
banded companies, and made settlements at many points of
the sea-board. Only some of the more important expedi-
tions are recorded in the Chronicles. In 477 Ella with his
three sons made good their footing against the Britons on
the south coast, where then was the Forest of Andred, and
where now is the Weald of Sussex. In 547 Ida founded
the kingdom of Northumbria.

In what light, ethnologically, did these barbarians regard
the people who had invited them into their country? On
this subject there is no uncertainty, for they have expressed
their classification of them very distinctly in the name they
assigned to them, and that name is still a living and familiar
designation. They called them Walas, or else Bret-Walas,
that is, the Walas of Britain. That word Walas is only the
older form of Wales. To the Saxons, the population of
Britain were Welsh, just as the people of Gaul were Welsh,
and just as in the language of Germany the people of Italy
are ‘‘ Welsch,” and the land of Italy is ‘‘Welschland.” In
calling them Welsh (Wylisc), or Walas, they simply ex-
pressed the fact that they had been part of the Roman

Bath during British Independence. 27

Empire, and were to all intents and purposes Roman. As
the people of Britain were called Bret-Walas, so the people
of Gaul were called Gal-Walas, and these terms signified
respectively Romans of Gaul, and Romans of Britain.

Of all the barbarian settlements on our coasts, the most
important for the general history of England is the one
which also absorbed our city. The earliest date that has
been assigned for the landing of the West Saxons under
Cerdic is 495. A long time was to elapse before they
reached this western country, and the steps of their progress
in the interval would have formed no legitimate part of the
present narrative, but for the fact that by a grotesque mistake
a marked event which happened at an early stage of that
interval has imbedded itself in the history of Bath. The
memorable siege of Mons Badonicus, where the Walas
dealt a severe blow upon the Saxons, has been fixed, by the
help of data in the book of Gildas, to the year 520. Dr.
Guest identified Mons Badonicus with Badbury Rings, near
Wimborne, and that identification is now generally accepted.
Previously it had been identified with Bath, and Banner Down
was the spot fixed upon for the battle-field, because it seemed
to offer a sort of translation of Mons Badonicus, as well as a
vague echo in similarity of sound. But it was upon Bath
that the word fastened itself etymologically, as if Badonicus
were equivalent to Bathonicus, which might pass for an adjec-
tive of Bathonia. It did not trouble the old antiquarians
that they were elucidating a word of the sixth century by
help of another word which had no existence until the tenth.

In 552 we find the West Saxons driving the Walas out of
Old Sarum ; and twenty-five years later, in 577, they are at
our doors. For in that year was fought the decisive battle
of Dyrham, in which the Saxon Kings, Cuthwine and

28 Bath during British Independence.

Ceawlin, slew three British kings, Commail and Condidan
and Farinmail, and took three cities—Gloucester, Ciren-
cester, and Akeman. Perhaps it would be assuming too
much to infer that the third-named king was king of Ake-
man, but we may naturally conclude that this place was
under the rule of a king. When the Saxons captured cities
it was not to dwell in them, but to dismantle them as hostile
fortresses. Akeman was long a desolate ruin.

These are the wars in which the legendary
fame of King Arthur is rooted. In extant
literature his historic and poetic celebrity dates only from
the twelfth century, but when it makes its appearance it
has already the amplitude of an oft-told tale, and we know
not how long it may have been a favourite theme of British
minstrelsy.*

King Arthur,

BATH UNDER WEST SAXON DOMINION,
A.D. 577-1066,
How THE City REVIVED AND GREW TO BE THE CAPITAL
OF THE WEST.

The slow movement of the Saxon power, which took some
three quarters of a century to advance from Southampton to
Bath, indicates that our ancestors warred, not like Alexander
for glory and the rage of conquest, but for homes and settle-

* A curious incident connected with the progress of the Arthurian legend
was the reputed discovery at Glastonbury of the burial-place of Arthur, at
a time when funds were needed for rebuilding the Abbey, after the destruc-
tive fire of 1184. Speaking of this restoration, Canon Church says :—‘‘ And
the timely discovery or invention about this time of the bones of Arthur
and his Queen, helped to draw a large concourse of pilgrims, and brought
much gain of money to the Abbey."—7he Epzscopate of Reginald, Bishop
of Bath, rr7q4-1191 ; communicated to the Society of Antiquaries, 1887.
An old story had before this time connected the name of Arthur with the
Isle of Ynysvitrin; but that Arthur and Guinever were buried there, was
a claim unknown to the historian William of Malmesbury, in the middle
of the same century.

Bath under West Saxon Dominion. 29

ments. They settled as they advanced, and advanced only
as they wanted to settle. Guided mainly by the colonizing
motive, they used up the country no faster than they were
impelled by the needs of their own expansion. When, in
577, they got possession of Akeman, they did not settle
there, but they emptied it of its inhabitants, and occupied
the country round about. All their habits made them averse
to city life; they loved the free and open country, and
pitched their habitations where a stream, or a plain, or a
wood took their fancy. The desolation of Akeman seems
to have been the theme of a Saxon poet.

There is at Exeter a book still lying where it was deposited
about the year 1050 by Leofric, the tenth bishop of Crediton
and first bishop of Exeter. It is a volume of English poetry ;
it is unmistakably described in the extant catalogue of books
given by him to his cathedral; and it is still in the keeping
of the chapter. One of the oldest poems in this book is a
fragmentary piece descriptive of a city in ruins. There is
massive masonry: the place was once handsomely built and
decorated and held by warriors, but now all tumbled about ;
works of art exposed to the sky and forming a strange con-
trast with the desolation around; there is a wide pool of
water, hot without fire; and there are the once-frequented
baths. This is no vague poetic dream, but the portrait of a
definite spot. It suits the old Brito-Roman ruin of Akeman
after'577; and it suits no other place that I can think of in
the habitable world. The old view that it was a fortress or
castle seems misplaced in time, as well as incompatible with
the expressions in the text.*

* Years ago I discussed this little poem before the Bath Field Club; and
my argument was subsequently printed in the Proceedings of that
Society (1872). My identification of the ruin with Acemanceaster (Bath)
was approved by Mr. Freeman in his volume on ‘ Rufus.”

30 Bath under West Saxon Dominion.

The poem begins :—

Wreetlic is thes weal stan Stupendous is this wall of stone,
wyrde gebrzecon, fatally shattered !

The strongholds are bursten, the work of giants decaying,
the roofs are fallen, the towers tottering, dwellings unroofed
and mouldering, masonry weather-marked, dismantled the
battlements, time-scarred, tempest-marred, undermined of
eld.

Eorth grap hafath Earth's grasp holdeth
waldend wyrhtan the mighty workmen

forweorene geleorene worn away lorn away
heard gripe hrusan in the hard grip of the grave

oth hund cnea till a hundred ages
wer theoda gewitan. of men-folk do pass.

Oft thes wag gebad Oft this wall witnessed
eeg har and read fah (weed-grown and lichen-spotted,)

rice aefter othrum one great man after another
ofstonden under stormum taking shelter out of storms.

* * * * * * *

How did the swift sledge-hammer flash and furiously come
down upon the rings when the sturdy artizan was rivetting
the wall with clamps so wondrously together. Bright were
the buildings, the bath-houses many, high-towered the pin-
nacles, frequent the war-clang, many the mead-halls, of
merriment full, till all was overturned by Fate the violent.
The walls crumbled widely; dismal days came on; death
swept off the valiant men; the arsenals became ruinous
foundations ; decay sapped the burgh. Pitifully crouched
armies to earth. Therefore these halls are a dreary ruin,
and these pictured gables; the rafter-framed roof sheddeth
its tiles; the pavement is crushed with the ruin, it is broken
up in heaps; where erewhile many a baron—

Bath under West Saxon Dominion. 31

-gleedmod and goldbeorht joyous and gold-bright
gleoma gefreetwed gaudily jewelled
wlonc and wingal haughty and wine-hot
wig hyrstum scan ; shone in his harness ;
seah on sinc on sylfor looked on treasure, on silver,
on searo gimmas ; on gems of device ;
on ead, on zht, on wealth, on stores,
on eorcan stan ; on precious stones ;
on this beorhtan burg on this bright borough
bradan rices. of broad dominion.
Stan hofu stodan ; There stood courts of stone !
stream hate wearp The stream hotly rushed
widan wylme, with eddy wide,
weal eal befeng (wall all enclosed)
beorhtan bosme ; with bosom bright,
theer tha bathu weeron, (There the baths were !)
hat on hrethre ; hot by nature !
thet wes hythelic! That was a boon indeed !

At what time population began to gather on
this site after the desolation, is open to doubt ;
but there is no doubt as to the instrumentality by which this
renovation was effected. Bath was restored by that great
agency of new life, the foundation of a religious house. Next
to the hot springs, which first drew life about the place, and
which through all our history must be understood as the
primary element of its being, the second cause, and the great
formative agency, is the institution of conventual life.
What is the date of this religious foundation? There are
two ways of answering this question, and it makes a consider-
able difference which of the two we accept. We have a
document setting forth that Osric, King of the Hwiccas,
founded a religious establishment here in 676, but William
of Malmesbury, in the twelfth century, knew of no earlier
founder than King Offa, who flourished a century later.
The King who ruled over the small kingdom of the Hwiccas,

Revival.

32 Bath under West Saxon Dominion.

represented now by the counties’ of Worcester and Gloucester,
may have made a small beginning without any considerable
effect. I think we shall be more in the true path of his-
tory if we follow the historian and allow two centuries for the
silent interval of the desolations of Bath.

Not that the place was, or could be, utterly wiped out of
knowledge ;—such a thing was impossible for a spot which
possessed healing waters. We cannot suppose that the use
of these waters can ever have been absolutely suspended, for
the English learnt their virtues from the “Welsh” around
them, and spoke of them in a new phrase of their own “at
tham hatum bathum” at the hot baths ; and it was from this
colloquial phrase that the place got its new name, The Hot
Baths, and at length, Bath. And it was from “ bathum,”
otherwise “bathon,” the dative plural in the Saxon phrase,
that the medieval Latin name, “ Bathonia,” derived its
authority.

But while the city within the walls was ruinated and de-
serted, we must still suppose a lingering remnant of popula-
tion not far off, who would be the cultivators of the nearest
fields, and who would also supply the guides and attendants
for the visitors to the waters, the succession of which could
not entirely cease. Such a lingering population would be
of the remnant of the “ Walas,” whom the Saxons had driven
out of Akeman, and the hamlet of these poor people would
in English have been naturally called Waa cotu, the cots
of the Walas; and this reconstruction seems to be counten-
anced by the suburban ‘“‘ Walcot” in the very situation re-
required, close outside the Roman city. At Pevensey, this
arrangement has become fixed ; the Roman city is still deso-
late, with a modern town contiguous. This view is favoured
by the extent of the parish of Walcot, and by the dedications

Bath under West Saxon Dominion. 33,

of the two parishes of St. Michael Outwich, and St. Swithun..

One of the effects of the Danish ravages of the ninth cen-
tury was to establish the value of boroughs. During this.
century, although Bath does not figure actively in history,
yet the mention of a Reeve is enough to show that it had
reached a certain pitch of consideration. The Reeve of
Bath was a man of the same name as the King, Alfred. This.
officer, who was ordinarily set to guard the fiscal interests,
may very well at this juncture represent a fostering care on.
the part of a King who made it a policy to strengthen his.
boroughs.

The growing importance of Bath is further illustrated by
the possession of a Mint. From the time of Athelstan
(925-941) there is extant a fairly continuous series of coins.
struck in Bath, down to the Norman Conquest. The
obverse of a Saxon coin bore the King’s head and name ;:
the reverse had the place of coining and the moneyer’s.
name. Thus on one coin we read ASLFRIC ON BaTHAN,
z.¢., /Elfric at Bath.

Eadgar’s Of the importance which Bath had attained:

Coronation. in the roth and 11th centuries we have sub-
stantial evidence. In 973, at Whitsuntide, the coronation.
of King Eadgar was celebrated in Bath, “anciently called.
Akemanceaster,” with extraordinary pomp. The exact mean--
ing of this ceremonial in relation to the personal career of
the King is a matter of uncertainty; but its significance as.
regards Bath is plain enough. We may without rashness.
assume that the selection of Bath as the scene of this high
festival stamps our city as being at that time the representa--
tive city of the West. Early in the next century another:
signal event contributes its testimony to the same effect.

But, before we reach the much-apprehended tale of rooo-

4

34 Bath under West Saxon Dominion.

years, and pass out of three digits into four, we must notice
an innovation which is of great mark for the history of the
English constitution, and which incidentally affords a statis-
tical measure of the relative magnitude of Bath. It was in
the last decade of the tenth century that the first attempt was
made at a general taxation of the whole country. A sum of
money was wanted to buy off the Danish invaders. This
tax was called “geld ;” in after times “ Danegeld.” In order
-to levy a tax it was necessary to make an assessment, and we
know from William’s great rate-book how the rateable pro-
perty of Bath was assessed. There had never before been a
general levy of money, and the operation which bore the
nearest resemblance to it was the old system upon which
material of war had been levied in kind. The contributions
of the country in men, arms, ships, had always been measured
by the hidation ; so many hides, so much as their contingent.
When towns grew in importance and came to be assessed,
they were assessed by “hides ;” not hides of arable land, but
imaginary hides of taxable capacity. The assessment was
expressed in terms of hides. Mr. Round, in “Domesday
Studies,” finds “ Bridport and Malmesbury assessed at 5 hides
each ; Dorchester, Wareham, and Hertford at 10 hides ; Wor-
cester at 15; Bath and Shaftesbury at 20.” Here we may
note a measure of distance more significant than chronology ;
for as then the agrarian constitution gave model to the
borough, so now in our day we'see the borough serving as
the model for the country; and the nation that began by
eschewing and demolishing cities is at length constituting
itself as one continuous city.

In 1016, Swegen, the Danish King, conquered
England. He selected Bath as the place at
which the Thanes of the West were summoned to meet him

Swegen at Bath.

Bath under West Saxon Dominion. 35

and make their submission to him, and in this incident we
see Bath filling the same representative position which it had
filled under Eadgar in 973. In both these signal instances
Bath seems to be recognized as the western capital, making
a third with Winchester and Westminster, and holding the
position which the Norman kings afterwards assigned to
Gloucester.

Thus we see as we draw towards the close of the period
that Bath had risen to bea place of celebrity. It had grown
continuously from the foundation of the Abbey, and in con-
nection therewith. The hot springs were a singular gift of
nature which could not lie neglected, which must after
eclipse re-assemble human life around it, and in course of
time heal the greatest catastrophe. When to this attraction
was added the convenience of unlimited building stone ready
cut to hand, and the manifold natural amenities of the neigh-
bourhood, it is no marvel that while some ruined cities con-
tinued in decay till soil and greensward covered their outlines,
ours was one of those that returned to life after extinction.
The event is memorable, and so is also the manner in which
it was accomplished ; not for any singularity about it, but pre-
cisely because it was ordinary, and because it holds up to us
atypical movement of that age in its aspirations after progress.

Bath had now arrived at maturity, the maturity of a
borough of that time. The Abbey of Bath was a flourishing
institution ; beneficent, educational, and conspicuously orna-
mental. It was imposing in every aspect ;—by its buildings,
by the members of its brotherhood, by its social figure and
political importance. The Abbey church, the predecessor of
that long Norman church of which we still see some of the pier-
bases, was greatly admired (mira fabrica) ; doubtless a tall
Romanesque structure whose image we may revive for our

36 Bath under West Saxon Dominion.

selves by using for a pattern the small Saxon church of
Aldhelm, at Bradford-on-Avon. Of the religious reputation
of this society we shall catch a glimpse presently. Of its
literature and library some few valuable specimens exist,
especially one volume at Cambridge, which tells of the
estates of the Abbey, and of the benevolent agrarian policy
of the Abbots. A chief field of benevolence at this time
lay in the manumission of slaves; and the records of this
ancient book combine with like records. at Exeter and at
Bodmin to afford us a broad glimpse of the philanthropic
movement in its westward march.

The Saxon period terminates abruptly in 1066,
so that only a fragment of the eleventh cen-
tury falls into this chapter. But this remnant of the period
is illumined with the name of a Saint ;—a name which like
féthelthryth of Ely, and Swithun of Winchester, stood the
scrutiny of the Reformation, and still adorns the Anglican
Calendar. Alphege (in pure English AZLFHEAH) was Bishop:
of Winchester, and then Archbishop of Canterbury; and
being captured by the heathen Danes in 1012, he died at their
hands rather than get himself ransomed with the goods of
his church. This true pillar of Church and State was formed
in the Abbey of Bath. The historian of the next century,
William of Malmesbury, in his account of the Bishops of
Winchester, says:—Zthelwold was succeeded by 4lfheah,
another good man, of whom I have already said somewhat,
and will now speak more fully. In boyhood he took kindly
to his books; in youth he assumed the religious habit at
Deerhurst, then a small monastery, but now an empty shell
of the past (axtiguitatis inane simulacrum). There he
adopted the rule of monastic life; but aspiring higher he
proceeded to Bath, where he kept to his cell in strict seclu--

St. Alphege.

Bath under West Saxon Dominion. 37

sion, and fed his mind upon heavenly studies. Many good
men were attracted by him to that sacred spot.”

We must not forget the story of Bladud, which
first appeared about the close of the Saxon
period. It purports to be a British tradition of the dis-
covery of the virtue of the hot springs. Bladud was the
son of a king, who had to leave his home because he was
leprous. He became a swineherd, and as he lay with the
swine, they caught the disease. One day, as he was pasturing
them in the forest, they were taken with a sudden fit of
running, and he had great ado to follow them; they scam-
pered down the hill into a morass. When at length he over- >
took them, they were wallowing in the mire, in which they
seemed to take unusual delight, and to which they returned
day after day. At length he observed that the swine were.
cured; he tried the same remedy with the same happy
effect.

The eleventh century was a time of intellectual vigour, and
one of its manifestations was in the way of historical curiosity,
which appeared in two forms, the form of sober annals, and
also the form of historical romance. The latter school
was much fed by Welsh tradition, real or fictitious; and
hence some celebrities of the borderland between history and
fable, such as Arthur, and Lear, and Bladud. The Latin
book of Geoffrey of Monmouth, is at the head of this litera-
ture; then it passed into French and English, becoming
popular and prolific.

The eminence of the minster-city was ere long to be sig-
nalized by a perilous distinction ;—it was to become for a
time the bishop-stool of Somerset. The transient honour of
episcopacy left not behind it any memories worthy to com-
pensate for the perpetual loss of the Abbacy.

Bladud.

BATH—ITS GENERAL HISTORY FROM THE
NORMAN CONQUEST TO THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY.

Austin J. Kine.

Tue ELEVENTH, TWELFTH, AND THIRTEENTH

CENTURIES.
The Norman HE practical effect of the Conquest, as
Settlement. regards Bath, was probably not much

felt during the life of William. ‘Gisa, the Bishop of Somerset,
was by birth a Belgian, and had not therefore the strong
national feeling which made some of the other Bishops so
hostile to the invader. He had quarrelled bitterly with
Harold, rejoiced at his discomfiture, and looked with favour
upon the new order of things. Accordingly, we find that
he was not only not deprived, but favoured by the Con-
queror, and that additions were made by the King to the
possessions of the See.

Concerning the Benedictine Monastery of Bath during
the first years of the Conqueror’s reign, there is some little
uncertainty ; but, apart from: the suggestion, made on very
insufficient grounds, that the uncanonical Archbishop Stigand
held for a time the Abbey 2% commendam, there is no reason
to believe in any Norman interference. At all events, in or
about 1075, A#lfsig, an Englishman, was elected Abbot.
Several deeds of enfranchisement of villains or serfs executed

General History of Bath. 39

by 4ilfsig are extant; and he was a member of the “ Pious
League,” founded by St. Wulstan. The league was primarily
religious, and had for its object the strict observance of the
Monastic rule ; but whilst it enjoined obedience to St. John,
St. Mary, St. Benedict, and to the respective Bishops, it
ordered likewise loyalty to their “world lord King William
and to Matilda the lady.”

Bath was a royal borough: its ownership was in the King,
and there was no such inducement therefore to interfere
with it as there would have been had there been an English
over-lord to be an object of spoil. It may be assumed, then
that neither in the ecclesiastical nor civil order was there
any very sudden change in Bath itself. Geoffrey, Bishop of
Coutances, received, however, large grants of land in the
immediate neighbourhood, and the lords of St. Lo settled
at the little village hard by, which still bears their name
“ Newton St. Lo.”

In 1087 died William the King, Gisa the Bishop, and
Atlfsig the Abbot, and almost immediately a great change
came over Bath. It was brought about by the quarrels of
the Normans themselves. Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and
Geoffrey, Bishop of Coutances, who had respectively fought
and prayed at the battle of Senlac, rose in arms against
Rufus on behalf of his brother Robert. Geoffrey, sallying
from Bristol, burnt and sacked Bath. The English city
and the English monastery sank into ashes, and upon their
site Norman buildings were to arise.

John de Villula, upon whom the restoration was to
depend, was a native of Tours, and was at once chaplain
and physician to William Rufus. He had amassed a great
fortune by the practice of physic, and was attracted to Bath,
by what he had heard of the medicinal fame of its waters.

40 General History of Bath.

When, therefore, the King was victorious over the rebel-
lious Bishops, John obtained the appointment to the See
‘of Somerset, which had been located at Wells. This was
‘in 1088. Now, several years before, it had been decided to
remove the English Sees from villages into towns, and, as a
‘part of this system, John removed the See of Somerset from
‘Wells to Bath.

John was not at all popular amongst the Canons of Wells,
‘or the Monks of Bath, and, indeed, receives hard usage at
the hands of the English chroniclers. They accuse him of
being a quack, and of moving his See from motives of
‘vanity. But in Bath, at all events, we must keep his
‘memory green.

In 1090 he obtained from the King a grant of the Abbey
of Bath, “ad Somersetensis episcopatus augmentationem.”
From this time the Bishop of the Diocese became the
Abbot: to him belonged the Abbatial powers of visita-
tion; and the Prior, who, in fact, governed the monastery,
‘did so, in theory at all events, as the a/¢er ego of the Bishop,
to whom, as to his Abbot, he vowed obedience. The next
‘step was to become owner of the site of the ruined city, and
this was effected by another Charter of William Rufus,
which unfortunately is undated. The new Bishop re-built
both the Abbey and its church, and also the city. The
‘church was, in point of size at all events, a magnificent
‘structure, far exceeding the dimensions of the present build-
ing, and the works were so costly as to exhaust the Bishop’s
means. Accordingly, finding that the Monks, who detested
him as a foreigner and innovator, had little sympathy with
his schemes, he seized their lands, doled out to them a
meagre allowance of food, and applied the surplus revenues
in his building works.

General History of Bath. 41

In his renovation of the city he did not, of course, omit
the restoration of the Baths, which he so organized and
arranged as to attract large numbers of the sick.

The Bishop died suddenly in 1122, but several years
before this, he had replaced the English Monks, whom he
stigmatised as barbarous and ignorant, with Norman church-
men, and restored to the monastery the lands which he
frankly confesses he had unjustly withheld. Freeman
speaks of his repentance as being geographical, for though
he made amends for his depredations at Bath, he made
none at Wells.

The beauty of the Baths, as restored by de Villula, is
extolled in glowing terms by the author of the Gesta
Stephani, written in 1138. ‘There is,” says the Chronicler,
“a city distant six miles from Bristol, where, through hidden
channels, are thrown up streamlets of water, warmed without
human agency, and from the very bowels of the earth, into
a receptacle beautifully constructed, with chambered arches.
These form baths in the middle of the city, warm and
wholesome, and charming to the eye. . . . Sick per-
sons from all England resort thither to bathe in these
healing waters, and the strong also, to see these wonderful
burstings out of warm water and bathe in them.”

During the reign of Stephen, Bath was again

The
Development exposed to the alarms of war. Robert the
of the Bishop, owed his promotion to the post of
ae Deputy Abbot of Glastonbury, and the Bishop-
ric of Bath, to Henry of Blois, the King’s
brother. It was not unnatural, therefore, that during the
dynastic struggle between Stephen and Matilda, the Bishop
should side with the King. Bristol was held by the Duke
of Gloucester, for the Queen, and thus a second time there

42 General History of Bath.

was hostility between the two cities. Geoffrey Talbot and
William de Lacy planned to take Bath by surprise, and, with
a storming party, lay in wait for an opportunity to scale the
walls. The assailants were observed, a sortie was made from
the town, and Geoffrey was captured. The Bristol men were
eager for revenge, but affecting an anxiety to discuss the
terms of a truce, they induced the Bishop to come outside
his gates, promising him a safe conduct. The ruse was suc-
cessful; the Bishop came out and, in spite of his indignant
protestations, was hurried off to Bristol. His captors then
sent word to Bath, that if Talbot was not released the Bishop
would be hung; and that prelate added a message begging
the citizens not to expose him to death. But again the
Bristol men were deceitful. When they got back their
leader they refused to give up their hostage.

On Stephen marching towards Bath, the Bishop was re-
leased, and reproached roundly by the King for allowing
Talbot to escape.

Stephen considered that Bath might be rendered impreg-
nable, and, when he marched against Bristol, ordered it to be
placed in a thorough condition of defence; and left a garrison.
‘The chronicler we have been following records the valiant
deeds of the Bath men, and how they plundered to the very
gates of Bristol, Buta note in the Annales Monastici to
the effect that the Earl of Gloucester, who was a partisan of
Matilda, fortified Bath, and the recorded fact of the destruc-
tion by fire in the same year of the Abbey Church, rather
lead to an inference that the city fell for a time into the
hands of its enemies. The chroniclers do not agree as to the
extent to which Bishop Robert dealt with the Church of his
predecessor. Some say that he rebuilt it, others that he merely
finished the work which John de Villula had commenced.

General History of Bath. 43

The removal of the see from Wells to Bath, had not been
sanctioned by the Pope, but in 1154, Adrian IV. confirmed
what had been done, and the rival claims of the two Episco-
pal cities were made the subject of a compromise, one of the
terms of which was that the right of election should be exer-
cised by the Monks and Canons jointly.

After the death of Robert, Henry II. kept the See vacant
for eight years, but in 1174 allowed the election of Reginald
Fitz Jocelin. This prelate, although a busy and worldly
man, interested himself much in the affairs of the diocese.
He repaired two Bath churches of great antiquity—S. Mary,
intra muros, and S. Michael, near the Hot Bath, both of
which have ceased to exist, and established the very impor-
tant charity of S. John’s Hospital, for the support of the aged
and infirm.

In 1179 he obtained from Pope Alexander a confirmation
of the Bishop’s power to exercise supervision over the
Monastery at Bath, and if necessary remove the Prior “ for
sufficient reason and after consultation with the Chapter or
other religious men.” If this occasioned any friction with
the Monks, it was apparently of short duration, for the
Bishop placed under their care the Hospital which he had
founded.

In 1192 Savaric succeeded Reginald in the Bishopric, and
made a bargain with Richard Coeur de Lion, that Bath,
which as we have seen was granted by Rufus to John de
Villula, should be surrendered to the Crown, and that the
rich Abbey of Glastonbury should be added to the Episcopal
possessions.

Both Savaric and his successor, Jocelyn Trotman, styled
themselves Bishops of Bath and Glastonbury, and it was.
under this style that Jocelyn signed Magna Charta.

44 General History of Bath.

The union of Glastonbury with the Bishopric was of short
duration, and was dissolved in 1218 by Bull of Pope
Honorius III. Then Jocelyn took for a time the title of
“Bishop of Bath,” but, towards the end of his Episcopate,
assumed that of ‘‘ Bath and Wells.”

This title was a real one down to the Reformation. The
Bishop had his throne in each of his Cathedral churches,
and on some elections (notably those of Roger and William,
the two immediate successors of Jocelyn) the Monks and
‘Canons both took an active and mutually aggressive part.
But the episcopal dominion was necessarily more complete
cover the Canons of Wells, than over the Regulars of Bath.
and the Bishop had more sympathy with his secular clergy ;
and hence, although Bath took precedence of its sister city
in the title of the Bishopric of Somerset, Wells became the
actual seat of the Bishop.

The Municipal With regard to municipal affairs in this century
System. our knowledge is comparatively slight. The
‘Saxon Chronicle records the death in 907 of “ Alfred Grieve
-of Bath,” as if he was a personage of some importance, and
from the size and population of the city, as recorded in
Domesday, we may be sure that there existed before the
‘Conquest as complete a municipal system, as accorded with
the spirit of the age. The development of this system was,
-of course, checked by the Norman invasion, but the extent
to which it was actually overthrown, is matter for conjecture.
A deed now extant amongst the Archives of the Corporation
records that it was signed at the Hundred Court in 1218,
and a period of the year named for payment of rent is
“ Hokeday.” As this was a day of rejoicing held on the
‘Tuesday fortnight after Easter, to commemorate the defeat
of the Danes in 1002, it would only have appeared as a

General History of Bath. 45

“survival” from early English times, and is some evidence of
the continuity of the Hundred Courts. The deed of 1218
we have just mentioned refers to the “Dean of Bath,” and
the earliest document extant mentioning a mayor is of the date
1230, and that of one bearing the common sealof thecity, 1250.

These documents do not indicate the commencement of
the state of things to which they bear witness, but refer to:
the Hundred Court,and the Mayor, and the common seal, as
institutions so well known as to be matters of course. But
the Municipal Charters, granted by the Plantagenet Kings,
do not appear to bear any fixed relation to the system of
Local Government, in use amorigst the communities to which
they were granted. The two streams of liberty respectively
enjoyed by way of survival, and granted by Charter, run for
many centuries in parallel courses.

‘The carliess Lhe first Municipal Charter granted to Bath

City Charter. wel] illustrates this. In 1189, just as he was
embarking from Dover for the Holy Land, Richard Cceur de
Lion granted to Bath the same liberties of holding property,
settling disputes, and trading, as were expressed in a Charter
granted earlier in the same year to Winchester. It is granted
to “The Merchant Guild,” an institution of which our records
contains no other mention.*

King John visited Bath, certainly four times, and pro-
bably more. In 1207 he sent directions to the “ Bailiff of
Bath” to make enquiries as to the contents of the royal
cellar in the house of the Bishop, and the account rolls of
the reign preserve a most minute record of his expenditure
in horses, carriages, wine, hunting, and hawking—even to
the loss of a few shillings at play.

* Some companies of artificers and tradesmen are mentioned in the
records of the sixteenth century, but they were not ‘‘ incorporated.”

46 General History of Bath.

The Bailiffs seem to have been the authorised heads of
the community in John’s reign; but one writ, towards its
end, is directed to the goodmen (“probi homines’”) of the
city.

John evidently took a considerable interest in the Priory.
He annexed to it a cell which he had founded, and en-
dowed at Waterford, and also granted to the monks a very
large estate beyond the walls of the city, known as the Bath
Forinsecum (afterwards corrupted into Bath Forum) at a fee
farm rent of £20.

The city itself, which had been granted back to the Crown
by Savaric, he let to the Monks “at will” under a rent of

43°.

Tue FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH CENTURIES.

Our knowledge of the history of Bath during the four-
teenth and fifteenth centuries is somewhat fragmentary.
We can trace the representation of the city in Parliament
back to the 26th year of the reign of Edward I. In that
year the city members were Henry Bayton and Thomas de
Missletre. The privilege was not much prized, for we find
in the first year of Edward II. the following “return” :—

Writ: “For the election of two citizens from the city
of Bath.”
“ The writ of our lord the King was returned
Representation by the Mayor and Bailiffs of the said city
in-Parliaménts of the liberty of the Bishop of Bath, who
care not to give any effect thereto.”

Charters of the usual municipal character were granted
to Bath by Henry III., the three Edwards, Richard II.,
Henry IV., and his two successors of the same name, and

General History of Bath. 47

Edward IV., but the space at our command does not admit
of any extended notice.*

The ownership of the Bath Forinsecum remained with the
Prior and Monks until the Dissolution, but that of the city,
after having been held for a time by Eleanor, the mother of
Edward I., as part of her dower, was in 1277 granted to the
Bishop. Between this date and 1447 the city was granted
by the Bishop to the citizens in fee farm, but the deed is
not extant. :

During the reign of Edward I. there were two very inter-
esting presentments of juries impanelled to enquire as to
invasions of the King’s proprietary rights within the city.
The jurors’ presentment contains mention of the following
matters :—

1. That the King has in the city, by title of escheat for a felony, a
house which King Henry granted to master Geoffrey of Bath,
before which grant of the said King, the said house used to
provide one carpenter for forty days in time of war for the use
of the King’s army.

2. The withdrawal of several persons, ecclesiastic and lay, from the
suit which they owed to the King’s Court, and the withdrawal
of the villages of Claverton and Hampton from their obligation
to mow the King’s meadow (Kings-mead), to the loss of the
King, each year, 20s. 6d.

3. That the priest, Henry de Courtney, commenced to build a hand-
some chamber on the city wall, and that on his death the Prior
pulled it down and carried away the stone and timber into the
Priory.

4. That Robert Cherin holds a tenement within the city, and a
meadow outside, for which he was wont to keep the gate on the
bridge in time of war.

5. That the Prior of Hinton (a Charterhouse foundation) and the

* These charters are dealt with in detail in the ‘‘ Municipal Records of
Bath” by Messrs. King and Watts.

48 General “History of Bath.

Prior of Keynsham (an Augustinian foundation) held fairs at
Hinton and Marshfield to the detriment of the fairs of the city.

6. That the King’s own houses within the Abbey gates were out of
repair since the Prior was farmer of Bath, and that the cost of
restoring them was estimated at ten marks beyond the cost
which the King had incurred about two houses he had himself
built on his own land within the Priory.

The jurors then go on to give a list of those who had
carried away stones from the city walls, the Prior being the
greatest delinquent.

In 1347, the citizens were called on by Edward III., to
provide six fully-armed men to accompany the King from
Portsmouth to France. The city could provide but four
men, and with difficulty compounded for the other two, by
payment of twenty marks. The acquittance says: “ This is
not to be drawn into a precedent.”

Edward III. sent urgent remonstrances to the citizens to
repair the city walls, and directed a rate to be levied on all
owners of property within the city or suburbs, and, “all who
constantly dwell therein or resort thither for merchandise.”

During the reign of Edward I'V., the citizens incurred the
royal displeasure by receiving Margaret of Anjou. Edward
marched against the city, but when he had approached as far
as Marlborough she fled to Bristol, and afterwards to Tewkes-
bury, where she was taken prisoner.

The population of Bath did not show much
increase. It has been calculated to have been
about 890 at the taking of Domesday; and in 1379 a poll
tax shows the then population to have been about 1025.
But, such as they were, the inhabitants gained their living
by the manufacture of wool stuffs. The industry was intro-
duced by the monks, who incorporated a weaver’s shuttle in
the arms of the monastery, and the mill in the Avon, which

Trade.

General History of Bath, 49

was part of the possessions of the Priory, was used for
“fulling” cloth.*

Several fairs and a right of market were granted to the:
Priory and the citizens, the bridge over the Avon at the
bottom of Southgate street was rebuilt on its Roman founda-
tions, and an attempt, unfortunately unsuccessful, was made
to enforce the removal of the weirs and other obstructions,
which prevented the river from being navigated between the-
city and Bristol.

It is not necessary that we should here speak in detail of

the Baths. The mineral waters were well known during the
14th and 15th centuries, and there were several establish--
ments for the reception of the afflicted who resorted hither,.
and who were principally the victims of leprosy and other:
skin diseases. But the existence of the thermal waters was.
not a factor in the prosperity of the city.
All the contents of the monks’ library were
ruthlessly scattered at the time of the Dissolu--
tion. It contained a valuable copy of the
works of S. Anselm, which was forwarded by the Prior to:
Cromwell in 1545 at Henry’s special command. One book
alone is known to be now extant. This is known as the:
Ruber Codex Bathoniz. It is a manuscript note-book con--
taining a variety of memoranda as to Bath affairs, com--
mencing from the r4th century.

This interesting book was preserved in Bath until 1703,,
and then became the property of Viscount Weymouth. It is:
now preserved in the Marquis of Bath’s library, at Longleat.
The contents are not all of an historical nature, but include-

The Ruber
Codex.

* The idea that Bath was a manufacturing town survived the reality. In:
1566 Sir Thomas White, a clothier, and some time Lord Mayor of London,
settled some property upon trust to make loans, without interest, to working:
clothiers in thirty-three different provincial towns, Bath being one of them..

5

5° General History of Bath.

hymns, epitaphs, and instructions in phlebotomy. There is
a curious account of a presentment of jurors in 13 Henry
IV. as to the position of the town pillory, which had been
removed, and was about to be re-established, and a transcript
of the oath taken by citizens on their admission to the
freedom of the city.

I schal buxom and obedyent be to the mayr of bathe
and to al hys successowrys and Y schal mentayne
me to no lordschyp for hynderans of eny burges of
bath. Nether Y schal nozth plete wyth no burges
of bathe but on the mayr curte yf hit so be that the
mayr wyll do me ryght or may do me ryght. Seynt
Katern day Y schal kepe holy day yerely and Seynt
Katern Chapel and the brigge help to mentayne and
to susteyne by my powre. All other custumys and
fredumys that langit to the fore sayde fredom Y
schal well and truly kepe and mentayne on my
behalf. Selme God and halydome.

THE REFORMATION.

Few towns were more completely overshadowed by a
monastery than was Bath by the Benedictine Priory. In
the year 1377, the returns of a poll-tax show that the clergy
amounted to about a third of the adult population, whilst
the precincts of the priory included about one-fourth of the
whole area of the city.

The Rectory of the official city church, St. Mary de Stalles,
andthe advowson of the other churches and of the Hospital
of St. John, were vested in the Prior and Monks, and they
were also the owners not only of all the land which formed
the environment of the city, but also of the large transpon-

General History of Bath. 51

tine parishes of Lyncombe and Widcombe, and of several
of the fairs which formed an important element in com-
mercial life.

There were two sources from which water for the public
conduits was obtained,—one on Beechen Cliff to the south,
the other on Beacon Hill to the north. Both were the
property of the priory, and the citizens utilized the water
by arrangement with the monks.

The free citizens of Bath exercised a somewhat curious
“right of common” (apparently a survival of the public rights
over the public land of the township) over the Barton
estate, part of the Forinsecum. The rights were so compli-
cated as to have naturally tended towards dispute, but down
to the Reformation, we find only an agreement in 1260
defining the custom as then understood, and a deed in 1347,
by which the Prior agreed that the ploughing up of some
enclosed ground should not prejudice the citizens. There
seems, indeed, to have been a very good feeling between
the priory and the city.

The one dispute of which we have record, seems to nega-
tive the supposition that there were any serious dissensions.
In 1421 there was a memorable contest for precedence
between the Abbey church and “the city churches as to the
ringing of bells. An zxguzsttio ad guod damnum was held
at Frome, and the jurors presented that the right was with
the monks, namely, that no one should ring a bell in the
city before the Abbey bell had sounded in the morning, nor
after the Abbey bell had rung the curfew (zgnztigiuvm) in the
evening, except on Christmas Day, the Epiphany, Easter,
the feasts of the dedication of the respective city churches,
also the feasts of St. Catherine (a saint to whom a special
cultus was paid in Bath), St. Nicholas, and All Saints.

5*

52 General History of Bath.

The Bishop, though by virtue of his office Abbot of Bath,

did not as a rule interfere with the government and adminis-
tration of the Prior. But at the commencement of the
sixteenth century he exercised his Abbatial rights in a very
marked manner. The income of the monastery was then
£480 16s. 6d., and there were, besides the Prior, sixteen
monks. The Bishop, finding the Abbey Church, his
“Cathedral Church,” as he terms it, out of repair, and
anxious, as so many churchmen at that time were, to show
his taste in perpendicular architecture, ordered the monks.
to reduce their expenditure to £160, and pay the surplus.
to him for the building work.
Prior Bird and the monks entered with hearti-
ness into the scheme, and at the date of the
Dissolution the main fabric of the present
Abbey Church was already built, and the stores for its
completion had been got together.

It is needless to relate how, before the Bia blow fell,,
the monks were plundered by Cromwell and his assistants,
how pensions were extorted, and corodies, advowsons, and
next presentations were filched away. The story is the
same throughout England, The Commissioners certified.
the income of the monastery at £617, and Holloway the
Prior, a weak, time-serving man, in 1539 surrendered the
estates he held in trust into the King’s hands. For this he
was rewarded by a pension of £80, the lease for his life of a.
house in Stall street, and such perquisites as he could get
from those who used the Baths. The other twenty-nine
monks and lay brethren received pittances varying from £9
to £4 6s. 8d., and the monastery, which had existed for:
nearly 1,000 years, lay deserted.

There was not even a pretence of regarding the public

The Dissolution
of the Priory.

General History of Bath. 53

interest. The beautiful church, fast approaching comple-
tion, the precinct of the priory, and the monastic estates
in Lyncombe, Widcombe, and Walcot parishes were granted
to a speculator, Humphrey Colles, who two days afterwards
sold them to Edmund Colthurst.
For a period of fifty years there was utter desolation.
The Abbey Church was used as a quarry of hewn stone ;
the stores which had been accumulated for its completion
(including 480 tons of lead) were plundered, and the Hospital
of St. John the Baptist and the city churches were allowed
to fall into decay.
During this dreary period Abbot Feckenham,
who had been imprisoned during part of the
reigns of Henry VIII. and Edward VL. but
who on Mary’s accession was made Abbot of Westminster,
tried to do something for the poor lepers, whom the dis-
solution of the Priory had left without any resource. He
suffered during Elizabeth’s reign twenty-three years of
durance, and was three times tortured. But he was some-
times allowed out of prison “on licence,” and made use °
of his temporary liberty to found a little hospital for lepers
near the Hot Bath, which he placed under the direction
of the master of the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen, at
Holloway, in the suburbs of the city. This little hospital,
though insignificant in itself, yet proved the commencement
of the provision for the sick poor visiting Bath which cul-
minated in the existing “‘ Mineral Water Hospital.”
Probably by an accident, the grant to Colles did not
include the whole of the monastic property, and Edward
VI., in 1552, made a grant of the remainder to the citizens.
Trusts were declared for the maintenance of a Free Gram-
mar School, still existing under the name of King Edward

Abbot
Feckenham.

54 General History of Bath.

VI. Grammar School, and the maintenance of ten poor
persons. Still later it was discovered that there were yet
other possessions of the church, which had been concealed ;
and Elizabeth, in 1585, granted these also to the citizens.
The property comprised in this last grant consisted of houses
belonging to the Church of St. Michael extra muros, but
these were appropriated by the Corporation.

The citizens entered with real zest upon the work of
plunder. In 1572 they obtained a gift from Colthurst of the
dismantled Abbey Church, and then persuaded Elizabeth to
make but one parish of the whole city, and give the advow-
son to them. The scheme was only partially successful.
Two of the churches, St. Mary de Stalles and St. Mary zntra
muros were desecrated, and the church of St. Michael zztra
muros was annexed to St. John’s Hospital, but the parish-
ioners of the other city churches and the chapel in Wid-
combe, were successful in preventing the spoliation from
absorbing them. But the central city parish ceased to be
St. Mary de Stalles, and was designated the parish of SS.
Peter and Paul, the Abbey having been dedicated to these
saints.

The effects of the Reformation were far reaching in the
civil as well as the ecclesiastical order. The citizens con-
ceived the idea of managing the spiritual as well as the
temporal affairs of the city, and, for many years, administered
the Rectory of Bath. In 1584 they had presented Richard
Meredith to the living ; but six years afterwards he granted
to the Corporation a lease during his life of the whole bene-
fice, except the Rectory house, at a rent of #52. The
citizens hired preachers from Sunday to Sunday, collected
offerings, received fees for burials, in fact farmed the living.

The estates of the Hospital of St. John they appropriated,

General History of Bath. 55

and spent the income in donations to players, bear baiting,
and other diversions. The other charities they in a similar
manner mismanaged and plundered. Elizabeth, about 1573,
granted a “brief” for collecting money for the completion of
the church and the restoration of the fabric of St. John’s
Hospital, but a contemporary, Sir John Harington, records
the fact that but a fraction of the money obtained was
honestly applied.
But the character of the city was changing.
aren Trade had almost died out, and Elizabeth
had brought the city into fashion, not as a
health resort—that was to be a creation of later time—but
as a Hydropathic establishment. Visitors flocked hither
from all parts of the kingdom, and the attention which they
bestowed upon the half-ruinous Abbey Church, and the
example of liberality which they set, shamed the citizens
into a better sense of their duty; and, before the death of
Elizabeth, much progress had been made in the work of
restoration.

The Queen herself visited Bath in 1574, and as she re-
mained here over a Sunday, great efforts were made to make
the churches look less neglected than was their wont. The
“ Quiresters” were brought over from Wells; the windows of
Stalls Church were mended; and the ruined state of the
Abbey Church disguised by garlands of green. The bell-
man was given a new coat of “black frise at xv. pence the
yard,” and men were employed to clear away the soil and
ashes which it was the custom to throw over the town walls.
Elizabeth granted a charter to the city in 1590, which codi-
fied the existing municipal customs, but she was not pleased
with the condition of the town. The common sewer running,
open in the middle of the streets, and the state of the pitch~

56 General History of Bath.

ing seem from Harington’s letters to have been particularly
annoying to Her Majesty.

In 1602 the Queen intended to pay another visit to Bath,
‘and it is amusing to read of the flutter the citizens were in.
‘They sent in hot haste to Chipping Sodbury, Cirencester,
Bristol, Frome, Warminster, and Chippenham to get “ paviors
against the Queen’s cominge;” but, when her health prevented
the visit, the proposed work was indefinitely postponed.

On the accession of James I.,.Sir Walter Raleigh and Lord

‘Cobham were both at Bath, and there are indications that the
‘mysterious plots, “the Main” and perhaps “the Bye,” were
in part concerted here.
Proclamations were sent to Bath, amongst
other places, for the arrest of those implicated
in the Gunpowder Plot, in which their persons
were minutely and quaintly described.. Lord Harington
‘wrote to his cousin, Sir John Harington, that one of the
‘traitors “hath confessed that he had many meetings at Bath
about this hellish design ;” and there was a good deal of
‘commotion in the city after the discovery, as the Chamber-
lain’s accounts bear witness.

A curious letter is extant, written by Lord Monteagle
from Bath. It was addressed to the conspirator Catesby,
and begs his presence in this city. The letter contains
‘some very curious references to “the elements of air and
fire,” and to a great catastrophe to take place through
the agency of Catesby, by which Robert Cecil (“Robin”)
-was to be injured. The date is “September.” Now if this
letter could be proved to have been written in the year
of the plot, it would be important evidence to implicate
Monteagle. No year is mentioned on the letter, and
Monteagle was so frequently at Bath, and Catesby so often

‘The Gunpowder
Plot.

General History of Bath. 57

met him here, that there is no necessary or even probable
inference that it was written in 1604, and unless this date
can be fixed, the letter has no significance. The general
contemporary opinion was that Monteagle was quite inno-
cent, and he received not only praise but even reward from
the King and Cecil for communicating to the Royal officers
a warning he had personally received not to be present in
Parliament on the fatal day.

We have already mentioned the right of common of the
free citizens over the Barton estate. This was denied by
Sir George Snigge, who had become the owner of the
estate. A tedious litigation of twenty years ensued, and
every legal artifice and terrorism which Sir George (himself
one of the Barons of the Exchequer) could devise or execute,
was unblushingly made use of to defeat the undoubted rights
of the citizens. In the end, and after the death of Snigge,
the matter was referred to the arbitrament of Sir Nicholas
Hyde, the Recorder of the city, and afterwards Chief Justice.

Hyde made an award in 1619, and decided that the free
citizens should, in lieu of their commonable rights over the
whole estate, have the fee simple of that portion which,
under the name of the Bath Common Estate, now forms so
useful and beautiful an adjunct to the city.

Queen Anne (of Denmark) visited Bath in

— 1613 and 1615, and was received on each

occasion with all the state the citizens could
provide. An organist, trumpeters, drummers, coachmen,
waynemen, littermen, and footmen were all féted and fed.
A little fountain on the bridge, which on very great occasions
of festivity was made to run wine, was put in order, and a
piece of plate was presented to Her Majesty. Dr. Theodore
de Mayerne, the Court physician, accompanied the Queen,

58 General History of Bath.

and she was attended by a very large suite of courtiers.
After the second visit was over there was a difficulty in
raising the funds to meet the expenses incurred, and we
read in the Council minutes—

“ A resolution concerning the arrearages for the collection towards
the cup and other charges given to the Queen's most excellent
Majesty. It is resolved that the rate, as it is sett heretofore,
be collected presently, and if any person do refuse to pay the
same then to be forthwith committed till he do pay it.”

The Queen’s visit cost the Royal exchequer £30,000 in
addition to the sums levied in Bath. Yet, in a contem-
porary letter, we read that the counties through which the
route lay petitioned “to be spared this year in respect
of the hard winter and hitherto extreme hot and dry
summer, whereby cattle are exceeding poor and like to
perish everywhere.”

It is curious to notice the survival of the medizeval idea
that records should always be written in Latin. A monk
from the Priory had been the prothonotary of the city, and
the older council minutes, not now alas extant, contained
the ordinary formulz of civic life in the learned language.
These were religiously copied in so far as they could be
made to apply to more modern requirements. ‘Thus the
council minutes for very many years always commenced
“Civitas Bathon. In camera concilii ibm tent ° Sep.
tembris Anno . Coram Ricardo Jones maiore,” and the
officials would be dubbed “ Justiciarii Ballivi, Gubernatores
Balnez, Supervisores carnis,” and so forth. But the Latin
of the citizens was not of a kind which could be adapted to
passing events, and so, after a pompous introduction, they
presently glided into the vernacular.

General History of Bath. 59

THE Civit Wars.

The early part of the reign of Charles I. was uneventful at
Bath, except as regards the number of distinguished visitors.

In July, 1642, there was an amusing reference to the
stoppage of the tide of wealthy invalids, occasioned by the
removal of the Court to York. The “guides were neces-
sitated to guide one another from the alehouse lest they
should lose their practice; the ladies were fallen into a
lethargy for want of stirring cavaliers to keep them awake,
and the poor fiddlers were ready to hang themselves in their
strings for a pastime for want of other employments.”

The very next month the troubles began. In August,
1642, Sir Robert Foster was holding the Summer Assize at
Bath, and both parties to the great national struggle felt
that there was an opportunity of getting the county to
declare itself.

A “commission of array” had been sent to the Lord
Lieutenants of Somerset and Devon, to levy troops for the
King, and this the Parliament had denounced as illegal.
On the other hand, the Commons had directed the Militia
to be called out.

Petitions against the “‘commission of array” were signed
by the Constables of twenty Hundreds in Somerset, and
about the same number in Devon, and presented to the
Judge in open Court by the Constable of Keynsham. The
petitions were in the same form, and called upon the Judge
to read aloud in Court the condemnation by the Parliament,
so that all might know what the law was.

The concourse of countrymen into Bath with these peti-
tions, and the demonstrations they made against the Royal
Prerogative, naturally put the Royalists on the alert.

60 General History of Bath.

The Marquis of Hertford the Lord Lieutenant, his
brother, Francis Seymour, and Mr. William Bassett, of
Claverton Manor, one of the city members, had been with the
King at York, but were hurriedly despatched to the West.

Sir Robert Foster was known to be a “trimmer,” and
Hertford wrote him a strong letter of warning “that the
gentlemen of Dorset were well affected to the King, and
were apprehensive what might pass at the Assizes, and few
of them would adventure themselves into the town, being
at present in such a posture of war, so as he, the Judge,
was not likely to be so fully attended, and all preventions
would rest wholly on his courage and constancy.”

The Grand Jury made a presentment of a neutral cha-
racter—that it was grievous the people should be vexed by
contrary orders—that the King and Parliament should meet
and adjust their differences, and that in the meantime the
King should suspend the “commission of array,” and the
Parliament the order for the Militia—very sage advice, but
not suited to the temper of the times.

Such was the position when Hertford and Seymour came
to Bath, and met there a goodly array of gentlemen. The
Hoptons of Witham Friary, Sir John Digby, son of the Earl
of Bristol, Sir Francis Hawley, and Sir Thomas Bridges of
Keynsham. The Seymours, Hoptons, and Bassetts were
much beloved in Bath, and for the time, carried all before
them. The Corporation féted their distinguished guests,
and made them presents; and the Town Hall, decked as we
read with “grene and carpets,” was placed at their service.
It was proposed to make Bristol the Royalist head-quarters ;
but the trained bands, who at heart loved not the cause,
objected that they could not be legally marched out of their
county. Finally Hertford made the great tactical mistake of es-

General History of Bath. 61

tablishing himself at Wells, an unwalled and defenceless town.

The Horners of Mells, and the Pophams, who were
amongst the few Somerset gentry who sided with the Parlia-
ment, raised forces and pursued the Royalists. The trained
bands deserted to them, and Hertford was driven to Somer-
ton and Sherborne, and afterwards retreated into Wales.

Colonel Popham and Colonel Stroud, who thus gained the
ascendancy of the county, occupied Bath, and were in turn
made much of by the Corporation.

The command of the Parliamentary forces in the West
was entrusted to a gentleman well known in Bath, Sir
William Waller. His first wife, the daughter of Sir Richard
Reynell, had died in the city, and he erected a handsome
monument to her memory in the Abbey, and entrusted
the Corporation with funds for its repair and maintenance.
The citizens rejoiced that Waller made Bath his head-
quarters, and not only gave him complimentary presents,
but afforded assistance to him in establishing his stores of
ammunition in the Guildhall. They had still to discover
what a military occupation implied.

In the summer of 1643 the King’s forces were divided.
One army was with His Majesty at Oxford, the other, under
Sir Beville Grenville, flushed with its victory at Stratton,
was marching from the West. It was the object of these
two armies to effect a junction. The purpose of Waller,
whose forces had been reinforced by the fugitives from
Stratton, was to keep them apart.

After some skirmishing in the Claverton
valley,* the Royalists took up their quarters
at Marshfield, whilst Waller took strong
ground on the opposing declivity of Lansdown, (near the

Battle of
Lansdown.

* See Index, Claverton.

62 General History of Bath.

site now occupied by the Grenville monument), and
strengthened it with earthworks. The Royalists, seeing
Waller’s strength, would have declined battle, but their
cavalry were attacked by Sir Arthur Hazlerig’s newly-raised
“regiment of lobsters,” and driven back in confusion. The
‘Comish foot, which formed the flower of the Royal army,
not only stood their ground, but drove the Parliamentary
infantry out of the cover they had taken. In the meantime
the cavalry rallied, and routed Hazlerig’s horse.

The Parliamentarians retreated to their main body, and a
furious fight ensued. After four distinct charges, the Royal-
ists drove Waller from his position, and, holding their
ground, brought up the artillery. Waller retreated, and
took up another position within musket shot, behind some
stone walls. Both parties were too exhausted to charge,
and there was an interchange of fire until night. At last a
scout, sent forward by the Royalists, saw that Waller had
retreated with his cannon, leaving the lighted linstocks
sticking in the wall to distract attention. The Royalists
took possession of the field, and captured some powder, of
which they stood much in need, and some pikes and small
arms, but, too much exhausted to profit by their victory,
fell back upon Marshfield. Hertford pushed on towards
Oxford, but was so harassed by Waller, that he threw his
infantry and ordnance into Devizes, and fought his way on
with the cavalry. Waller laid siege to Devizes, but was en-
gaged at Roundaway Down by Lord Wilmot, sent by the
King from Oxford. The Parliamentarians were completely
routed. Waller took refuge at Bristol, and Bath was once
more in the possession of the Royalists.

Sir Thomas Bridges was appointed Governor, with a
garrison of 140 men.

General History of Bath. 63

On the zoth November, 1643, the Town Council re-

solved :—

“Tt is agreed that all the doores w% are made in the Cittie Wall
to be damed vpp and taken away and the Hame gate to be
alsoe damed vpp and alsoe a Turnepicke to be sett vpp at the
Westgate or els the said gate to be walled vpp And alsoe
sufficient Courts of Gaurdes to be made at such places as the
Gouieno™ shall appointe And whereas the Goueno' doe desire
to be furnished w® linnen for the Board and Bed for this yeare

' followinge. It is agreed that if x" or vnder will satisfie him
that then it shalbe given him by the Chamber.”

A month later we read—

“ Agreed that the Gouener shall haue a guift psented to him this
Christmas by the Corporacon

Agreed there shalbe giuen to the Gouener one hoggshead of
Clarrett and 2 or 3 Suger loaues.”

The citizens had a bad time. Courts of guard were es-
tablished at the ‘‘ Nagg’s Head,” in Northgate Street, at the
Southgate and the Westgate, and the citizens had to provide
coal and candle for the soldiers there. They had the charge
of such prisoners as were brought in, and fed them on bread
and cheese, and they had to tend and feed the wounded.

The East gate leading to the Avon was blocked up, so
was the Ham gate leading out into the fields beyond the
south wall. The Southgate itself was left to its ordinary
defences, as the outworks on the Old Bridge were probably
deemed a sufficient defence. As there was a considerable
suburb, the parish of St. Michael, beyond the North gate,
that gate was left open, and a barricade and chain were
provided as a means of blocking the passage down Broad
street.

The following loyal resolutions were passed by the
Council :—

64. General History of Bath.

“sth Feb., 1643-4.—It is agreed that the Chamber will provide
Tenn Barrells of Powder at their owne Costs and Chardges for
his Ma‘ Service.

And further that if the severall Hundres of this Division doe desire
to lay in their pportion of Powder into o* Magasein that the
Corporacon will provide a place for it but not to insure it if it
should be taken from them or come to any other mischance.

12th Feb.—Agreed that 50 shalbe taken vpp for the buyeinge of
Ten Barrells of Powder by the Cittie for the use of his Ma‘
Service.

18th March.—Rators to rate the Inhabitants of the Cittie for the
Raiseinge of 150! for arreres to the Kinge as alsoe for value of
the Houses of the said Cittie.

13th May.—Agreed that a Rate shalbe made throughout the Cittie
for the gatheringe of 40% for prence Maurice.

Agreed that a house shalbe taken for the Gouerner for his
quarters.” :

These minutes are struck through in ink, no doubt as a
simple mode of rescission when the Royalists were no longer
masters of the city.

In May, 1644, Queen Henrietta Maria, then near her
confinement, spent a night at Bath, on her way to Exeter,
and in the same month Prince Charles made Bath his resi-
dence for a time when driven by the plague from Bristol.

In July King Charles himself visited the city, on his way
to join the army in Cornwall.

In June, 1645, the Royalist cause was lost at Naseby, and
in the next month Prince Rupert thus wrote in cipher, from
his command at Bristol, to secretary Nicholas :—

“If Fairfax speedily advance to us we shall be forced to quit Bath for
want of men and victuals, but if he give us time we shall do well.”

The story of the capture of the city as told
pene by Sprigge in his “ Anglia Rediviva” is
amusing :—

General History of Bath. 65

“Col. Rich in command of the cavalry summoned the town, but the
surrender was refused. Towards evening our dragoons, com-
manded by Colonel Okey, were drawn near the bridge, and
crept on their bellies over it to the gate, seized on the small ends
of the enemies’ musquets, which they put through the loopholes
of the gate, and cried to the enemy to take quarter, which so
affrighted the enemy that they ran to their work, which flankered
the bridge, and left their musquets behind them as of no use to
them, so as of little to us. Our men instantly fired the gate,
and became masters of the Bridge, upon which the Deputy-
Governor [Henry Chapman] sent for a parley, and upon the
treaty the town was yielded upon articles, making the common
soldiers, who were about 140, prisoners, and having conditions
for the officers to march away to what garrison they pleased.
We found in the town 6 pieces of ordnance, 400 arms, 12 barrels
of powder—the works, besides the wall of the city, strong and
tenable. It was yielded in good time, for Prince Rupert was
advanced with a party of 1,500 horse and foot from Bristol within
four miles to relieve the town, but coming too late, retreated.”

Colonel Rich was left with two regiments in Bath.

In September Fairfax rested here with his army some four
or five days, and the citizens were reduced to frightful straits
to meet the requisitions.

Captain Harington, the son of John Harington, of Kelston,
held a commission in the Parliamentary army, and at this
juncture did much to ease the distress of the city, with
which his family was intimately connected.

The citizens wrote Captain Harington and his father
piteous letters. In the first the Mayor says :—

“ Our houses are emptied of all useful furniture, and much broken
and disfigured ; our poor suffer for want of victuals, and rich we
have none. Warrants are come to raise horse, but we have none
left. Colonel Sandford doth promise his assistance as much as
he is able. We have now 400 in the town, and many more
expected. Goi protect us from pillage.”

6

66 . General History of Bath.

The letter to Captain Harington says that his troops
behaved well, but that those citizens who had not their
money ready were threatened with pillage, and goes on—

“ Eighteen horses were provided at the market-house, and delivered
up as you desired, but the men required were excused on your
desiring, nor was any seizure made, or plunder, excepting in
liquors and bedding. The town house was filled with troops
that came from Marlborough in their march westward. ‘
Our meal was taken by the Marlborough troop, but they restored
it again to many of the poorer sort. Our beds they occupied
entirely, but no greater mischief has happened as yet.
We have no Divine service as yet; the churches are full of the
troops, furniture, and bedding. Pardon my haste, as I have
sent this by a poor man who may suffer if he is found out, and
I dare not send a man on purpose, on horseback, as the horse
would be taken.”

The Parliamentarians ruled the city with a rod of iron.
The members of Parliament were-displaced, and the Re-
corder, the Rector, some members of the Council, even the
Sergeants-at-Mace, and men of the ruling faction put into
authority.

The Recorder of Bath had been Sir Nicholas Hyde, after-
wards Chief Justice. He gave place to the noted William
Prynne, who had been educated in Edward VI.’s Grammar
School in the City. Prynne, on the execution of Charles I.,
made it his business to proclaim Charles II., and was for
this imprisoned, and Ashe of Freshford was made Recorder.

The citizens sent petitions without number to be relieved
of the garrison which still occupied the city, and were at
last successful, but they were then crowded with “ maymed
soldiers,” sent down to complete their recovery in the hot
baths. Bath was at this period recognised as a national
sanatorium.

General History of Bath. 67

Of the Restoration we need say but little. There was a

great rejoicing at Bath. The citizens had feasted Hertford
and then Waller, Bridges and then Fairfax. They had
given a cup to the Queen, and one to the King, and then
rejoiced with much smoking and shouting and drinking at
the defeat of the Royal cause. Now, of course, there was a
grand jubilation ; the city conduits ran with claret, there
was a procession and a banquet, and “four hundred virgins
(most in white waistcoats and green petticoats), going two
and two, bore aloft in their hands crowns and garlands
made in the form of crowns, bedecked with all manner of
rare and choicest flowers.”
_ Captain Harington, whom we have already mentioned,
was excepted from the “Act of Indemnity and Oblivion,”
but he was a favourite in the county, and a certificate was
signed by twenty-four of the most influential noblemen and
gentlemen of Somerset, containing the following bold
assertions :—

“Whatever his father’s principles led him to, his son is no object of
wrath for his Majesty’s displeasure

“He did bear a commission from Oliver Cromwell, but at our
request to protect us from ruin and plunder . the city cf
Bath was much protected and preserved by Mr. Harington’s
accepting Oliver’s commission, which also had been exposed to
plunder and ruin.”

We need not say that the Restoration did not bring un-
alloyed happiness to either party. The Puritans groaned
beneath the persecution they endured, and many of the old
Cavaliers begrudged the influence which men who had
borne arms against the King’s father obtained in the coun-
cils of the son. Bath affords good specimens of each of
these discontents—William Prynne and Henry Chapman.

6?

68 General History of Bath.

Prynne was grandson of William Sherston, the first
Mayor of Bath after Elizabeth’s charter. He was born at
Swainswick, Sherston’s country house, and educated at the
Bath “Grammar School.”

Of this singular man, with his intolerance and vehemence
and combative tendencies, space forbids us to speak in
detail. By temperament and education a democrat, he now
found himself the advocate of despotic power; by religious
conviction an austere Puritan, he was the friend of the most
profligate Court which ever disgraced the country.

The very opposite to Prynne was Henry Chapman.
Sprung from a wealthy clothier family, he adopted the pro-
fession of arms, and held commission as a Captain of Horse
during the Civil Wars. During the Royalist occupation he
was deputy-governor of his native city, and sought refuge in
Wales upon its capture. At the Restoration he was indig-
nant at the favour shown to Prynne, and at the scant
attention bestowed upon himself.

The Corporation were, in March, 1661, proposing to elect
Prynne and Popham (both old Parliament men) as the city
members. Sir Thomas Bridges, who was then being sued
by the Corporation for extortion whilst governor, accused
Ford, the mayor, of disloyalty, and had him summoned
before the Privy Council. During his absence, Chapman,
without any legal pretence, assumed the mayoralty, and got
possession of the sheriff’s “precept.” He proposed Bridges
and Berkeley as the members, but, finding himself in a
minority in the Town Council (who then exercised the sole
power of election), set up a claim that the freemen and
not merely the .Council were entitled to vote. Prynne
ridiculed this approach to popular representation, and, by
reference to precedents, established the vicious custom.

General History of Bath. 69

Then Chapman determined to become mayor. He had no
sufficient backing to secure his election in the ordinary way,
but being a man of resource he borrowed a troop of horse,
ran off bodily with four aldermen and five councillors, and
kept them in durance at Devizes until after the election of
mayor. But his enormities did not stop here :—“ On the
Lord’s day, he and other of his confederates, meeting in
an alehouse during the time of evening service and sermon,
from which they absented themselves,” counted up the
possible votes, and found he could not reckon on having
amajority. On the very morning of the election, therefore,
he seized a brace more councillors and laid them by the
heels at Keynsham. Chapman was for the day successful,
but the kidnapped councillors on their return held another
election, turned Chapman out of the council, and ordered
the bailiffs to arrest him. This they feared to do, and there
was for the time a dead-lock. Then the outraged dignity
of the citizens was pacified by inflicting a fine on the bailiffs.
But as soon as the law’s supremacy had thus been vindi-
cated the fines were remitted.

All this came before the Privy Council, who upheld the
)Corporation but suggested that, to prove their loyalty, they
had better “make a free and voluntary present for the
supply of his Majesty’s pressing occasions.” The Corpora-
tion happened to have 4100 Church money in hand, and
this Prynne presented in their names to Charles, who
“received it very graciously.”

One of the most remarkable parts of the story is that
Chapman regained the confidence of the citizens, was
several times mayor, and wrote a very curious work on the
thermal waters, which he entitled ““ Thermz Redivive.”

On the death of Charles, James II. was proclaimed at

7° General History of Bath.

Bath even before the receipt of the official tidings, and he
and his Consort, Mary of Modena, several times visited
the city.
; James Duke of Monmouth landed at Lyme
eae Regis on the 14th June, 1615, and thence
marched to Bridport and Taunton. His
further course was towards Glastonbury and Wells, at which
latter town he outraged the feelings of the Canons by
breaking the church furniture, trying to burn the organ, and
stabling his horses in the Cathedral.

From Wells, Monmouth marched towards Bath, but the
citizens strengthened their walls, called out the Militia, and
replied to his summons ‘bya defiance. Fearing to attack
either Bath or Bristol, Monmouth, after a skirmish at
Keynsham, went to Norton St. Phillips, and thence to
Frome, where he was well received. Thence he retreated to
Bridgewater, and was defeated at Sedgemoor. The citizens
rang their bells on the news of this victory, and made a
bonfire when, a few days afterwards, Monmouth was taken
at Ringwood.

Then commenced the “ Bloody Assize,” the remembrance
of which will never die out in the West country. Jeffreys sat
at Southampton, Dorchester, Exeter, Taunton, and Wells,
and heads and parboiled quarters of his victims polluted the
air in every town and village and country road. Three
hundred and thirty-three prisoners were condemned to death
(of these 251 were actually executed), seven hundred and
forty-nine were sold as slaves to speculators and sent to the
West Indian Plantations, and many more were whipped from
market to market. Some of the citizens were apparently
implicated, for the Mayor sent witnesses from Bath to give
evidence against the rebels at Wells, and received a war-

General History of Bath. 71

rant commanding him to erect a gallows in the most public
part of the town and “provide halters to hang the traitors,
with a sufficient number of faggots to burn the bowels of
four traitors, and a furnace or cauldron to boil their heads
and quarters, and salt to boil therewith, half a bushel to each
traitor, and tar to tar them with, and a sufficient number of
spears and poles to fix and place their heads and quarters.”

The Mayor was present with the Tithing-men and a guard
of forty soldiers to see these horrid rites. *

In April, 1687, the “ Declaration of Toleration and Liberty
of Conscience” was published by James, and the citizens
returned their humble thanks, taking credit at the same time
for defending the city against Monmouth and his abettors,
“our loyal resolutions being then so resolutely fixed that we
had resolved to die at the gates, rather than suffer him to get
within them.” The next year the Queen Consort came to
Bath, and the birth of the child afterwards known as the Pre-
tender, was attributed in part to the virtues of the Cross Bath.
The Earl of Melfort inscribed on a pillar in the bath a ful-
some inscription commencing :—

“In perpetuam Reginze Marize memoriam quam Ceelo in Bathoni-
enses thermas: irradiante Spiritus Domini qui fertur super
aquas trium regnorum heeredis genetricem effecit.”

On the birth of the child, in June, the citizens again
addressed the King in glowing words of loyalty and devo-
tion. On the sth of the following November, William of
Orange landed, and the bells of Bath rang a merry peal at
the discomfiture of the Prince whom the citizens had so
servilely lauded. T here was a great rejoicing. A hundred
young men carried naked swords, and two hundred virgins
in an Amazonian costume, which must have been more
noticeable than decent, ‘bore crowns and sceptres, darts and

72 General History of Bath.

javelins. The procession banqueted at the Town Hall, and
the night was spent in dancing.

About the same time a resolution of the Town Council
was passed in these words :—

“ Agreed, the Crown of Thorns on the Cross in the Cross Bath, and
the Cross there, and all other superstitious things belonging
thereto shall be taken down, and the letters thereon inscribed
shall be obliterated.”

It would seem from this that the Revolution was warmly
welcomed in Bath, but in 1715, in 1718, and in 1745 there
was a strong party in the city ready to invoke civil war to
bring back the Stuarts, whose defeat had been the subject
of such rejoicing.

THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

We have already referred to some of the historical events
which agitated the nation and were reflected upon Bath
during this period, but, that the phenomenal character of the
Renaissance of the City in the eighteenth century may be
appreciated, it is necessary to point out the depth from
which the rise was to take place.

As early as 1562 Dr. Turner, who was at once a physician
and Dean of Wells, wrote a treatise on the Bath waters.
He had, during his exile under Queen Mary, visited the
continental Spas, and was shocked to see, on his return,
how little the great natural advantages of Bath had been
utilized. Men and women bathed together, often naked ;
the baths were open to the weather, and the bathers to the
jibes, and sometimes the pelting, of the public who loitered
in a public passage overlooking the bath. The waters were
contaminated with the foulest matters—dead animals being
often cast into them. =

General History of Bath. 13

There were literally no conveniences for dressing—bathers.
had to undress on the narrow margin of the bath itself, or
be carried in bathing clothes from their lodgings and so
home. Those who drank the waters imbibed the foul-
smelling liquid in which others bathed, and this though skin
diseases formed a large proportion of the ailments of visitors.
Boys and lads loitered naked about the baths, turning sum--
mersaults and diving for pence thrown in by the idlers
congregated to watch the bathers.

Dr. Jones in 1572, Dr. Jordan in 1630, Dr. Venner in
1637, and Dr. Guidott in 1668 did, each in turn, something
to spur the Corporation to a reasonable activity. Pumpers,
who administered a form of douche, bath guides, male and
female, and cloth layers were elected, who paid the Corpo-
ration for their offices, and made what they could out of the
vails and perquisites from bathers, and as the century pro-
gressed an amelioration in degree, though not in kind, was
effected. Visitors who could afford the luxury of decency
and privacy, lodged with the medical men, who kept board-
ing-houses around the baths, with doors opening into them,
and in some cases with private slips, enclosing and secluding
a part of the bathing area.

We have mentioned the baths before the town because
but for the baths the latter must have lapsed into the con-
dition of a mere village. Leland, visiting Bath in 1530,
tells us of the decline of the clothing trade which had been

the staple industry, and the Earl of Leicester
ra oy °f and Sir John Harington mention its almost

total decay before the commencement of the
seventeenth century.

But although some good houses had been built by a few
of the prominent citizens during the reign of Elizabeth, the

74 General History of Bath.

general style of the city was that of a mean manufacturing
town, with narrow, uneven streets, and affording few of the
decencies or comforts of life. It is not surprising, therefore,
to read, in a letter written by the Mayor in 1622, that there
was but one “resident sojourner.” About ten days was
the ordinary stay of those who came “for the cure.” The
population consisted almost entirely of physicians, surgeons,
and apothecaries, who added the profits of boarding visitors
to their professional Aonoraria, and the retail tradesmen,
who supplied the necessaries and extravagancies of life.

The growth of any considerable outside trade was rendered
impossible by the state of the roads, which were so bad as
to be absolutely impracticable. Indeed, it was sometimes
seriously debated in London whether such and such a royal
personage could get to Bath at all. If a distinguished
visitor was expected, the Corporation sent a deputation
from parish to parish with notice to ‘“‘mend their ways” ;
and when this had been done it took quite a little army of
pioneers to bring along a couple of carriages. For ordinary
commodities Bath was dependant upon the port of Bristol,
and during the whole of this century the citizens laboured
to have the Avon made navigable, for the land “ carriage
in most part, though not many miles, by reason of rocks
and mountainous ways, cannot be had but at a great rate.”

It would be natural to ask, ‘ Why no one had the enter-
prise to inaugurate a change in the city itself?” The answer
is to be found in the vices of the local administration.

By the Charter of Elizabeth, which codified
the existing customs, the government of the
city was vested in a mayor, a college of alder-
men (varying in number from four to ten), and twenty
councillors. The vices inherent in the system of govern-

The Close
Corporation.

General History of Bath. 15

ment were horrible. Ifa vacancy occurred in the Council
the remaining members elected one of the freemen to fill it.
The finances were entrusted almost unreservedly to the
Chamberlain. This person was a member of the Council,
and always made a profit out of his office. It was one of
his duties to entertain the councillors, who alone had even
a nominal supervision over his accounts. The Council also
annually elected two of their body to be Justices, and these
administered the laws they had helped to make. But the
most lucrative office was that of the Bailiffs, who discharged
all the functions of the executive, and made large profits
out of the administration of the prisons and markets.
These also were members of the Council.

No one outside this charmed circle had any voice in the
‘government or taxation of the town. But there was an
imperium in imperio. The mayor and justices formed an
inner Cabinet who could vote money and levy taxes, without
even the sanction of the Council. Indeed, the Council
minutes relate principally to the management of the houses
and land belonging to the Corporation, the election of
officers, and the choice of members to represent the city
in Parliament.

We have mentioned the freemen, the select body who,
by a perversion of right, were the representatives of the free
inhabitants of the city. These men formed a ring almost
as close as the Council itself. No one who was not a free-
man could keep open a shop in the city, and the freedom
could be obtained only by election by the Council, by pur-
chase, or by a seven years’ apprenticeship to a freeman.

A resolution passed by the Council in 1697 is instructive:

“ Whereas there hath become a custom in this City that the mayor
should have power with the consent of the Corporation to make

76 General History of Bath.

a freeman, which hath of late become a great prejudice to the
said City and the freemen thereof who have faithfully and hon-
estly served their apprenticeship, it is ordered that no person
or persons whatever shall for the future be made a freeman
unless he hath served such apprenticeship, except noblemen,
gentlemen, and such persons as this Court shall be well assured -
will not follow any art, trade, or mystery whatever.”

The natural result was that the citizens had no compe-
tition to excite their activity, and were deprived of the
advantage they might have derived from new blood and
bolder ideas. How great was the stagnation may be in-
ferred from two instances. At the commencement of the
century there was fear of a famine if a particular baker had
to attend as a witness in London. At the end of the same
century there was not one goldsmith in the city.

The population was small, and almost stationary. We
have estimated the inhabitants at the Conquest at 890;
in 1379 the number was a little over 1,000, and at the
Restoration it did not exceed 1,200.

During the whole of the seventeenth century there was a
complete absence of all increase in the area of the town.

As the freemen were as close a corporation as the munici-
pality itself, and as no ordinary residents could acquire any
influence in local administration, it followed that there was
no inducement for either tradesmen or the wealthier classes
to make the city their home.

A graphic though coarse sketch, entitled “ A step to the
Bath,” published in 1700, thus concludes :—

‘Tis neither town nor country, yet goes by the name of both.
Five months in the year ’tis as populous as London, the other
seven as desolate as a wilderness. Its chiefest inhabitants are
turnspit dogs, and it looks like Lombard-street on a Saint's
day. During the season it hath as many families in a house as

General History of Bath. 17

Edinburgh, but when the baths are useless, so are their houses.
The baths I can compare to nothing but the boilers in Fleet-
lane or old Bedlam, for they have a reeking steam all the year.
In a word, ’tis a valley of pleasure, yet a sink of iniquity, nor is
there any intreague or debauch practised at London, but is
mimicked here.”

Another writer gives as an illustration of the dreariness
of Bath out of the season :—
“A person might charge a culverin with grape-shot and fire it from

the ‘Bear Inn’ down Stall street without killing anything but
a turnspit dog or a pig.”

THE RENAISSANCE OF THE CITY IN THE EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY.

It has been our endeavour to depict a decaying city,
-small, ill-built, ill-smelling, ill-governed. We have now to
describe how the old order gave place to the new, and how
a town which had dwindled to a village, rose to be one of
the most beautiful, as well as one of the most fashionable,
resorts in the kingdom.

The great work was carried out by a Triumvirate—Beau
Nash, Ralph Allen, and John Wood. Each played a pro-
minent and distinct part, and each was willing to encourage
and to aid the achievements of his plans.

In the later years of the seventeenth century the number
of casual visitors to Bath had increased, but at the com-
mencement of the eighteenth, circumstances gave its popu-
larity a very decided impetus. In the year 1692 the
Princess Anne was here, and received royal honours from
the citizens. Her name was included in the Liturgy, and
she was escorted to church by the Mayor and aldermen.
King William III., her royal brother-in-law, objected to

78 General History of Bath.

these distinctions, and did not think it beneath him to
direct a Secretary of State’s warrant to the Mayor forbidding
such attentions, on the ground that the Princess had dis-
pleased him. The officials waited upon Anne and made
such excuses as they could, and these she good-naturedly
accepted. In 1703 Anne came again to Bath, but this time
as Queen. There were reasons why both Queen and sub-
jects wished to make the occasion a remarkable one. Anne
wished to display her dignity and state where she had been
subjected to disrespect. The citizens endeavoured, by the
brilliance of their reception, to efface the memory of their
former slight. Thus it happened that a vast concourse of
visitors flocked to the city, and filled it full to overflowing,
so that fabulous sums were paid for beds, and unfortunate
invalids were turned from their lodgings to make room for
visitors more remunerative. There is no such way of attract-
ing people to a place as to convince them they cannot get
into it, and the vezazssance of the city dates from this royal
visit.

But the very number of visitors was fraught with danger.
They made the city unbearable to the penitent rakes and
drunkards who were nursing their gout by the hot springs.
They screwed up the watchmen in their boxes, defied the
beadle, and laughed at the remonstrances of the Justices.
In despair, the Mayor asked Captain Webster, himself a
brawling, dissolute man, to take the part of master of cere-
monies. Webster’s exertions must not be altogether des-
pised: he did something to organize the amusements of the
place. Availing himself of the influence of the Duke of
Beaufort, he induced the Council to allow dancing in the.
Guildhall, and erected a sort of booth in the Orange-grove,
where the company played cards. It was about the year

General History of Bath. 79

1704, and during Webster’s reign, that Richard Nash came
to Bath as a visitor. A lucky evening at cards induced him
to prolong his stay, and he was well known to so many of
the better class of those frequenting the place, that he began
to discharge many of the social duties naturally falling upon
the master of ceremonies. Webster was soon afterwards
killed in a duel, and Nash was elected by acclamation as his
successor. Choice could not have fallen upon a man more
suitable. He had been an undergraduate, a soldier, a Tem-
plar. He knew everyone worth knowing, had good address,
an excellent temper, refined tact, and had in getting up a
display before Royalty in the Temple displayed talents for
social administration of no mean order.

The crisis was a serious one, for Bath was under the
dominion of a gang of well-dressed roughs, gamesters, and
adventurers. Swords and bludgeons were flourished upon
the promenades. Ladies in the streets, and even in the
baths, were persecuted with offensive gibe or more offensive
compliment. The evening entertainments were nightly in-
vaded by drunken ruffians, swaggering about with swords
or riding whips, lolling on settees with mud-bespattered
boots, and tearing draperies and dresses with their spurs.

We do not claim for Nash that he improved the morals
of the city. We doubt if the idea of attempting such a
reform ever occurred to him. What he did do was success-
fully to insist upon decorum.

His first care was to provide an Assembly Room as a
centre of fashionable life, and, in 1708, Harrison’s Rooms
in the Orange-grove were opened. In these rooms and the
larger ones which took their place, were held the balls, which
were the subject of most severe regulations. At six a series
of minuets commenced, each gentleman dancing in turn

80 General History of Bath.

with the ladies. Country dances were not allowed before
eight, tea was served at nine, and at the stroke of eleven the
music stopped.

Full-dress was rigorously insisted on, and gentlemen found
some consolation for being excluded, if they came in boots,
in the meeting out of a similar penalty to ladies appearing
in aprons.

Some duels which had lately shocked the public mind,

and the sad death of Webster, gave a fair pretext for forbid--

ding the wearing of swords, not only at the receptions but
on the promenades.

Subscriptions for the balls, the town band, the prome-
nades, and other local purposes were organised, and a tariff
was settled for the bell-ringers and carol singers who cele-
brated the arrival of visitors.

The habit of addressing ladies whilst bathing was sum-
marily checked by Nash taking by the heel and throwing
headlong into the bath a gentleman who was leaning over
the balustrade and addressing a bather. The lady turned
out to be the gentleman’s wife, which caused good laughter
and many bad jokes.

We can say but a word where we should be glad to say
much of Nash’s individuality. Neither in face nor person
was he distinguished, but he affected great state in his dress
and equipage. His carriage was drawn by six beautiful
black horses, and attended by numerous lacqueys gorgeously
attired. He always wore a white hat, and it became known
as a conventional emblem of his titular royalty, which no
one ventured to imitate. Few men could have exercised so
absolute an authority with so little power. His commands
were given with such donxhomie that few cared to dispute
them, and his wit could take so caustic a turn as to make

General History of Bath. 81

rebels ridiculous.* But he showed besides such tact in
adjusting awkward situations, that he was made an almost
universal referee.

Nash was no moralist, and, unlike many others no better

than himself, he never pretended to be. His contempo-
raries, finding him to be a man of honour and of spirit,
and successful in the great work which he undertook, were
proud of him. Recognising in him a genial tenderness of
heart, which made him ever ready to listen to a tale of woe,
ever eager to relieve distress, they were blind to his faults.
Do not let us, who still enjoy the advantages he secured for
the city, seek to discover weaknesses which injured only
himself. He held the post of Master of Ceremonies for
upwards of fifty years, and after a few years of retirement,
as a pensioner of the Corporation, he died in 1761 at the
age of eighty-seven..
The first of our Triumvirs came to Bath as
a freak of wayward fancy ; the second, Ralph
Allen, was sent here by his superiors. Ralph Allen was the
son of an innkeeper at St. Blaize, in Cornwall, and, in 1711,
he obtained, through Sir John Trevelyan, promotion from a
small office in that county to a clerkship in the Bath Post-
office. At this time the country was moved to great excite-
ment by rumours of a Jacobite rising. In 1715 a discovery
of arms was made in Bath, and it was found that prepara-
tions had been made to proclaim the “ Pretender.” In
1718 a raid was made at Badminton, and pikes and muskets
were seized, sufficient in number to equip a regiment, and
eight gentlemen of position were arrested in Bath itself.

Ralph Allen.

* There are many stories illustrative of this. One gentleman refused to
abide by the law against wearing riding-boots at the ball, and Nash van-
quished him by asking him in public why he had omitted to bring his
horse?

7

82 General History of Bath.

With the discovery of these plots to Marshall Wade, who
‘was stationed in Bath, Allen was certainly concerned, but
the statement that his part was the opening of letters in the
Post-office rests upon a very vague tradition.

Whatever truth there may have been in this tradition, he

certainly commended himself to Marshall Wade as a young
man of great promise. The Marshall not only secured him
the position of Post-master, but gave him his daughter, Miss
Earle, in marriage. Allen’s rise was very rapid, and his
judgment was seldom at fault. As Post-master, he noticed
the utter confusion in the practice of conveying letters on
all but the main routes. Footboys took the letters to some
inn which the mail coach passed, and the bags were carried
to London, where they were sorted. Thence the same
letters would perhaps return in other bags to the inn from
which they started, and be conveyed by footboys to their
_destination, only a few miles from the place at which they
were written. Allen contracted for the conveyance of letters
from Exeter to Chester, #é@ Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and
Worcester, and gradually enlarged the system until “cross
posts” extended their ramifications over almost the entire
country. The profits were enormous; one estimate puts
them at £16,000 per annum, but the public. gained even
more than the contractor.
The ‘Bath stone,” which has acquired a
reputation almost world-wide, was, in the
early part of the eighteenth century, scarcely worked. Allen
entered vigorously into the trade, opened quarries, arranged
wagon-ways, built cottages for workmen, introduced machi-
nery, and by his influence and example, demonstrated that
Bath was provided with a building material, combining great
convenience of working with extreme durability.

Bath Stone.

The Renaissance in the Eighteenth Century. 83

The splendid mansion of Prior Park, which is still one of
the ornaments of the environs, was built in 1742, as a proof
of the adaptability of the stone to all the requirements of
modern building.

Allen’s connection with the city did not actively commence
until much of the work attending its restoration to pros-
perity had been accomplished. In 1725 he was elected an
“honorary freeman,” and a few months later a member of
the Common Council, but we find few traces of any real
participation in municipal life until his election as mayor in
1742. He seldom attended the Council meetings, and
some of his recorded votes, in favour of the most retrograde
measures for retarding free competition were such as to sur-
prise those who knew his largeness of mind and general
breadth of view. Allen was not, it will be remembered, a
native of Bath; the principal pursuit of his life took him
much away from it, and he probably regarded it at first,
rather as a pleasant residence, than as the natural scene of
any active exertion. When, however, the city had forced
itself upon the attention of the fashionable world, Allen’s
interest in its internal affairs became excited, and his energy
of character and strength of will were such as to impress
his personality upon all coming in contact with him. Ac-
cordingly, in the fourth decade of the century, we find him
exercising an influence so paramount over the political and
municipal situation that the caricaturists made merry over
the ‘‘ one-headed” corporation.

William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, was, through
Allen’s influence, one of the city members for several years,
as well as a frequent visitor at Prior Park. Here, indeed,
was a rendezvous for the learned; Pope, Fielding, Richard-
son, Hoare, Hurd, and Warburton enjoyed the genial hos-

7”

84 General History of Bath.

pitality which no one could better display. The charities
of the city were warmly championed, its beauties were
cultivated, and the early efforts of genius were sedulously
fostered.

The third member of the Triumvirate, John
Wood, was an able architect, brought to.
Bath by Allen about the year 1727. He came just in
time to impress upon the city which was to spring up, the
stamp of his rare genius.

Wood was more than an architect. He was an adminis-
trator of a type rarely met with. The stagnation of the
building trade had been so absolute during the seventeenth
century that there were no competent workmen. Wood
tells us how he had to bring gangs of excavators from the
Chelsea waterworks, masons from Yorkshire, carpenters and
plaisterers from London. “And it was,” he continues,
“then only that the lever, the pulley, and the windlass were
introduced amongst the artificers in the upper part of
Somersetshire, before which time the masons made use of
no other method to hoist up their heavy stones, than that:
of dragging them up with small ropes against the sides of a
ladder.”

John Wood.

The work which the Triumvirate effected will

aie sr aa not bear dwelling upon in detail. Pitching
and paving, laying out broad streets, scaveng-

ing, watching and lighting, are now matters of course. Then,
they were startling novelties. Each step towards sanitary re-
form had to be taken in defiance of a chorus of obstructives,
in scorn of the prophecies of the “/audatores temporis actt.”
But perhaps the severest contest of all was with a gang of
licensed marauders, the Bath chairmen. We have now to

deal with a body of men particularly noted for their civil and.

The Renaissance in the Eighteenth Century. 85

obliging manners. In those days they were the terror of the
community ; and yet necessary. As there was no toilet accom-
modation at the bathing establishment, all the visitors who
dwelt elsewhere than in the lodgings which abutted on the
baths, had to arrange their costume at home. They were
then carried in Sedan-chairs to bathe, and back again, without
change of clothes, to bed. Nothing could exceed the help-
lessness of an invalid, swaddled in a wringing wet bathing-
dress which he was anxious to change. On this helplessness
the chairmen traded. Ifa “fare” was obstinate, the door
of the chair was fastened on the outside, and the inmate
became a prisoner. In cases of unusual determination to
resist extortion, the top of the chair was removed, and; if it
happened to be raining smartly, an hour of this treatment
was found effectual even in confirmed cases. One gallant
general was left in this predicament the whole of a winter’s
night, and was half killed by his supplementary bath. Im-
agine then the joy of the invalids when their natural enemies
were routed and subdued, a tariff of charges fixed, and
licenses refused to unworthy men.

A large sum of money was expended, as early as 1706, in
improving the walks and roads in the immediate neighbour-
hood of the city, and the charming and romantic scenes
with which the environs abound, were made accessible.

The increasing population of the city rendered the diffi-
culty of supplying it with provisions and other necessaries a
very serious one, and the completion of the work of making
the Avon navigable from Bristol was hailed with joy. Even
from the time of the Plantagenets, the citizens had striven .
to effect this, but the first barge did not pass from Bristol to
Bath until 1727.

The new city presented a unique spectacle. The brilliant

86 General History of Bath.

successes of Marlborough had excited the national feeling, and
infused a vigorous life into society ; growing wealth demanded
an object for expenditure, and the taste for gaiety and amuse-
ment made men and women, of every state of life, rank, and
position, flock to Bath, where these could be obtained under
circumstances the most favourable. Indeed, as the avenues
to the Continent were closed, there was but little choice.

Noblemen thought it incumbent upon them to possess a
house in Bath. Pitt built one house for himself in the
Circus, and the Dukes of Beaufort, Monmouth, Kingston,
Chandos, Bedford, and Marlborough, and Lords Howth,
Clive, Sandwich, and Chesterfield, all had mansions here.

To mention the leading visitors would be but to repeat the
names of those most distinguished in England by rank, fortune,
achievements, or learning. The Prince of Orange, Frederick
Prince of Wales, and afterwards his daughter Caroline, the
Princess Amelia, Princess Mary, daughter of George II.,
George IV. when Prince of Wales, the Duke of Gloucester,
and the Duke and Duchess of York, all visited the city
during this century.

The life of the place was regular in its irregularity. There
were certain times for bathing, for drinking the waters, for
the promenade, and for music.

Although the conveniences for bathing left much to be
desired, it was attended with elegance and some refinement.
The bathing costumes were decorous, and sometimes very
tasteful. Ladies and gentlemen met in the bath as in a
reception room, with bows and compliments. Wooden
bowls floated by the bathers, bearing handkerchiefs, nose-
gays, pouncet, and snuff-boxes, and other accessories. A
well selected band of musicians discoursed music, and a
piquancy was given to the criticism of the new arrivals and

The Renaissance in the Eighteenth Century. 87

the last scandal by the unusual concomitants. Pic-nics,
concerts, excursions, luncheons, were got up by private
persons ; and a visitor of fashion could spend both day
and night in an endless round of elegant gaiety. Coffee
houses were established for ladies, and proved very con-
venient lounges, whilst those for gentlemen were rebuilt or
improved. In one word the whole city was given up to the
decorous but eager pursuit of pleasure.

We have not stayed to chronicle the connection of Bath
with public events, because this was rather accidental than
real, William Pitt, for example, was a city member, not
because there was any particular political fellow-feeling be-
tween himself and the citizens, but rather because his election
was a compliment they were glad to pay to a well-known man.
There is, however, one piece of serious history
which forces itself upon us in the midst of this
whirligig of merriment—the Gordon Riots.

For a time Bath was completely under mob law. Dr.
Brewer was then the Catholic priest, and lived at Bell Tree
House, which had been the old Rectory house of St. James’s
parish. There he had a little chapel, but as this was too
small for the growing requirements of his congregation, he
built a larger one on St. James’s-parade. The building was
just finished, but before it was opened the mob plundered
and gutted it and the presbytery, burning the registers anda
valuable library and collection of manuscripts belonging to
the distinguished mathematician, Bishop Walmesley. Dr.
Brewer himself fled for his life, and, so terrified were the
citizens, that he went from door to door craving admittance
and protection without success, and was even refused an
asylum at the Guildhall. He would certainly have fallen a
victim to the fury of the mob, but the proprietor of the

Gordon Riots.

88 General History of Bath.

White Lion Hotel gave him shelter, and took him through
his back premises to the river, and thence in a boat to a
place of safety. On the 11th May, 1780, martial law was
proclaimed, and the vigorous action of the military reduced
the mob to subjection. John Butler was tried at Wells as
the ringleader of the rioters, and was executed in Bell Tree-
lane, the scene of his violence. The next year Dr. Brewer
recovered, in an action against the Hundred, £3,700 as
compensation.

We have already mentioned the increase of
the population during this phenomenal cen-
tury. The expansion of the city itself is
still more remarkable. At the commencement of the
century the medizeval walls enclosed the whole area built
upon, except a suburb clustering around St. Michael’s
Church, and a few mean houses in Southgate-street. These
walls enclosed a small pentagon ; it is difficult for us to real-
ize how small. The stranger entered the city at the north
gate, where the opening from High-street to Bridge-street
now is, and left it at the south gate, hard by St. James’s
Church. The west gate was at the end of the buildings of
the same name, and the east gate opened on to the strand of
the Avon.

In 1775 the north and south gates were removed, and
twenty years later the west gate. The east gate can still be
seen in Slaughterhouse-lane, at the back of the Market.

The first of Wood’s great enterprizes was Queen-square,
which was built in 1729; the North and South Parades
followed, and then the Circus, Milsom-street, Edgar-build-
ings, and the Royal Crescent.

Wood was aided and afterwards succeeded by his son,
and, before the end of the century, their example had raised

Rebuilding of
the City.

The Renaissance in the Eighteenth Century. 89

up a host of builders, by whom the surrounding hills were
made to shine with rows of stately houses.

To the same century many of the existing public buildings

owe their origin. The Guildhall (1766 to 1775) and the
Pump Room (1796) were erected mainly from the designs of
the City Architect, Baldwin, whilst the school house of King
Edward VI. Grammar School (1752) and the Assembly
Rooms in Alfred-street (1771) bear upon them the marks of
the architectural genius of the elder and younger Wood.
But perhaps the greatest achievement of the
century was the establishment of the Mineral
Water Hospital. This noble charity has for
its object the extension of the benefits of the mineral waters of
Bath to the afflicted throughout the nation. It was a revival
of those facilities for the reception of travelling invalids, which
were destroyed at the Dissolution of the Priory; and it is
pleasant to think that our Triumvirs, Nash, Allen, and Wood,
were not too much busied with the reception of the wealthy
and fashionable to heed the sacred claims of those whose title
was their sickness and their poverty. The foundation-stone
was laid in 1738, and whilst Nash exerted himself unwearily
and most successfully to collect funds, Allen gave from his
quarries the stone for the fabric, besides a donation in
money, and Wood contributed the less material but not
less valuable gifts of his skill and supervision. The hospital
provides accommodation for patients suffering from diseases
for the cure of which the waters are effectual. No payment
is made ; no recommendation is required, and no preference
is given to the inhabitants of Bath. In consequence of the
national character thus impressed upon the charity, it is
authorised by special Act of Parliament to hold lands not-
withstanding the statutes of Mortmain.

Mineral Water
Hospital.

go General History of Bath.

THE NINETEENTH CENTURY,

WITH NOTES ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF BaTH.

The history of our city in the present century is not quite
a continuation of the story of the eighteenth. The peace
of 1815 removed the hitherto unsurmountable barrier to
foreign travel, and many who had been before contented
with the beauties of their own country rushed eagerly to the
scenery and amusements of the Continent.

If Bath had enjoyed no other claim to recognition than
that of a place suited to kill some idle weeks, its prosperity
would indeed have been once more in danger. But even
before the tide of visitors began to ebb, there had been an
internal movement towards the establishment of the city on
a broader basis.

Brilliant, meteor-like, as was the career of the city during
the eighteenth century, we cannot help being struck with a
feeling of unreality. The idea of many hundreds of gaily-
dressed ladies and gentlemen sauntering through life, bath-
ing, promenading, and dancing within the city, and forming
themselves into Watteau-like groups on the slope of the hills,
and all under the paternal despotism of an Arbiter Eleganti-
arum, is not one which we can connect with stability.

Already it had become apparent that the artificial high
pressure could not be indefinitely sustained ; and there had
grown up an opposition to that concentration of all amuse-
ments and occupations into one small focus, which had
been the ruling principle of management.

Present state of the City. gl

Wars of succession between rival masters of ceremonies,
disputes between the frequenters of different assembly rooms,
and a general intolerance of the gilded fetters in which an
earlier generation had delighted, were but the indications.
that a healthier and more manly system was required.

Bath had indeed a better future, and was advancing

rapidly towards it. As the floating population diminished,
the number of permanent residents increased, and the influx
of men of large minds and cultured intelligence brought
about a more real and intelligent interest in municipal
affairs.
We should be sorry to infer that the improve-
ment in local administration dates only from
2 the Municipal Corporations Reform Act
(1835). There had, during the later years of the past and
the earlier of the present century, been an earnest effort not
only to improve the city, but also to remedy the gross:
abuses which tainted the administration of the civic charities.
But the Act and the enquiries and orders of the Charity
Commission not only compelled reform, but provided a
machinery for giving effect to it. The boundaries of the
city, as defined by the charter of Queen Elizabeth, were
very much wider than those which were represented by the
medizval walls, but they did not include the transpontine
parishes which had, in all but administration, become parts
of the city.

The united parishes of Lyncombe and Widcombe con-
tain a large urban and a still larger suburban population
intimately associated with their friends beyond the river.
The parish of Bathwick formed a distinct aristocratic
district under the government of Improvement Commis-
sioners. The estate consisted of low-lying meadows, which

Municipal
Reform.

92 General Elistory of Bath,

for centuries had been little better than a swamp. It owes
its development and improvement to the energy of Sir
William Johnstone, who, on his marriage with Miss Frances
Pulteney, assumed his wife’s maiden name. He raised the
houses he built on arches, and in 1770 erected the bridge
over the Avon which bears his name, and connects Bridge-
street with Argyle-street. In 1827 and 1836 his successors
in title, the Earls of Darlington (afterwards Dukes of Cleve-
land) influenced the erection of two other bridges to connect
the estate with Bath. These are vested in public companies,
and are known respectively as the Bathwick and North
Parade bridges.

The Municipal Corporations Act placed the whole of
these extra urban parishes within the jurisdiction of the
Town Council.

The ancient civic charities which have during the present
century been put upon a sound and satisfactory basis are
as follows :—

The Hospital of St. John the Baptist.

This charity was founded about the year 1180 by Bishop
Reginald Fitz Jocelyn for the aged poor. Its endowment was
in land, and, as the value of this increased, the revenues be-
came more than sufficient for the primary purpose. During
many centuries the income was appropriated and squandered
by the Corporation, and when this abuse was checked, the
charity suffered scarcely less, from the improvident rapacity
of successive Masters, who leased the estates at nominal
rents, and received the premiums paid by the lessees.
Chancery proceedings were taken in 1864, and after many
years of litigation a scheme was, in 1877, settled for future
administration. The government is vested in a Board of

Present state of the City. 93.

fifteen Trustees, and the income is now about £1,700 per
annum, which, as the leases fall in, will be very largely
increased. Six old men and as many old women of the age
of fifty and upwards, and who have not been in recent
parish relief, are provided with rooms in the Hospital, near
the Hot Bath, and receive a weekly allowance of Ios.
Pensions are also granted of the same amount to twenty-
two men residents, and the number of this class will be
from time to time increased as funds permit.

St. Catherines Hospital, or the Black Alms and the

Grammar School.

These distinct charities are under one foundation. They
owe their nominal origin to a grant made out of the monastic
property by Edward VI., but this was, as there is small
doubt, a mere re-constitution of earlier charities which had.
-been administered by the Prior and monks.

The Hospital is in Bimberry-lane, and affords accommo-
dation for fourteen aged women, each receiving 55. per
week and a small allowance of coal. The income appro-
priated to this charity is £280, the remainder of the revenues.
being required for the maintenance of the Grammar School.
This, after being for a time held in some rooms above the
West gate, and afterwards in the nave of the desecrated.
Church of St. Mary, zztva muros, found a home in the
building in Broad-street. The School was plundered like
the rest of the civic charities, but is now a credit to the
city. The average number of scholars on the books is 120.
An excellent education is provided, and the fees amount in.
the senior department to £9, and in the junior to £5.
per annum.

94 General History of Bath.

The Black Alms is under the management of the Muni-
cipal Charity Trustees, but a distinct body was, by a
“scheme” settled in 1872, entrusted with the regulation
and administration of the School.

Bellott’s Hospital.

This was founded in the reign of James I. by Thomas
Bellott, steward, and afterwards executor, to the great Lord
Burghley. It may not improbably have been an amplifica-
tion of the small foundation of Abbot Feckenham ; and was
certainly an attempt to provide for poor strangers visiting
Bath for cure, some of the facilities of which they had been
deprived by the Dissolution.

Lady Scudamore in 1652 added to the original charity a
small endowment to secure the services of a physician, and
other additions have since been made. The charity is
under the control of the Municipal Charity Trustees, and
provides accommodation for ten poor invalids, with con-
veniences for bathing and a small weekly alms.

The Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen at Holloway.

The first purpose of this very ancient charity, which was
annexed to the Bath Priory in the reign of Henry I., was to
harbour lepers on their journey to the city. As the disease
became less fearful in its ravages, the building, situate at the
top of Holloway, was converted into a sort of lunatic asylum.
The charity was fearfully plundered, and under an Act of
Parliament (19 and 20 Vic.), its revenues were directed to
be accumulated, until a fund should have been attained for
the foundation of an asylum for idiot children.

Present state of the City. 95

The present structure was built by Prior Cantlow in 1495,
and was restored in 1837. ?

The citizens have during this nineteenth century done
more than restore to their charitable objects the properties
of these ancient institutions.

The Mineral Water Hospital was in 1861 doubled in size
at a cost of £20,000, and now provides beds for 160
patients from all parts of England.

The Royal United Hospital is the result of the amalga-
mation in 1826 of two older institutions—the Bath City
Infirmary (established in 1747 and reconstituted in 1792),
and the Bath Casualty Hospital (founded in 1786). The
hospital contains 120 beds, and is maintained at an annual
cost of nearly £5,000.

These are the largest and most important foundations for
the sick poor of the present century, but there are also
numerous dispensaries and special institutions for particular
diseases, all of which are unostentatiously performing
thoroughly good work.

The nineteenth century has been prolific in Church-
building. The greatest work, the restoration of the Abbey
Church, under the directions of Sir Gilbert Scott, finds a
place in another article.

Unfortunately the ancient city churches were rebuilt
during a period of prolonged depression of architectural
taste. St. James’s Church was commenced, on the site of an
older building in 1768, and the tower was added in 1846.

The Church of St. Michael extra muros as now existing
is the second on that site since the Reformation. It was
erected in 1837. The little Church of St. Thomas-a-Becket
in Widcombe (formerly a chapel annexed to St. Mary de
Stalles) is a pre-Reformation structure, and was restored in

96 General History_of Bath.

1852. About twenty churches have been erected during
the century, and many have considerable architectural merit.
A list of the more modern city churches will be found else-
where.

In 1830, William Beckford, the eccentric author of
““Vathek,” resided in Bath, and erected for a freak, the
picturesque tower on Lansdown, which forms a prominent
object in so many views. It is now used as a Mortuary
chapel for the Walcot cemetery.

Perhaps there was no better work done in the present
century than the laying out of that beautiful pleasure ground
which, under the name of the Victoria Park, affords health
and recreation to all classes. It formed a part of the estate
known as the Bath Commons, which was, as we have seen,
allotted to the free citizens under the award of Sir Nicholas
Hyde. In 1830 it was opened by the Princess (now Queen)
Victoria. In 1879, under the powers of an Act of Parlia-
ment, the Corporation purchased all the rights of the freemen
in the estate in consideration of certain annuities, and this
splendid property is now vested absolutely in the citizens.

The Royal Avenue, which forms the entrance to the park,

was acquired from the Rivers family in 1886, in considera-
tion of an annual rent-charge.
The municipal government of the city is
vested in a Mayor, 14 Aldermen, and 42
Common Councillors, and the same body
forms the Urban Sanitary Authority. Bath is divided into
seven Wards for the election of Councillors, and the con-
stituency comprises 8,083 voters.

The administration of the Poor-law is by a Board of
Guardians, triennially elected, and representing 6 urban and
1g rural parishes. The Union Workhouse contains on an

General
Statistics.

Present state of the City. 97

average 580 pauper inmates, and out-door relief is annually
granted to 985 cases. The proportion of paupers is 21°98
per 1,000 of population, as compared with the average of
28°6 throughout England and Wales.

A School Board has existed since the passing of the
Education Act of 1870. It consists of 11 members.
Three Board Schools have been built, affording accom-
modation for 800 children. The Denominational schools
within the district provide for the educational wants of
6,500 children.

For Parliamentary purposes a portion of the parish of
Twerton is annexed to Bath, and the constituency numbers
6,837. Ever since the reign of Edward I., Bath has been
entitled to return two members to Parliament. The present
representatives are Mr. Wodehouse (Liberal Unionist) and
Colonel Laurie (Conservative).

A Court of Quarter Sessions for the Peace is held at
Bath, and the duties of Petty Sessions are discharged by
a Bench of 29 Justices.

The Corporate property is large, consisting principally
of houses within the city. It produces a gross income of
410,400, which is applied in aid of the Borough Rate.

Hence, although a large sum is annually expended in the
cleansing, regulating, and improving the city, the rates are
comparatively low. The General District Rate (including
the School Board Rate) varies from 2s. to 2s. 4d. in the Z,
and the Poor Rate from 9d. to 10d.

The city is supplied with water from waterworks belong-
ing to the Corporation, the supply being mainly derived
from springs at Cold Ashton, in Gloucestershire. In few
towns is the water-rent so moderate.

Since the opening of the Great Western Railway from
8

98 General History of Bath.

London to Bath in 1839, the facilities for passenger traffic
have been constantly increasing. Express trains bring the
city within 21 hours of London, and the Midland, and
Somerset and Dorset, lines connect it conveniently with
other parts.

Of the amusements of Bath we need say but little.
Dancing, music, the theatre, chess, hunting, shooting, fish-
ing, boating, cricket, tennis, football, and athletics, all woo
their votaries, whilst the more studious may find earnest
’ fellow-workers in Archzology, Zoology, Botany, and other
kindred pursuits.

We have traced the growth of Bath from a cluster of
miserable cottages to a stately city with a population of
nearly 54,000. It needs not that we dwell upon its beauties,
a pleasant stroll or two through street and lane will produce
an impression more vivid than many pages of description.

But the visitor’will be struck at what will appear to be the
unreasonable affection for the city of those even who have
been resident for a short time—an affection too real and too
intense to be inspired by mere charms of situation or archi-
tecture. He will wonder at this glamour which the city
casts upon its inhabitants—at their unwillingness to leave—
at their yearning to return. Let him have a care. The
disease is infectious, and the Bath waters only aggravate it.

BATH IN ITS RELATION TO ART, SCIENCE,
LITERATURE, AND EDUCATION.

J. Murcu, D.L.

ART.

N modern times Bath has been chiefly known for its
healing waters, its fashionable society, its handsome
buildings, and its beautiful scenery. The fame has been
well deserved ; few cities have been more attractive in these
respects ; but it has had other higher claims not so fully
recognised. It has had a history both civic and national,
as when Edgar was crowned in its Abbey, when Round-
heads and Cavaliers fought in its streets, and when rulers
and statesmen began to flock to its springs. It has had
an intellectual character conducing to the refinement by
which it has been distinguished and connecting it with the
higher life of England.

One of the first refining influences was that of Art, which
had considerable power so far back as the Roman period.
The term Art includes, amongst other things, Architecture,
Painting, and Music. These will now be treated in order.
Their connection is not invariable, but the phase of mental
culture which has been favourable to either has been favour-
able to all. How rich Aquee Solis was in Architecture may
be inferred from the Roman bath lately discovered, and

the magnificent remains of the Temple of Minerva in the
8*

100 Bath in its relation to Art.

Literary Institution. What abundant treasures she had in
workmanship of various kinds has been shown in the illus-
trated volumes of successive antiquaries. Nor is the subject
exhausted ; year after year fresh discoveries are made ;
more and more beautiful things are found; still the search
goes on and still the seeker is rewarded. There is an
anecdote that when someone just arrived in Rome inquired
for its antiquities, his companion, stooping down, presented
him with a handful of dust. And we, whenever we descend
below the surface in the neighbourhood of the springs,
rarely fail to find some relic of the refined, all-powerful
people who settled there.
Even if it had been only known that Bath
eae was thus distinguished, it would have been
interesting. We should have valued the
simple fact that a dreary swamp, with a few scattered huts,
had been transformed into an elegant city. But it is a
great practical advantage that the proofs of Roman skill
and taste, after being buried for more than a thousand
years, are available for the enjoyment and artistic educa-
tion of modern times. Students in Architecture come for
lessons in design and proportion to the pillars, friezes, and
pediment of the Temple of Minerva; students in Sculpture
find a model of exquisite beauty and classical vigour in the
bronze head of the goddess; and work which men like
Flaxman and Wedgwood did to improve the national taste
by copying objects brought from Italy, may now be done to
some extent by means of the lamps, cups, urns, vases,
medallions, and votive altars found here.
Little can be said of Art in Bath during the
Saxon period. Through many years there
were mints from which the National coins were issued.

Later History.

Bath in its relation to Art. IoL

The Royal Cabinet of Stockholm contains a large collection.
of the Bath stamp of the reigns of Athelstan, Edgar, and
Ethelred ; part of the ancient spoil of the Scandinavian
Vikings. Only few relics of Norman Architecture exist, the
chief being the pillars built in at the foundation of the east
corner of the Abbey Church. The decorative taste of
various periods is illustrated in the Abbey. Bath is shown
to have done something for ecclesiastical art in the sculp-
tured story of Bishop Montague’s dream on the west front,
and the fine bold carving of the time of James the First on
the entrance doors. In the interior there are Prior Birde’s
chantry, and the groined stone ceiling of former times, and
the reredos, the carved wood work and the coloured win-
dows of later ones.

For a long time the Abbey Church was the Necropolis
of Bath, the chief place of sepulture for people of dis-
tinction. Until lately none of the large cemeteries now
surrounding the city existed; only the beautiful village
churchyards for those who preferred to rest in the great
Temple of Nature. Hence the accumulation of sculpture
in the Abbey: tombs, tablets, emblems, medallions, erect
figures, recumbent figures, of every conceivable variety,
although in many cases of questionable artistic or historic
interest. The most conspicuous tomb is that of Bishop
Montague ; it is of the Elizabethan style, the recumbent
figure in pontifical robes and the hands clasped in prayer.
There is also the stately monument of Lady Jane Waller,
wife of the great Parliamentary General, whose figure is given,
a knight in armour, the nose of which was said, incor-
rectly, to have been knocked off by James II. when he visited
the Abbey. The skill of Flaxman is shown twice : in memory
of Mr. Bingham, a senator of the United States, and of

102 Bath tn tts relation to Art.

Dr. Sibthorp, an accomplished botanist of Bath, who left an
estate to defray the cost of publishing his ‘‘ Flora Greeca.”
Chantry’s also twice : a monument of white marble to Wil-
liam Hoare, an early member of the Royal Academy, and a
fine medallion of Admiral Bickerton, with a graceful figure
bending over an urn. Here too the Bacons, father and son,
with Nollekens, Westmacott, and other sculptors, metropolitan
and provincial, noted in their day, found scope for their
genius, and thus this branch of Art profited by the increasing
celebrity of Bath. But it must not be supposed that a large
proportion of the people interred in the Abbey consisted
of those who came for the waters. The city was a residence
for many distinguished by rank, fortune, ability, social worth
and public usefulness, who were commemorated in this way ;
so that while we admire the wit, we demur to the truth, of
Dr. Harington’s epigram :

“ These walls adorned with monument and bust,
Show how Bath waters serve to lay the dust.”

About the middle of the eighteenth century

brseciey Modern Bath became more alive to the claims

of Art. From time to time the Royal charters

and visits caused memorials worthy of being treasured in
after-times. During Queen Anne’s reign the Corporation
acquired two magnificent maces, silver gilt, embossed with
appropriate heraldic designs. In 1734 the Prince of Wales,
father of George III., visited the city and gave a beautiful
silver gilt salver and loving cup of the time of Benvenuto
Cellini. But once more the general taste took the direction
of Architecture. Fashion had set up her throne, and crowds
of all classes came to worship her, amongst them “the
noblest, wittiest, and wealthiest of the land.” More and

Bath in tts relation to Art. 103

better houses were wanted ; streets, squares, circus, crescents,
all of fair proportions, sprang up rapidly. And Bath was
fortunate in its architects. All honour to the genius and
energy of the two Woods, father and son. In the hands
of inferior men, what fatal mistakes might have been made !
A large and skilful yet wise and practical plan was carried
out, combining the effects of various noble piles of building
and harmonising all with the surrounding scenery. Macaulay
mentions the transformation from “the four or five hundred
mean old houses crowded within the Roman wall on the
banks of the Avon into the beautiful city stretching up
the hills,” the city ‘which charms even eyes familiar with
the masterpieces of Bramante and Palladio.”

As yet the English people cared little for
Painting, not even the more educated, who
admired and understood Greek and Italian architecture.
There had been comparatively little foreign travel to give
knowledge of the great masters whose works had created a
new intellectual world in the older cities of Europe. Only
meagre encouragement was given to the few struggling
artists who set up their easels. Gradually, however, young
men came, aiming first at what was most likely to give em-
ployment—portraiture, and willing, even when well-qualified
for higher work, to wait patiently. Such was the case with
Gainsborough, who began here in 1760 by painting portraits
at five guineas each. Happily he was not one of those of
whom it could be said—

Early Painters.

“ Chill penury repressed their noble rage
And froze the genial current of their soul.”

In the interval of his unprofitable sittings he studied the
fine trees of the neighbourhood. One near the London

104 Bath in tts relation to Art.

road is still known as Gainsborough’s elm. Hence his
studio was sought by the more discerning visitors. Men
and women of eminence at the Bar, in Music, on the Stage,
and in the Senate were charmed by his social qualities as
well as his artistic power. For full-length figures his price
soon rose to fifty, seventy, and a hundred guineas. Here
he painted Lord Chancellor Camden, Bishop Hurd, Miss
Linley, Sheridan, Richardson, Garrick, Burke, Sterne, Quin,
and many others. One of the earliest members of the
Royal Academy, he often sent up pictures by a prosperous
London carrier, who generously refused payment. But in
return Gainsborough presented his friend with six of his best
works. Some idea of their ultimate value may be formed
from the fact that when at length the treasures were sold
the National Gallery secured two—the “ Parish Clerk” for
4500, and the “Harvest Wagon” for £2,500, the prices
being considered low. Lately another, ‘“ The Sisters,”
from another gallery, realised £9,975.
After living fourteen years in Bath, Gains-
barre ica borough removed to London. How the
Barkers. fame he had acquired aided him in his larger
sphere is well known. What he did to found
the English school, of which the nation is now so proud,
may be seen in the greatest galleries of the country. One
of his contemporaries in Bath was William Hoare. Private
collections contain crayon drawings by him of much merit,
and there are two good works in local public buildings—the
“ Altar Piece,” in the Octagon Chapel, and an appropriate
picture in the’ Mineral Water Hospital. During the latter
part of Hoare’s life the most promising artist in Bath was
Thomas Barker, a Welsh lad from Pontypool. He came
at the age of thirteen, and worked his way to a good position

Bath in tts relation to Art. 105

with the aid of a prosperous coach-builder, who sent him
to Rome. His celebrated picture, ‘The Woodman,” sold
for 500 guineas, and commissions were given for copies at
high prices. Its popularity was shown by the skill of our
grandmothers, who reproduced it in silk and worsted ;
witness Miss Linley’s notable example so long in Leicester
square. For half a century Thomas Barker exhibited at the
British Institution. One of his most remarkable works
was a large fresco in his own house, “The Inroad of the
Turks upon Scio.” A brother, Benjamin Barker, also settled
in Bath, has been honoured by the title of the English
Poussin. His landscapes are greatly admired for their truth,
colour, and harmony. Of high repute also was a son of
Benjamin, Thomas Jones Barker, who after receiving his
artistic education in Bath, occupied a prominent position
many years in London.
Thomas Lawrence, born at Devizes in 1769,
SirT.Lawrence, was placed at an early age under an artist in
P.R.A., and :
there: Bath, probably Hoare. His progress was so
good that when only thirteen he received from
the Society of Arts a present of five guineas and a silver
pallet for copying in crayons the Transfiguration by Raphael.
And yet he supported himself by painting half-guinea like-
nesses of the fashionable people of Bath, thus however
acquiring the style which, through a long prosperous career
in London, made him the favourite painter of the upper
classes. Although out of chronological order it may be
mentioned here that Sir Frederic Leighton, now President
of the Royal Academy, spent some of his early years in Bath,
his parents then living in the Circus; also that a dis-
tinguished member of the Academy, Mr Long, is a native
of the city, and began his successful career in it as a portrait

106 Bath in its relation to Art.

painter. In the list of the Lawrence period are two good
miniature painters, Ford and Jagger ; the latter is said to have
often netted £700 per annum ; also Sheldon a fruit painter,
an excellent colourist, whose transparent grapes and currants
are still admired. Following these were Syers, Duffield,
Hardwick, the Hardys, Maddox, Rosenberg, all contributing
in various styles and degrees to the steady growth of the
English school. Duffield, a student of the Royal Academy
and of the schools at Antwerp, was chiefly known as a
painter of still life, though he also excelled in portraits.
Hardwicke, one of the earliest members of the Royal Insti-
tute of Water Colours, acquired a good standing in Bath by
his successful painting of landscapes and old buildings. The
name of Wills Maddox was familiar locally in connection with
Mr. Beckford, of whose tower on Larisdown he made good
drawings. Elsewhere he gained repute by painting the
Sultan of Turkey, who sat to him for a portrait to be pre-
sented to the Queen of England. Of George Frederick
Rosenberg recollections are still so pleasant that the follow-
ing account by a relative may be given:—‘“ The son of a
local artist, he was-born in 1827 and elected an associate
of the Society of Water Colours in 1851. His early subjects
were still life, but he became equally well known as a land-
scape painter. His charming bits of English river scenery,
as well as his pictures of Norwegian mountains, added to
his reputation. He painted a fine study of a Norwegian
Glacier, called ‘The Ice Plough,’ only a few weeks before
his death in 1869, which was probably caused by his sitting
so many hours in close proximity to the ice.”

Much undoubtedly is due to the Bath artists
of the present day. For although there is
now no eminence here like that of former

Present Aids to
Art Culture.

Bath in its relation to Art. 107

times, love of art is still worthily cultivated. The attractive
force of London is now so great that no provincial town
can hope to compete with it as Bath long did. Even the
exhibitions of the local Graphic Society which, within the
last half century, were very useful and popular, could not
be sustained, in consequence partly of the ease with which
metropolitan exhibitions could be seen. Still, there are
valuable aids to art culture of various kinds. Especially
useful is the School of Science and Art, connected with the
Science and Art Department of the Government. Begin-
ning as simply the School of Art in 1854, it took the larger
title in 1876, and is well fulfilling both purposes. In the
year commencing May, 1887, the number of day students was
76, of evening students 120. Efficient aid is given by the
Government on the usual conditions, towards a building fund
and for the purchase of objects of study. Prizes and Scholar-
ships, local and metropolitan, are also awarded to superior
students. With this assistance, the Bath school has done good
service in the artistic and technical training of all classes—
amateurs, professional artists, handicraftsmen, and others ; all
have received a fair share of the honours and rewards given by
“the Department.” Within the last few years the National
Silver Medal has been awarded to a Bath artisan student.
A suitable building is now the chief thing needed to develop
more fully this extremely useful institution. An effort was
made in connection with Her Majesty’s Jubilee to originate
a Gallery of Art. It was considered that the scheme would
be practicable, because a home was required for a bequest
of a valuable collection by a lady of Bath, Miss Holburne.
At first the proposal was warmly welcomed, but soon another
came for an institution for Convalescent Patients, which
appealed to the sympathies of a larger number. Funds for

108 Bath in its relation to Art.

the latter proved inadequate, and both plans collapsed, but
the establishment of an Art Museum cannot be long post-
poned.

Music.

In its relation to the art of Music, Bath has no ancient
claims. Traces of song in British, Roman, Saxon, and
Norman times are found elsewhere, but not here. When at
length the city regained repute, the Abbey bells were rung
to welcome visitors, and violins were sctaped when they
danced or drank the waters. Hence Anstey makes his hero
write :—

“No city, dear mother, this city excels
In charming sweet sounds both of fiddles and bells.’”

As early as 1744 something was done in
musical organisation. We read of a Festival
in that year at Salisbury Cathedral, “at which several bands
from Bath attended.” ‘Two decades passed, and Linley did
good work, in furtherance of which he induced the brothers
Herschel to settle here. They were engaged for the Pump
Room Band, and William also became organist at a fashion-
able chapel. His abilities soon brought him into great
request, the work of a private teacher being added to his
engagements at balls, concerts, and oratorios. Caroline
Herschel, his sister, aided him largely as his leading solo
singer, training the trebles and copying the scores.

From this time Bath was known for its good
music, Linley’s family, “the nest of nightin-
gales,” as Dr. Burney called them, being in high repute.
Far and wide their fame extended. Wherever grand per-
formances took place, Eliza Linley was the bright particular

The Herschels.

The Linleys.

Bath in its relation to Art. 109

star. Of all the attractions of Bath, she was then the great-
est. Overwhelmed with offers of marriage, she eventually
gave herself to Sheridan. Keen as was the interest in the
various romantic incidents of her life prior to that event, it
would have been keener if those whom she fascinated by
her voice and loveliness could have looked into the future.
It was in 1772 that she became the wife of—

“ The orator, dramatist, minstrel, who ran
Through each mode of the lyre and mastered them all ;”

_and in 1778 she was amongst the brilliant crowd in West-
minster Hall, immortalised as Reynolds’ Saint Cecilia, “the
beautiful mother of a beautiful race,” listening to her hus-
band’s wonderful speech at the trial of Warren Hastings.

Next to the Linleys at Bath was an accom-

plished Italian, Signor Rauzzini. Leaving

Rome, his native city, when very young, he began his career

at Vienna as principal singer at the opera, where he had the

friendship of Metastasio, but soon entered the service of
the Elector of Bavaria at Munich. In 1774 he came to

London, where also he was engaged at the opera, and soon

acquired great eminence both as actor and author, winning

especially the enthusiastic admiration of Garrick. His
sensitive nature, however, unfitted him for the excitement
of the stage and the popularity of London. He preferred
the quieter life of Bath, where also he had scope for his fine
powers. The position now occupied by Bath in the musical

world may be inferred from what Rauzzini was and did.

For thirty years, from 1780, when he came, till 1810, when

he died, he was Director of the Public Concerts—usually

twelve every season, besides choral nights—and gathered
around him such pupils as could be found nowhere except

Rauzzini.

110 Bath in its relation to Art.

in London. Braham was articled to him, and lived in his
house three years. Incledon studied under him, and laid
the foundation of his fame at the Bath Theatre. Amongst
his distinguished female pupils were Signora Storace,
Madame Mara, and Mrs. Billington. The first of these
ladies, in conjunction with Braham, indicated the general
respect and affection by erecting to his memory a monu-
ment in the Abbey Church.

At the close of the last century few men were
better known in the musical world of Bath
than Dr. Harington. A good Glee Club long flourished.
under his auspices, and cultivated a taste both simple and
classical. Descended from Sir John Harington, of Kelston,
author of “ Wuge Antique,” with great abilities as a poet,
scholar, physician, mathematician, and musical composer,
his influence in what he undertook was considerable. When
in 1795 the Glee Club shared the fate of all human things,
it was succeeded by the Harmonic Society, of which the
Reverend John Bowen was, with Dr. Harington, one of
the founders. A little later the interests of music were
aided by the erection of a new theatre, more spacious and
beautiful than any Bath had known. The patent from the
Crown granted for the old one was renewed for it, and
the Bath Theatre Royal continued to be the nursery of the
dramatic ability of England, an honour which it has enjoyed
to some extent in recent times. In 1860 the common lot
of theatres. befell the building; it was destroyed by fire
within a few hours of a play in which Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Kean took leading parts. Great as the change in public
taste had been since the days of the Linleys, there. was
sufficient love of the drama in Bath to allow of a new build-
ing being erected on the site of the old one, equal to it in

Dr. Harington.

Bath tn its relation to Art. III

beauty and convenience. This was in 1862. Through
several decades the tide of success varied ; at present it is
satisfactory in consequence of the good management. From
time to time the best works of the English Drama are pre-
sented by a succession of high-class companies.

In concluding this sketch it will be sufficient to glance at
some of the incidents since the death of Rauzzini. A few
now living remember how, during the reign of Dr. Ashe
as conductor, Catalani sang at all the nine concerts of a
brilliant season. They would also call to mind the large
audiences collected in successive years by Sir George Smart
and Mr. Loder when they respectively wielded the baton.
Amongst the older lovers of music in Bath are probably
some who were members of the Anacreontic Society,
founded partly by Canon Bowles and Thomas Moore.
And both old and young know how much the city is
indebted to the Quartette Society, under the able and
generous direction of Mr. Harris, who has been unwearied
in his efforts to promote a love of purely classical music.
Coming nearer to the present day, the record of a single
year, the last, conveys a fair idea of the present relations of
Bath with Music. Precedence is due to Herr Sondermann
and the Choral Union, who gave Handel’s “Samson” in the
spring and Wallace’s “ Maritana” in the autumn. The Phil-

- harmonic Society had four successful performances, including
the “ Golden Legend,” conducted by Sir Arthur Sullivan, as-
sisted by Sighor Visetti; also the beautiful concert in cele-
bration of the Queen’s Jubilee. Very useful also have been
the concerts of the Orchestral Society and the Temperance
Choral Society, proving that refined amusements are more
and more appreciated by the industrious classes. As to
the general public, no music has been more popular than

112 Bath in tts relation to Art.

that of the City Band, with Herr van Praag as its leader.
‘The daily crowds in the Park and the Pump Room witness
to the extent to which the taste of former days prevails.
The lessee of the Theatre kindly lends it for a gratuitous
popular concert of high-class music, the building being
crowded to excess. And if to this work be added the
operas at the Theatre, other performances at the Assembly
Rooms, and numerous amateur private concerts, it will be
seen that Music now maintains a position in Bath which
would have satisfied even the Linleys, Herschels and
Rauzzinis of former days.

INDUSTRIAL ARTS.

For a long time, up to the middle of the last century,
Bath was known as a clothing town. There is a tradition
that in the Saxon period the armorial emblem of its great
monastery was a. shuttle. © Many towns and villages in
Somerset, Gloucester, and Wilts still carry on the same
industry. Twerton, within two miles of Bath, has a large
factory noted for its good broad cloth and other woollen
goods.

The woollen manufacture of the district may have chiefly
caused the formation, in 1777, of “The Bath and West of
England Society.” Its object was “the promotion-of Agricul-
ture, Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce,” and its founders—
the Duke of Bedford, Sir B. Hobhouse, Dr. Parry, and others
were especially interested in the breeding of sheep. In recent
years the annual meetings have been made more instructive
by the addition of specimens of the fine arts in one spacious
building and of notable manufactures in another. The
Exhibition at the hundredth anniversary, celebrated at Bath

Bath in its relation to Art. s 13

in 1877, was so large that it occupied forty acres of ground.
The Society ranks next in importance to the “ Royal Agri-
cultural,” which it greatly surpasses in age.

In the days when letters were written on letter paper
“Bath Post” was much used. The manufacture ceased.
with dear postage. Contemporaneously with good paper
was good printing. Few towns in the kingdom were more
noted in this respect. Dr. Hartley, having written his.
“Observations on Man” in Bath, was fortunate in being
able to see it through Mr. Cruttwell’s Press. Sole’s “ Mints.
of Great Britain,” mentioned in another part of this work,
is a fine specimen of typographical skill from the same press.
Many other good examples of local typography might be
mentioned.

Bath cabinet-making has now grown into much repute.
Both design and workmanship have been so good as to in-
sure a large demand even from distant places. At the first
“Great Exhibition” there was a beautiful book-case made
by a working-man at Bath in his leisure time. One of the
presents to the Princess of Wales on her marriage was an
elegant é€critoire from the inhabitants of Bath, made by
Mr. Knight. Amongst the ornaments were nine medallions
illustrative of the connection of royalty with Bath, from the
discovery of the springs by Prince Bladud to the opening
of the Park by the, then, Princess Victoria. These were
drawn and presented by Mr. Arthur Murch.

Even the residents of distant cities have discovered the
excellence to which the art of carriage building has attained
in Bath. Prizes have been often awarded to the builders.
both in England and on the Continent for their combin-
ation of lightness, beauty of form and convenience. In

connection with this important industry is a branch of the
9

1I4 Bath in its relation to Science.

London Technological School of Coach Builders, which
aids in maintaining the superiority of Bath in this respect.
The wheel-chairs made here have long been sent to all parts
of the kingdom. Mail coaches were a feature of the Bath
plans for the more expeditious carriage and delivery of
letters. The Cross Posts, established by Ralph Allen, were
worked chiefly by wretched men and boys on miserable
hacks. At length, in 1784, John Palmer caused a great
reform, suggested at first by a practical inconvenience of
another kind. He was proprietor and manager of the
Bath Theatre, and often found his actors delayed. and his
audiences disappointed in consequence of the slowness of
travelling. Having conceived the plan of mail coaches, he
obtained the aid of Mr. Pitt in carrying it out. Great was
the joy of the Bath people on seeing the first arrival of the
coach originating with their townsman, the journey having
occupied fourteen hours instead of three days. And rightly
did all classes honour both Allen and Palmer, remembering
what is due to men

“Who by new arts life’s uses have improved,
And for good deeds are honoured and beloved.”

SCIENCE,

It would not have been strange if a city noted for amuse-
ments had failed to cultivate science. And certainly those
who have been remarkable for doing so in Bath in any age
have been comparatively few. But they stand out nobly;
they did good work in their day ; they were pioneers of a
great educational movement, and connected the city of the
springs with discoveries of no common importance. Thus
much may be said as to modern times ; going back we only

Bath in its relation to Science, 115

‘grope our way amidst dina conjecture ; not till we come to
the eleventh and twelfth centuries have we the names of any
men of science in Bath.

History then tells of John de Villula who came to England
in the reign of William the Conqueror, and settled here.
The chief of the great Bath Monastery, he gathered around
him men from various countries distinguished for their learn-
ing. Of later date was Adelard, a scholar of Spanish, Egyp-
tian and Arabian reputation, to whom the scientific world
became indebted for the translation from Arabic into Latin
of the Elements of Euclid. One of the favourite studies of
the time was Alchemy, but the Priors of the Bath Monastery
found that there was a soul of good in things evil. Alchemy
was to them the parent of modern chemistry,—“the ill-
favoured parent,” we are told, ‘‘of a fair and beautiful
daughter.” Prior Birde, whose elegant little chapel is in the
Bath Abbey Church, found constant employment in his
laboratory, and Prior Holway directed his studies to the
causes of the temperature of the springs.

Coming to the seventeenth century, we find that
the few writers on scientific subjects in Bath
were medical men. They wrote chiefly on
questions connected with their profession ; one or two only
made original discoveries or enlarged.other domains of human
knowledge. In the eighteenth century the record is more
satisfactory. We find a Philosophical Society, at the meet-
ings of which Papers were read by William Herschel, who,
though known chiefly as Professor of Music, found time
while directing public concerts and giving private lessons, to
study Optics, Acoustics, Mathematics and Metaphysics.
Thus furnished he laid the foundation of his fame as an
astronomer. Too poor to buy a telescope he made one,
9?

Succeeding
Centuries.

116 Bath in its relation to Science.

taking as his pattern a shall Gregorian which he hired from
a broker’s shop. He set it up in the garden of his house in
New King-street, where in “sweeping the heavens” he dis-
covered the planet Uranus, aided, in the watches of the
night, by a devoted brother and sister. Caroline Herschel
was one of the most remarkable women ever known in Bath.
Poor, patient, persevering, entirely self-educated, but with
great intellectual power, she conquered extraordinary scien-
tific difficulties. Other women would have been content
with affectionate attendance on the two brothers, reading to
them while they were at work or lightening their labours in
grinding and polishing their lenses, but she took up the work
of study where they left it and carried on their profound
observations, discovering no less than eight comets. Her
literary work alone would have placed her in the front rank
of English women. When at length her elder brother was
tempted from Bath to the neighbourhood of Windsor by
George ITI. she removed with him, and enjoyed his fame.
Not in idleness, for in the intervals of her own observations
she wrote two works on the stars, published by the Royal
Society, and a third for which the Astronomical Society
awarded their gold medal.

Bath has been called with truth the birth-place
of English geology. In other countries,
notably Germany and Switzerland, there had been earnest
students of the structure of the earth. Werner in one, and
Saussure in the other, had learned much relating to its crust,
but no one had anticipated the discoveries of William
Smith. They were made early in the present century, while
he was living in Bath engaged in the construction of the
Somerset Coal Canal. One who knew him well—Mr R. C.
Taylor, author of Statistics of Coal, says, in a MS. memoir

Geology.

Bath in its relation to Science. 117

given to the present writer, “His canal work fixed in his
mind facts as to strata generally, gave him the strong evidence
of organic remains and enabled him to construct an accurate
section of the entire series of the secondary formations.”
Obtaining eminence, he was honored with a doctor’s degree,
and did much for the scientific education of his nephew,
Professor Philips of Oxford, F.R.S., F.G.S., who wrote his
life. His discoveries interested many with whom he had
intercourse in the neighbourhood. Amongst them were
three clergymen of considerable learning and ability—Joseph
Townsend, Rector of Pewsey, Benjamin Richardson, Rector
of Farleigh, and John Josias Conybeare, Rector of Bath-
easton, who was also Professor successively at Oxford of
‘Anglo-Saxon and Poetry. All these not only acknowledged
the great value of Dr. Smith’s discoveries, but excited much
attention by working in conjunction with him, and giving
the results of their labours to the world. Smith and
Richardson were one day dining with Townsend at his house
in Pulteney-street, where he lived many years, when it was
proposed that a tabular view should at once be put in writing
of the main features of their favourite subject as expounded
by Smith. It shewed the different strata according to the
succession in descending order, beginning with the chalk
and numbered in continuous series down to the coal. The
original MS. is now in the possession of the Geological
Society of London, with the following memorandum signed
by Dr. Smith. ‘“ This table of the strata, dictated by myself,
is in the hand-writing of the Rev. Benjamin Richardson at
the house of the Rev. Joseph Townsend, Pulteney-street,
Bath, 1799.”
Bath In 1824-5 a great effort was made in Bath
Institution. | on behalf of ‘Art, Literature, and Science”

118 Bath in its relation to Sctence.

by the establishment of “The Institution.” Its primary
object was the formation of a library of high charac-
ter, but the promotion of Science engaged from the
beginning the earnest efforts of the founders. The first
Report of the Committee stated that a Museum had been
commenced “ for whatever remains of Antiquity the district
might supply, and where the students of Natural Science,
particularly Geology, might find instruction.” In connection
with the latter department the name of William Lonsdale
ought always to be honoured. He worked unceasingly
several years, first in founding the collection by large gifts
of his own specimens, and then in accurately arranging
them, In 1825 he presented to the Institution 1,159 speci-
mens, including 290 fossils and 69 land and fresh-water
shells. While the neat labels are interesting souvenirs of
Lonsdale’s personality, the names indicate an important stage
in Geological Science. The object of the Institution as to
antiquities was promoted by the Corporation of Bath, who
deposited there the grand Roman remains which had been
found in and near the city. To these have been added
others of Greek, Indian, Egyptian, and Assyrian origin ;
also cabinets of coins of various countries and considerable
value. For the students of Botany an excellent Herbarium
was given by the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, who afterwards took
the name of Blomefield, and for those of Mineralogy a collec-
tion of minerals by Mr. Frederic Field. One of the rooms
is set apart for objects illustrative of the Natural History of
Bath and the neighbourhood, and a gallery with adjoining
spaces for a large collection of birds and other zoological
specimens contained in 1,100 cases. They were presented
by Mrs. Colonel Godfrey to the Corporation, and deposited
by the aid of Mr. William Bush, at one time Mayor of Bath.

Bath in its relation to Science. 11g

Valuable as other departments are, the rela-
tion of Bath to Science is undoubtedly most
prominent in Geology. The discoveries of
Mr. Charles Moore, and the Museum gradually formed by
him, became matters of more than local interest. What he
did was well described in a paper soon after his death by
the Rev. H. H. Winwood, himself an accomplished Geo-
logist, and now the indefatigable honorary curator of the
collection. ‘Day by day,” he says, “as I have been en-
gaged in arranging it, my admiration has been excited by
the traces of minute, single-handed, masterful work already
done, and by the great accumulation of material still to be
worked out.” Mr. Winwood tells the story of Moore, as a
school-boy at Ilminster, finding some nodules, amusing
himself by rolling them down a hill, seeing a collision in
the descent, and finding as the result a fish inside a stone.
The boyish mind asked how it came there, pondered over
it till he understood it, was led to study other stones until
he became a geologist, and spent all his spare time while in
business and through thirty years afterwards in doing more
to illustrate the geology of Somerset than any one person
before him had done. Mr. Winwood, after describing the
various smaller classes, beautifully arranged in cases, pro-
ceeds to the chief feature of the collection, the unique
assemblage of Upper Lias forms, discoveries in the Tri-
assic and Rheetic beds, which fix the attention of all
visitors to the Museum. “ Passing onwards and upwards
in the scale of life we come (he says) to those great marine
reptilian monsters, the sea lizards of the Liassic times.
Too large, most of them to be caged, they sprawl their
huge limbs along our walls. There you can see them in
the attitude in which death overtook them: “ Plesiosauri

Moore
Collection.

120 Bath in its relation to Science.

and Ichthyosauri seem to be basking on the shallow waters
of the lagoons of those times, or lumbering along over the
mud flats left by the receding waters.”

The collection was deposited at the Institu-
tion during Mr. Moore’s life and purchased
after his death. Facility for its enlargement was generously
given by Mr. Handel Cosham, M.P., who put up a gallery
around the spacious room. While Geology has been thus
promoted, other sciences have received attention. The ob-
servatories of Mr. Lawson, Mr. Weston, and Mr. Stothert
have aided the study of Astronomy. Papers have been
read on this and many other subjects at the meetings of
the Field Club and at the Literary and Philosophical Insti-
tution. Notes of the weather, especially of the rain-fall,
have been regularly recorded during more than forty years.
These have been aided since 1854 by a small observatory
erected in the Institution Garden, and furnished with suitable
instruments. There is also a Microscopical Society, which
as long ago as the time of the first meeting of the British
Association in Bath gave proof of its efficiency at a beautiful
soirée, and is now preparing to do so again. There is a
Botanic Garden in the Park, admirably laid out by Mr.
Morris, F.L.S., enriched at the beginning with 2,000 speci-
mens collected and catalogued by the late Mr. Broome,
F.L.S., and generously presented by his family. There are
associations, legal and medical, for the sciences of law and
medicine. Both the British Medical Association and the
Incorporated Law Society have held interesting mieetings
in Bath. There is also the School of Science connected
with South Kensington, at present numbering 117 pupils.
For the last examination conducted by the Science and Art
Department, 72 entered, with the result that 54 obtained

Other Sciences,

Bath in its relation to Literature. 121

prizes and certificates. The school did not, then, fall
below the average in any instance; it was decidedly above
it in chemistry, electricity, and physiography.

LITERATURE.

Bath has had relations with Literature in three ways: the
prominence given to it in works both of history and fiction,
the excellence of its public and private libraries, and the
eminent authors who have made it their abode or paid it
frequent visits.

With regard to books on Bath, Macaulay writes of “the
beautiful city which the genius of Anstey and of Smollett, of
Frances Burney and Jane Austen has made classic ground.”
Through more than a century, Bath and its waters, its amuse-
ments, its notable characters, and its fashionable society,
furnished a constant succession of subjects for readers of
fiction. And while the mine worked by Fielding in “Tom
Jones,” Sheridan in the ‘School for Scandal,” Bulwer in
“Paul Clifford,” and Dickens in “ Pickwick,” proved so
rich, others were opened in the regions of Science, History,
and Archeology. The botany and geology of the dis-
trict were studied, the local annals were found to have
historic importance, and the Roman remains inexhaustible
interest.

Some of the Bath libraries are remarkable. The oldest is
in the Vestry of the Abbey Church. It was begun by
Bishop Lake between 1616 and 1624, when he died. He
~ appears to have wished that the chief church of the city
should have a good selection of the standard works of the
time. That they were intended principally for the use of
the Clergy of the district and other cultivated persons is

‘

122 Bath in its relation to Literature.

evident from the titles of the ponderous folios. An original
catalogue, beautifully written on large pages of vellum, con-
tains many such books as Walton’s “ Polyglott,” Poole’s
“Synopsis,” ‘Legenda Aurea,” Stillingfleet’s “ Origines,” and
Clarendon’s “History of the Rebellion.” It also indicates
the kind of donors, amongst whom were the Duchess of
Monmouth, wife of the unfortunate Duke, who gave Jeremy
Taylor’s works ; William Prynne, by whom and his publisher
30 volumes of his works were given; Sir Lancelot Lake, Sir
William Waller, and Bishop Ken. The venerable prelate
bequeathed to the library 160 volumes, chiefly Spanish and
Portuguese. After his death they were brought from Long-
leat—where he was long an honoured guest of the Marquis
of Bath.

Small as the collection is, and unfortunately
little used, it has yet a certain historical value.
It shows the relation of Bath to Literature in the seventeenth
century. Alas, that no similar testimony exists as to an
earlier period! How invaluable would have been the MSS.
belonging to the Bath Monastery if they had been preserved,
and what a flood of light might have been thrown by them
on the events of a thousand years. Even as late as 1539
Leland saw, amongst the remains of the monastic library,
gifts from King Athelstan, translations from the Arabic,
poems of the middle ages, Roman classics, and works on
various sciences. At one time there was a proposal that the
old books now in the vestry of the Abbey, being so little
used, should be sold and the proceeds applied to some
modern object. Let no such idea ever be revived; take
them by all means, with the consent of the authorities, from
the dingy room in which they are hidden ; place them where
they may be sometimes studied, and always admired, as

Abbey Library.

Bath in tts relation to Literature. 123

showing how in those days the intellect of the nation was
led and who were the leaders ;—but at all events preserve
the library in its distinctness for the city as one of its his-
torical treasures.
With modern circulating libraries Bath has
oie been well supplied ; better probably sixty or
seventy years ago than lately. People now
subscribe to Mudie and buy- serial publications. But early
in the century men of kindred tastes became mutually ac-
quainted in comfortable reading-rooms, and there discussed
the topics of the day. In Bath “The Grove” and “The
Parade,” Mr. Peach remarks, were as famous in their time
as ‘The Pantiles” at Tunbridge Wells were in that of Dr.
Johnson. Mr. Monkland gives a pleasant picture in a Paper
read at the Bath Literary Club. He remembered well when
asa youth he used to go for a book to Bull’s Library seeing
the little knot who were wont to assemble there: Dr. Haring-
ton, in his curule chair, in his full-bottomed wig and three-cor-
nered hat, one leg crossed over the other; Dr. Falconer
pacing up and down, portly and erect of form, together with
others who were known as “The Intellectuals” of Bath.
The two whose names are given were well worthy of being
remembered. Dr. Harington, then quite blind, and approach-
ing his ninetieth year, was a versatile and voluminous writer.
His musical compositions were above the average, while he
shone in paths so different as those of poetry, mechanism,
mathematics and theology. Dr. Falconer was also remark-
able for considerable learning and industry, a contributor of
no less than forty-five works to the literature of Bath. Mrs.
Piozzi, the centre here of a large literary circle, was accus-
tomed to say, when she and her friends could not settle a
disputéd point, “we must ask Falconer.”

124 Bath in tts relation to Literature.

The library of the Institution is worthy of
the city. Large, varied and valuable, it fills
_ several rooms, spacious and handsome, with
charming country views. It was begun in 1825 by means
of a liberal portion of a fund of £4,000, raised for founding
the Institution. The Committee were instructed to form a
library of the highest class, consisting of county histories,
good editions of the classics, standard works of reference,
and others foremost in the literature of Europe. Suitable
additions were made by presents and purchases. Lord
Lansdowne gave the Parliamentary and Record publications,
the Rev. H. H. Hayes, folios of the Greek Classics, another
gentleman a magnificent Virgil, printed on vellum. The
Trustees bought at the celebrated Fonthill sale Mr. Beck-
ford’s fine set of the French “ Transactions.” In an ad-
joining room, the Museum, is a ceiling enriched with
paintings from Fonthill. A great object while securing
good foreign books was to have as complete a collection as
possible of English Histories, and especially of authorities
in matters of antiquity and archeology. This would natu-
rally follow from the interest taken by two eminent anti-
quaries—authors of county histories, Sir R. Colt Hoare and
the Rev. Joseph Hunter. Nor were works on Science and
Natural History omitted, although these subjects had not the
prominence then which they have since acquired. To this
department Mr. Gore gave, in later years, the entire series of
the French “‘ Annales des Sciences Naturelles,” Mr. Handel
Cossham, Sowerby’s “Botany,” Mr. Broome his “ Herbarium”
and collection of Botanical works, and the Rev. Leonard
Blomefield his fine scientific library, now nearly 2,000 choice
volumes, occupying a separate room built for the purpose—
a noble gift from the life-long friend of Charles Darwin.

Institution
Library.

Bath in its relation to Literature. 125

The wants of the general reader, somewhat
overlooked in former years, have since been
well met. At one time a Reading Society
connected with the Institution made over to it annually the
books that had passed through it. At another the object
was aided by raising a permanent fund in memory of two
Bath gentlemen, benefactors of the Institution, connected
with the University of Oxford—the brothers Duncan. The
sum of £500 was then invested in order that the proceeds
might be used for the library and museum, thus ensuring
constant additions of standard works. Other readers in Bath
avail themselves of other institutions. The Atheneum,
formerly the Mechanics’ Institute, has had a useful life of
more than fifty years, and is still in full vigour. Bath has
also the Law Library, “the Tottenham,” chiefly theological,
and many well-supported reading societies. Good private
collections have been numerous ; one of the largest belonged
to Mr. Walter Wilson, of Pulteney-street, author of the life
of Defoe; one of the most select, including the far-famed
Hamilton collection, to Mr. Beckford, of Lansdown-crescent,
author of “Vathek.” Unfortunately, notwithstanding re-
peated efforts, there is no Free Library in Bath, a reproach
surely that ought to cease.

At various times the city has had circles of
literary men and women accustomed to meet
for intercourse. Of much local repute in the last century
were the parties of Lady Miller, at her villa in Batheaston.
Herself an authoress, she brought together those who were
sufficiently poetical to contribute offerings to the Muses in
an antique vase she had brought from Frascati. Though
some of the customs, such as that of crowning successful
contributors with wreathes of myrtle, may now excite a

Modern
Libraries.

Literary Society.

126 Bath in tts relation to Literature.

smile, the soivées resembled in some respects the Shakspere
clubs of modern times. Later there were symposia in Bath
at the houses of eminent physicians and others noted for.
their love of letters. Dr. Haygarth and Dr. Percival had
stated days for véunéons, which call to mind Edinburgh in
the time of Scott and Jeffery, and Norwich in that of the
Enfields, Taylors, and Martineaus. Afterwards, in 1825,
arose a society still flourishing—the Bath Literary and Philo-
sophical Association. The chief object of the founders was
evening meetings at the Institution, at which Papers should
be read and discussed, with the additional refreshment o
tea. One of the earliest Papers was Mr. Hunter’s, on “The
Connection of Bath with the Literature and Science of
England.” After some years the Association collapsed, but
was, ere long, revived and is now vigorous. In addition
to these public gatherings are some of a more quiet and
friendly character. The Bath Literary Club, formed in
1852, has monthly meetings in the winter, dinner preceding
Papers and discussion. Its chief founder was Mr. J. H.
Markland, D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A., who was the genial Pre-
sident in the earlier years. The number of ordinary mem-
bers is 30; honorary members are sometimes added, and
visitors are invited to the meetings. The Papers are occa-
sionally printed. Now in its thirty-sixth year, only two
original members surviving, the Club still prospers, keeps
up its number, and fulfils its useful object—the union of
men of kindred tastes and pursuits.
At an early meeting a Paper was read by Mr.
pt) Monkland, on the “ Literature and Literati
of Bath.” It was published and followed by
a supplement, both containing some of the information now
given. The author included many Literati who were only

Bath in its relation to Literature. 127

known in Bath during occasional though often protracted,
visits. Amongst these were Burke, Pope, Goldsmith,
Walpole, Smollet, Shenstone, Gibbon, Johnson, Boswell,
Wilberforce, Britton, Southey, Wordsworth, Walter Scott,
Lady Bulwer Lytton, Mrs. Trollope and Lucy Aikin. In
the list of permanent residents in and near Bath, or inti-
mately connected with it, we find John Hales, William
Prynne, Bishop Butler, Bishop Warburton, Lord Chester-
field, Henry Fielding, Richard Graves, William Melmoth,
Christopher Anstey—all of the former generations. Amongst
successive ladies who lived here we have Lady Miller,
Madame Piozzi, Madame d’Arblay, Mrs. Macauley, Miss
Fielding, Sophia Lee, Harriet Bowdler, Ann Radcliffe, Jane
Austen, and Frances Burney; and of medical men, Drs.
Guidott, Johnson, Sherwen, Sibthorpe, Harington, Gibbs,
Parry, Pring, W. Falconer, and T. Falconer. The mis-
cellaneous list also includes Sheridan, Lyons, Thicknesse,
Warner, W. L. Bowles, Thomas Moore, Douce, Malthus,
Mangin, Maclaine, Vivian, Sir W. Napier, Horace Twiss,
Thomas Cogan, J. E. Reade, T. Haynes Bayley, Bishop
Baines, Joseph Hunter, Walter Wilson, W. L. Nichols,
William Beckford, Francis Kilvert, Dr. Sweeney, Robert
Wallace, J. H. Markland, Prebendary Ford, D. Johnstone,
W. 8..Landor, and Bishop Thirlwall. These all lived in or
near Bath, benefiting in some cases a small, in others a large
class of readers. While the few were interested in metaphy-
sical lore, antiquarian study, or theological erudition, the
many were charmed by light literature. Pilgrims from distant
lands sometimes linger here to see where Squire Allworthy
lived, the scene of the School for Scandal, the houses of
Jane Austen and Hannah Moore, the garden from which
the Herschels “swept the heavens,” the stately tomb of

128 Bath in its relation to Education.

Beckford on Lansdown, and the square where Dickens,
Forster, and Thackeray received the hospitality of Landor.

A goodly list might be added of Authors now living, but
space and other reasons forbid. Very incomplete, however,
would be these pages without honourable mention of one
who is distinguished amongst living residents in the rela-
tions of Bath to literature. Five decades have passed since
Mr. Isaac Pitman, the inventor of a new system of spelling,
also devised a system of shorthand, now used largely through-
out the world. Some idea of its popularity in English-
speaking countries may be formed from the fact that of
one publication, “The Phonographic Teacher,” above 2,000
copies are sold weekly, and of another, the Phonetic Journal,
devoted to the propagation of Phonography, 22,000. Far
and wide was the inventor’s Jubilee celebrated in 1887 ;
London had a great meeting to do him honour, and New
York sent its earnest greetings. The city in which he has
laboured so long also recognises gratefully what he has done.

Nor should another important agency be forgotten. Bath
has been fortunate in its Newspaper Press. Few places are
better served in this respect. It has six able weekly journals
and three for daily evening circulation. The age of most
of them is remarkable: the /ourna/ dates from 1742; the
Chronicle from 1757; the Herald from 1792; and the
Gazette from 1812. The Bladud and Argus are compa-
ratively modern.

EDUCATION.

The little that is known of this subject in former times
deserves to be remembered. Education in Bath was in the
hands of the authorities of the important local monastery,
who followed the usual rule as to their revenues. One-

Bath in its relation to Education. 129

third was for the poor, another for the buildings, the
remainder for the clergy on condition that, amongst other
things, they should instruct the people. For this purpose
schools were provided, young ladies being received into
nunneries, and even the poorest children cared for by
religious organisations.

At the Dissolution all this was changed. The church
lands were generally sequestrated and the old provisions
annihilated. Happily the deprivation in Bath was not
complete. Henry VIII. had spared some of the property,
and the Mayor petitioned the Government for one of the
thirty schools which Edward VI. proposed to establish.
The prayer was granted, the young King in Council ap-
proved, and what remained of the old monastic lands was
in 1553 made the endowment.* The Charters designated
the schools ‘“‘ Free Grammar Schools,” or ‘“ Chartered
Schools of Literature,” for “children most apt to learning,”
indicating that though the benefit of the poor was espe-
cially intended, it should not be indiscriminate. That
others than the indigent shared is evident from the fact
that two eminent men of another class were alumni: John
Hales, well deserving the title “ever memorable,” who
became Cambridge Professor of Greek at twenty-one, and
William Prynne, M.P. for Bath, Recorder of Bath, the
restless politician, the voluminous author, the great con-
stitutional lawyer.

This brings us to a period when the school

ils had done its work for some time in the old
city. But there was no other school appa-

rently for the children of those who now flocked to Bath
and formed a new population. Nor does it seem that the

* See p. 93.

10

130 Bath in its relation to Education.

times in which Bath awoke from its long sleep were at all
favourable to the acquisition of knowledge. In this respect
the seventeenth century was greatly inferior to the two
immediately preceding. The mental quickening through-
out Christendom, caused by the revival of learning, had
already begun to droop in England. No spirit like that
which distinguished the Court and the country in the reigns
of Henry VIII., Edward VI., and Elizabeth could now be
seen either at Whitehall or elsewhere. Anstey, Fielding,
and Smollet give descriptions, not less faithful than amusing,
of the squires and their wives who came to the City of the
Springs; and other writers show that even the clergy and
justices were content with the literature supplied by the
daily post-boy. ‘A great scholar,”’says Macaulay, ‘ would
he be thought who had Hudibras and the Seven Champions
of Christendom lying amongst his fishing-rods and fowling-
pieces ; while as to the ladies of his household, the most
highly-born ‘and bred were unable to write without such
faults of spelling as would disgrace a modern charity girl.”

Even over King Edward’s School there came
a dark, heavy cloud. The Trustees of the
property shamefully perverted it, acting, in
fact as if there were no trust. Mere scanty crumbs fell to
the young and the poor for many years, until courts of
law and the still stronger legislature stopped the iniquity.
Then, under a succession of competent masters, the school
revived. A clergyman possessing the advowson of Charl-
comb, near Bath, presented it as an addition to the original
endowment. In 1754 a new site was purchased, and the
present handsome building erected at a cost altogether of
between four and five thousand pounds. A century later
the three hundredth anniversary of the school was cele-

King Edward’s
School.

Bath in its relation to Education. 130

brated at the Abbey Church and the Guildhall by a goodly
assemblage of influential citizens, under the presidency of
the Mayor, honoured also by the attendance, from a dis-
tance, of eminent masters of other Free Grammar Schools..
In addition to Hales and Prynne, many remarkable men
have been educated here: notably Mr. Lysons, antiquary ;.
Dr. Falconer, editor of the Oxford Strabo, Dr. Charles
Parry, author of the “ Parliaments and Councils of Eng-
land ;” Thomas de Quincey, George Monkland, George
Norman, the Rev. F. Kilvert, Sir Sidney Smith, Sir Edward
Parry, Sir Bartle Frere, and very lately Mr. Herman, the last:
Senior Wrangler. A new scheme, approved by the Queen
in Council in 1872, introduced various important changes ;.
two, at least, of the governing body were to be women, one
Governor was to be the chairman of the Royal Literary
Institution, another the chairman of the Bath School Board ;.
the living of Charlcombe was to be sold, any: surplus of
funds above certain defined liabilities was to go to the esta--
blishment of a girls’ school, and many rules were added
insuring greater efficiency in general teaching and greater’
responsibility to the Charity Commissioners. The present.
number of scholars is about 120: the reports of the Official
Examiners are satisfactory, and though, in consequence of
the establishment of other schools, the benefit is now con-
fined chiefly to one class, yet this venerable institution, now
in its three hundred and thirty-fifth year, is still doing ex--
ceedingly good work.

It was only by slow degrees that the educa--
tional wants of the other classes in Bath were:
supplied. In 1711 the Rev. Robert Nelson.
was the chief founder of the “ Blue Coat School,” so called
from the costume still worn by the children. A prominent

107

Educational
Progress.

132 Bath in its relation to Education.

object was Christian instruction in accordance with the
doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, so that
all Nonconformists have been excluded. In 1722 the funds
were sufficient to justify the erection of a suitable building,
which, however, was taken down in 1859 to be replaced by
the present handsome structure. Provision is made for 100
children, 50 of each sex, belonging to the several parishes
‘of Bath, who are admitted on the recommendation of sub-
scribers. In 1785 the ‘“‘Weymouth House Schools” were
established in connection with the two parishes of the Abbey
and St. James, though children from other parishes were
admissible. The rules limit this school also to children
of members of the Church of England ; but in addition to
religious instruction and the ordinary subjects, much atten-
tion has been paid to industrial training. Originally the
number admitted was very large, 160 being selected for the
School of Industry. Few institutions have been more suc-
cessful in enabling boys and girls to fight the battle of life.
In 1813 the friends of unsectarian education established the
“Bath and Bath-forum School,” which is able to boast of
similar success. The present number here is 358; while
open to children of all denominations, there is no lack of
the religious instruction which is common to all, and bears
most closely on the practical duties of life. The same class
is also cared for largely in numerous schools, parochial and
otherwise, the ministers of religion of every name promoting
with admirable zeal both Sunday and daily instruction. At
the celebration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee all united to bring
up their young forces, the Sunday scholars alone presenting
a beautiful sight of more than 10,000 happy faces.

From the beginning of the present century

Private Schools.
Bath has been famous for the excellence of

Bath in tts relation to Education. 133

its private schools. New generations both of residents and
visitors succeeded those who were indifferent to education.
And during the last half century the constantly increasing
desire for higher culture has caused a corresponding supply.
It would be easy to mention many instances of ladies emi-
nently successful in training, with the aid of good masters
and well-ordered homes, generations of girls whose retrospect
of their school-days has been happy. For boys private
instruction has been given, in some cases by clergymen
receiving a few into their houses, as was the case notably
with the Rev. Richard Graves at Claverton,* in others, more
numerous, by masters of schools highly qualified for their
work and taking a useful part in every educational move-
ment. But with regard to both sexes the prosperity of private
schools has undoubtedly suffered from the establishment of
others aiming at higher results and yet at less expense,
although the stimulus thus given may have been generally
advantageous. :
The oldest Public Ladies’ School is that on
Lansdown for the Daughters of Officers of
the Army, ably managed by a London com-
mittee of high position. Pupils are fortunate in occupying
a spacious building, on high ground, in the purest air, with
every domestic comfort. Of its educational advantages
proofs are given at the public examinations and by the
musical skill displayed at the annual meetings. There is.
also the Girls’ High School in Portland-place, established in
1876 by the Council of the Girls’ High School Company.
This has no restriction as to class; the principle is admission
to all classes, and the advantage a thoroughly good education

Public Schools
for Girls.

* See Index, Graves.

134 Bath in its relation to Education.

for all. The results are known from the full Reports of the
Head Mistress at the annual distribution of prizes, embody-
ing as they do the opinions of the Examiners. To the local
Committee it has been satisfactory to know that the School
is highly appreciated, not only by parents in Bath, but by
those at a distance, who place their children with private
families in order that they may receive their education here.

Amongst various aids to higher culture mention should
be made of the School of Music for Amateur and Pro-
fessional Students. It was established in 1880, on the
principles of the well-known London and Continental
Schools of Music. The programme includes every subject
necessary to a thorough musical training, vocal and instru-
mental. The Directress is a lady of practical experi-
ence, the musical references include names of the highest
standing, and the patrons and patronesses are an ample
guarantee for the efficiency of the teaching.
The Public Schools for boys come next in
order. Precedence might be claimed as to
age for the Wesleyan College on Lansdown.
‘This however is denominational rather than public, being
limited to the sons of Wesleyan ministers. It was transferred
in the middle of the century for greater scope and purer air,
from Kingswood near Bristol, where it was founded by John
Wesley. For many years Bath has been one of the centres
of the Oxford Middle Class Examination, to which that of
‘Cambridge has been lately added, and the position acquired
by this school at the annual distribution of prizes gives it
public importance and entitles it to high praise. In the
present year it provided the second wrangler, and in 1884
both first and second. s

Of stately educational establishments, none in Bath and

Schools for
Boys.

Bath in tts relation to Education. 135

few in England can compare with Prior Park. Four hun-
dred feet above the Avon, it commands a landscape full of
Ttalian beauty, inclosing the Roman city of the Sun. Built
close to the ancient Wansdyke, which runs along at the
back ; and, in the time of its first owner, the scene of hospit-
ality to poets, statesmen, and orators ; its traditions are un-
usually interesting. There are now three large, handsome
piles of buildings—the original mansion, and two wings, built
for collegiate purposes, to which has been added a beautiful
basilica, not yet completed, to be used as a church. The
mansion, 150 feet wide, with its grand Corinthian portico of
six columns, was built by Ralph Allen, the Bath postmaster,
in 1734, and occupied by him till his death.* After passing
through various hands it came, in 1829, into those of Bishop
Baines, the Catholic Vicar Apostolic of the Western district.
By him it was made a college, and he caused the wings to
be built, one being dedicated to St. Peter, the other to St.
Paul. The establishment held high rank for some years,
but eventually collapsed. Again the property was bought
for private uses, and then rebought by the Catholics, for
whom it has since served the purpose of a smaller college.

A more recent cause of educational reputation
is the Bath College, established in 1878. It
had long been felt that a city with so many advantages of
climate, situation, and society, should have a first-class school
for boys. The prosperity of the Colleges at Clifton, Chelten-
ham, and Marlborough, encouraged an effort to form a Com-
pany, which was aided by the co-operation of eminent autho-
rities at the Universities. In two respects the promoters were
fortunate: the choice of a head master who had’ won golden
opinions for twelve years as second master at Clifton, and

Bath College.

* See p, 81,

136 Bath in tts relation to Education.

the purchase of a property in a beautiful suburban situ-
ation. Here, in addition to a good residential house already
existing, handsome college buildings were erected. With
much kind and wise domestic management, and an efficient
staff of masters, the results from year to year have been
highly satisfactory. In 1880 the number of boys was 97;
in 1886, 201; and the distinctions have been remarkably
numerous. The more important amounted in six years to
thirty-one, including classical exhibitions and scholarships
at Balliol, Keble, Oriel, Trinity, Magdalen and University
Colleges, Oxford ; Christ’s, Gonville and Caius, Cambridge.
Five boys gained admission to the Royal Marine Artillery at
Woolwich, and the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and ten
passed directly into Sandhurst, besides many who had lesser
distinctions. From these results in so short a time and with
comparatively so small a number of boys, it is evident that
the Bath College is taking a foremost place amongst the
public schools of the country. And those who know it well
can testify to the admirable spirit in which it is worked, a
spirit that may well be compared with that of Rugby in its
best days.

Note.—In concluding this Chapter on Bath in its Relations to Art,
Science, Literature and Education, the author wishes to state that his chief
object has been to give such information as would be useful to vzszZors. He
is aware that to many 7esidents the facts thus brought together, with others
omitted here for want of space, have been made known by various writers,
and that there is a growing appreciation of whatever is refining and elevat-
ing in the influences of the city. He has also the pleasure of knowing from
the observation of fifty years how great has been the enjoyment of those
influences by a succession of new residents who in many cases have remained
to end their days in their adopted home.

THE ABBEY-CHURCH.

C. W. Dymonp, F.S.A.

HE prominent points in the ecclesiastical history of Bath,
and in its fine-art record, have been noted in preceding
pages,—with one exception—the architectural story of its
Abbey-church, which has been reserved for a separate
chapter. The plan of this volume, and the space allotted to
our theme, forbidding, for the most part, any notice of minor
details,* all that can here be attempted is to pen a rapid
sketch of the antecedents, fortunes, and characteristic features
of the fabric.

It has been the common fate of buildings, centuries old, to
have been subject to many vicissitudes arising either from
the ravages of time, from accidents, from the violence of man,
or from changes in architectural style. While the memory
of some of these is preserved only in the chronicles of the
past, others have left enduring marks on the structures
themselves, equally legible to those who are skilled in reading
them. The Abbey-church of Bath is no exception to this
general rule ; but, being one of the latest examples of English
ecclesiastical architecture, erected before its better traditions
had begun to be seriously set aside, perhaps less than most

* The reader who may desire fuller information is referred to the following
as the principal authorities :—Wood’s ‘' Description of Bath,” 2 vols., 2nd
ed., 1765; Warner's ‘'‘ History of Bath," 1801; Britton’s ‘‘ Bath Abbey
Church,” 1825 ; and especially to the new edition of Britton, continued to
the present time, with additional notes, by Mr R. E. M. Peach, and pub-
lished in 1887 :—a work to which the writer wishes to acknowledge his large
indebtedness.

138 The Abbey-church.

other edifices of its kind in England does it exemplify that
variety of styles which, in many of its compeers, adds a zest
to the studies of the ecclesiologist.

Local church-history up to the year 1087 being involved
in much obscurity, later writers differ as to the reading of the
scanty and sometimes conflicting records of those early ages
which have been handed down to us. It is, however, not
disputed that, in 676 A.D., Osric here built a nunnery, the
site of which is unknown: but many precedents make it
probable that it stood in that part of the town which was
devoted to similar uses for several succeeding centuries ;
and that the present Abbey-church of Bath is its lineal
successor. Osric’s house soon disappears from our view ;
and its place seems to have been taken by another establish-
ment, of which we have various notices not easily reconciled.
According to a recent inscription on a brass tablet in the
Abbey, “the first cathedral* was built on this site by King
Offa” in the year 773. Warner quotes a record that in 775
Offa, king of Mercia, founded a college of secular canons
upon the ruins of Osric’s nunnery: while Prof. Earle, in his
“Bath Ancient and Modern,” discrediting the founder’s
claims of that king, says that in 781 “the monastery” of
Bath, (which must have been long established, for it is de-
scribed as “‘ monasterium illud celeberrimum”), being at the
time a dependency of that at Worcester, was surrendered to
‘Offa, who desired to appropriate the patronage to himself.

Nothing more is known of it for 150 years; although
‘Warner (on no good authority) says that, in the middle of
the ninth century, Bath was devastated by the Danes; and
he concludes that the religious house suffered the same fate
as the town. Whatever the facts may have been, a partial

* The use of the word ‘‘ cathedral” here is incorrect,

The Abbey-church. 139

restoration seems to have been needed and effected before
the year 931, when Afthelstan conveyed estates to the con-
vent, (still of secular clergy,) the church of which was dedi-
cated to St. Peter. Within a few years thereafter, grants of
property were made by several successive charters to the
“monastery” at Bath. In one ofthese, dated 957, the church
is referred to in terms (“mira fabrica’”) implying magnificence
of structure and dignity of standing. This is supported by
the fact that it was the place of the coronation of King
Eadgar in 973.

About three years before that event ‘‘a change had come
o’er the spirit of the dream.” The seculars had been ejected,
and a community of Benedictine monks established in their
stead,—£lfeah or Alphege being the first abbot. In the
“Golden Legend” he is credited with building and endowing
the Abbey at Bath. This may have been true of everything
but the church itself, which we see was, shortly before, in a
flourishing condition; and so soon after was fit to be the scene
of a royal pageant of the first rank. The “Catalogue of
English Bishops,” quoted by Warner, gives 1010 as the date
of this work. It may have been completed then, but not by
Alphege, who was raised to the see of Winchester in 984.
It is rather curious that another event of a contrary charac-
ter (for which the writer can find no authority) has also been
attributed to the same date (1oro). It is recorded on the
afore-mentioned brass tablet, that in that year “the church
was destroyed by Sweyn, the Dane.” Now Sweyn did not
come to Bath until 1013. He made it, for a time, his head-
quarters ; and we know no other than that his occupation of
the place was peaceable. Moreover, in the will of Queen
fElfgyfu, dated 1012, she leaves lands to Bath monastery,
which must then have been standing. Alphege seems to

140 The Abbey-church.

have been succeeded by other abbots, one of whom,—
Wulfwold,—between 1060 and 1066, gives his lands to “Saint
Peter’s minster in Bath.”

We now reach firmer ground. In 1087 the monastery
suffered severely (according to Warner, was “ totally burned
down ”) in the insurrection made by Odo and others against
William Rufus. In 1090 that king annexed the Abbey of
Bath to the bishopric of Wells, then held by John de Villula,
who soon set about rebuilding the church and its adjuncts
from their foundations on a scale of grandeur. commensurate
with his ambitious ideas. How far the work had progressed
we know not when, in 1137, fifteen years after the death of
De Villula, the city was destroyed by fire, together (according
to Stow) with St. Peter’s Church. But whatever may have
been the injury sustained by that building, the very substan-
tial Norman walls, at least, were still serviceable enough to
be left standing ; for we find that Bishop Robert immediately
restored, enlarged and beautified it; associating, in 1178,
St. Paul with St. Peter in the tutelage of the Church.

Then followed a period of more than three centuries,
memorable, as regards this monument of the piety of our pre-
decessors, chiefly for the neglect of some of its priors, which
made restoration necessary in 1324-5; and for the much
more grievous ruin which later was allowed to overtake it,—
so grievous that nothing short of complete re-edification
would meet the case. And here we enter upon the history
of the present fabric.

In 1495, Bishop Oliver King was translated from Exeter
to this see. There is a pretty story of a dream in 1499
which incited the worthy prelate to rebuild the church,—
an enterprise in which he was ably seconded by William
Birde, elected prior in the same year. In 1503 Bishop

The Abbey-church, I4I

King died, not having accomplished much, and was suc-
ceeded by Adrian de Castello: but the work seems to
have been carried on by Birde, who devoted so much of his
own means to it that he died in poverty in 1525. By that
time the structure had been so far advanced that the choir
_ was vaulted, and the fagade probably completed.

When this zealous builder rested from his labors, they
were continued by his successor in office, Prior William
Hollway, who made strenuous efforts to complete that which
had been so well begun. But the sun of monastic prosperity
had long been sinking to its setting; and a radical change
was at hand. In 1536 the word went forth that the monas-
teries were to be suppressed ; and, three years later, the Abbey
of Bath was surrendered to the king.

Very soon thereafter the church was offered to the city
fora nominal sum. The offer being declined, all the glass,
iron, bells and lead were sold, and, in 1542, some of the
monastic estates were granted to one Humphrey Colles, who
re-sold the site and buildings of the Abbey to Matthew
Colthurst, whose son Edmund, in 1560, presented to the
city “the carcass of St. Peter’s Church,” with some of the
adjoining land, for a parish-church and church-yard.

The structure remained dilapidated and dismantled for
twelve years, until a military officer, Peter Chapman, began
to repair it in or about the year 1572.* Little, however, was
done but to roof the tower and a portion of the eastern end,
and to glaze the clerestory-windows of the choir. Twenty-
five years later the restoration was vigorously prosecuted by
William, Lord Burleigh, and Thomas Bellot, by whose
efforts the church was fitted for divine service. But the
greater part of the nave and its aisles was still unroofed,

See p. 69.

142 The Abbey-church.

the vestry unbuilt, and much beside remained to be accom-
plished. These defects were remedied by Bishop Montague
between 1609 and 1616; and so the work which had been
begun 116 years before was at last completed.

But not before the spoiler in a new form had appeared
upon the scene,—the leaseholder, with his “houses, dens,
shops, and taverns” standing on lands which he held from
the city, abutting on and disfiguring the church. These
parasites, which were allowed to encumber the site for a
very long period, so obstructed the ways that, for nearly
a century, the north aisle was used as a thoroughfare, until
Marshal Wade opened a public passage through the block
of houses on that side. Between 1823 and 1834, as the
leases fell in, the whole site was cleared; and, simultane-
ously, the. Corporation expended a large sum in improving
the church under the direction of the late Mr. Manners,
city architect. It was then that flying buttresses were attached
to the nave ; the roofs of the choir and transepts were recon-
structed, and the whole covered with lead; an enriched
parapet was carried around the building ; the clock removed
from the tower to the north transept ; and the old organ-loft
replaced by a screen designed by Mr. Blore. Many improve-
ments were also made in the pewing ; and the tablets which
disfigured the piers were transferred to the walls. Much
that was then done was good, and fit to remain ; but there
was not a little which, with many of the works effected in and
immediately before the time of Bishop Montague, being
either incongruous with the earlier portions, or otherwise
bad, was marked for condemnation .by the generation who
witnessed the “ Gothic revival.”

The Rev. Charles Kemble being appointed to the rectory
of Bath in 1859, soon gave the signal for, and was the chief

The Abbey-church. 143.

instrument in effecting, that great work of genuine restora-
tion by which, in 1874, after ten years’ labors, and a very
large expenditure, all deformities were swept away, and the
citizens of Bath found themselves in possession of a church
which they could justly regard with feelings of pride.

It must suffice to name the principal of these acts of
restoration and completion. For sanitary and other reasons,
the burial-vaults were partially cleared and concreted over.
The ceilings which covered the nave, its aisles, and the
south transept were replaced by fan-traceried stone-groining,
in harmony with that of the choir and its aisles. Perforated
machicolated parapets were substituted for plain copings,
and new pinnacles crowned the turrets. The cumbrous
galleries, and bishop’s throne were removed, and the church
re-seated ; the organ was much enlarged, and removed to
the transept; an old screen, which stood under it in its
former position at the east end of the nave was transferred
to the west end; and an extensive re-arrangement of ceno-
taphs was effected. The beautiful chantry of Prior Birde,
which had been sorely disfigured, was restored ; the sanctuary
tiled, and furnished with altar-rails ; a new stone reredos and
carved screen-work of oak were erected ; a new carved oak
pulpit replaced the old one ; a brass lectern was presented,
and a stone memorial-font added to the two already in the
church. Coloured windows were inserted, and heating
apparatus fixed.

The floor of the present church is about six feet higher
than that of its predecessor, the Norman church of De Villula,
which appears to have been planned on a much larger scale.
In 1864 the lower portions of three of its massive piers.
were found zz situ. Two of these are ‘under the second
and third piers of the nave-arcading from the west, partly

144 The Abbey-church.

projecting under the north aisle” ; while the third is beneath
the eastern arch in the north aisle of the choir. The indi-
cations afforded by these piers are that the existing building
covers little more ground than that occupied by the nave
and transepts of the earlier one. The only other remains
of the latter known to exist are portions of coupled shafts
which have been let into the bases of two of the buttresses
at the east end of the choir, and a jamb and arch-moulding
built around the window and door at the east end of the
southern aisle. These were found in the recent restorations;
and all that was then done was to lay them open to view.

It remains but to glance at the Abbey as a work of archi-
tectural art. Whether viewed from without or from within,
it will be found to exhibit both the merits and the defects of
the style of the period in which it was erected. The leading
idea of the designer appears to have been to produce an
impression of dignified elevation, and to preserve a consistent
rectangular uniformity of treatment,—a result to which the
“late pointed ” easily lent itself. If, -on a general view of
the exterior, little is found to arouse enthusiasm ; there is at
least enough to leave a sense of satisfaction, not unmingled
with pleasure. Though we may look in vain for touches of
artistic genius in any of the details, we shall feel that there
is a certain nobility of conception in the éoutensemble. It is
a pity that the “ weather-painting,” which has so largely
stained in parts the surface of the stone-work, gives to
the walls a gloomy aspect which is very unattractive. But
the attention of the visitor will naturally be riveted on the
west front ; and he will at once be struck with the ingenuity
of the idea (which has been very happily treated) of working
the subject of the bishop’s dream into an architectural
ornament. Admirable in conception, though less in execu-

The Abbey-church. 145

tion, is that of the angelic choir adoring the Divine Majesty,
represented as an old man seated in solitary state under
a high canopy in the midst of the heaven to which the
ladders lead. Statues of the twelve apostles, in three tiers,
stand against the cants of the turrets on either side of the
ladders. It is not certain what is meant by the human
figures ornamenting the centre mullions of the aisle-windows.
The one on the north side, clad in flowing robes, appears to be
holding an open deed, with appended seals ; the other seems
to have in his hand a pouch or money-bag. The apostolic
patrons of the church are represented by the two large statues
flanking the main entrance: under each of these was a
Latin inscription, now illegible. ‘The folding doors are a
curious example of the decorative carving of the time of
James I. The upper part displays an heraldic mantle, sur-
mounted by a knight’s helmet and a griffin’s head,—the crest
of the Montagues: on the mantle, two shields of arms.” In
the spandrels between the architraves of this doorway are
carved labels with various emblems of the Passion,—wounded
hearts, crowns of thorns, pierced feet and hands, etc. It is
thought that the unoccupied niche above originally contained,
or was intended to contain, a statue of Henry VII., whose
arms (crowned) and supporters are sculptured at the base.
Heraldic and other emblems, with inscriptions, rather rest-
lessly dotted about, label-wise, form the majority of the minor
enrichments of this front. “On each buttress, near the
extremities of the aisles, is a piece of sculpture typifying the
name and the dream of Bishop Oliver King—namely, the
olive springing through a royal crown, and surmounted by
amitre. Beneath are two mutilated figures of animals, under
each of which is an expanded roll,” with traces of the text

from the parable of the trees choosing a king. Over the
IL

146 The. Abbey-church.

windows of the aisles may be read the words, Domus mea
Bomus or[atilonis.

We will enter, and furnish our short survey with a glance
at the interior which, as now restored, is more than worthy
of its external framing. Observe the loftiness of nave and
choir, flooded with light through large windows in the clere-
story : feast the eyes on the rich beauty of the stone-groining
set with escutcheons of the great, of patrons and benefactors,—
that of the choir and its aisles of the time of Bishop King,
and of the best type of design; that of the western part
modern, but after the pattern of the old: note particularly
the noble square-headed east window, filled with coloured
glass illustrating the events of the gospel-story ; the equally
fine “ Jesse” window in the south transept ; and the many
other excellent examples of this branch of decorative art,
mostly of a memorial character.* Then visit the chantry-
chapel of Prior Birde, a chaste and elegant little structure in
the southern arcade of the choir, and note the delicacy of the
design and workmanship of the sculpture (most of it restored
after the original) in which, among “pomegranates, maple-
leaves, thistles, and conventional foliage and figures,” may
be seen, many times repeated, the rebus of the builder’s name,
a W with the figure of a bird. The chapel is beautifully
roofed with fan-traceried groining, except at the east end
where this is met by a ribbed coving, or demi-vault, in the
midst of which are set the prior’s insignia and escutcheon.

* All these are new: but old glass, formerly in the east window, has been
re-inserted, billet-wise, in two of the clerestory windows on the north side
of the choir. Other old glass may be seen in the escutcheons in most of the
clerestory windows : and some fragments are preserved in the Birde chapel.

THE BATHS, ANCIENT AND MODERN,

CuHarLes E, Davis, F.S.A.

HE present Hot Mineral Baths occupy only a portion of
the site of the ancient establishments. A history of
these Baths would extend certainly over a period of eighteen
centuries, and possibly more; for fragments have been dis-
covered, suggesting, though not demonstrating, the theory
that the foundations of the Baths may have been laid even
prior to the Roman occupation of Britain.
The position of the Springs has been indi-
cated by geologists as being somewhat central
in the valley of the Avon, but on the south side of an up-
heaval of strata that diverted the river from a westerly to a
southerly direction. Previous to the erection of the Baths,
the hot springs must have risen from the foot of a slight
cliff, and flowed towards the river over a considerable tract
of land, known in medizval times as the “Ham Gardens,”
and subject then, as at the present time, to frequent floods.
The Baths are supplied by three apparently separate
springs, which vary in heat only three degrees, and possess
identically the same properties. Their highest temperature
is 120°, but they scarcely rise to the surface at that heat.
The King’s Bath Spring is the largest, and, when measured
afew years since, yielded. 167 gallons a minute; but this
supply has been considerably increased by stopping the
leaks which existed amongst the ancient ruins, and through

11*

The Springs.

148 The Baths, Ancient and Modern.

which the water wasted away. Accurate measurements of
the spring have not been practicable, but it is believed that
the yield at the present time is more than 300 gallons a
minute. One-hundred-and-forty yards almost directly west
of this spring is another, known as the Hot Spring, of con-
siderably less volume than the King’s Bath Spring. A few
yards to the north of the Hot Spring is the smallest and
coolest of the three springs, which is known as the Cross
Bath Spring. It is generally supposed that there has been
no abatement of heat in these springs, but no accurate
observations having been made in the past, this supposition
cannot be verified. As to volume of water, discoveries
made in the recent excavations justify the assumption that
the King’s Bath Spring is of the same capacity as it was in
Roman times. The Hot Spring has been stated in old
guide-books to have first made its appearance four or five
centuries ago; but on this statement little or no reliance
can be placed. The Cross Bath Spring has undoubtedly
diminished, but this is accounted for by its diversion
amongst the foundations of contiguous buildings on their
erection early in the eighteenth century. It would cost but
little to again secure the spring within the ancient Roman
well and prevent the water being wasted before coming to
the surface.

The earliest Baths of which there is any dis-,
tinct evidence are Roman, and were founded
either by Vespasian when he was in Britain,
or as late as during the reign of his son Titus. They were
in great part erected within an excavated area, to admit of
the springs filling them by gravitation ; but at the same time
the level of the excavated area was evidently above the sur-
face of the ground on the southern front.

The Roman
Baths.

The Baths, Ancient and Modern. 149

The design of the Baths, as revealed by recent discoveries,
was well considered and planned. The relative proportions
of area and solid, as well as the construction, prove most
incontestably that, though in minor details the skill of the
workmen may have been defective, the architect was a com-
plete master of his art; and in this respect the ruins of our
Roman Baths rank as high as, if not higher than any, other
of the civil buildings of the Romans in Britain. The Baths
are apparently of two, if not three, periods, and suggest (a)
asmaller system at the commencement, then (4) an enlarged
plan, and lastly (c) a contracted plan. The earlier system
appears to have comprised all that the second embraced,
but upon a smaller scale, while the third system shows
signs of retrenchment consequent on a more limited occu-
pation, and also affords evidence that the structure was
not maintained in thorough repair. Alterations were made
in the building from time to time until the baths, when they
fell into disuse, were walled up or altogether abandoned.

The Baths were divided into two buildings by the Roman
street that crossed the city from north to south, a hot spring
being the centre of each establishment.

The great well of the larger spring (King’s Bath Spring)
was surrounded by a wall of massive stones, forming an un-
equal octagonal figure, 50 ft. long and 40 broad; while the
smaller spring (Cross Bath Spring) was of about 50 ft. in
diameter.* The octagonal well (complete as to form, if not |
in height) which is situated beneath the medizeval King’s
Bath, has recently been completely excavated, and is now
utilised as a tank for hot water; while the circular Cross
Bath Spring is much mutilated, but, so far as it is perfect,

* The southern margin of the Cross Bath for about 16ft. in length is built
on the wall of the well.

150 The Baths, Ancient and Modern.

this also is used as a tank. Both springs are unfortunately
hidden from the ordinary visitor. ;

The excavations hitherto made have not been of sufficient
extent to reach the external walls of the Roman Baths; but
if the south wall of the Abbey Church stands, as it probably
does, on the north wall of the Baths; and if the tesselated
pavement preserved in the United Hospital was the floor of
one of the rooms in the western Baths ; then these buildings
could not have averaged less than from 300 to 350 ft. broad
with a probable length of goo ft. Assuming these calcula-
tions to be correct, the area of the Roman Baths—omitting
the auxiliary buildings—must have occupied from 6 to 7
acres,* and included all the requirements to be found in the
grand Baths of ancient Rome, with pleasure ground cover-
ing the whole area between the Baths and the river to the
south.

Five grand Baths have already been excavated
in what I must call, for want of a better name,
the eastern establishment, the first of these in 1755, and the
remainder within the last five years. The area occupied by -
the water of the bath was in the centre of each room or
hall; and, for the sake of brevity, it will be sufficient to give
the dimensions of the rooms or halls, rather than of the area
covered by the actual water surface.

The hall of the bath discovered in 1755 was 43 ft. by 34.
Shortly after its discovery it was again covered with, if not
destroyed by, buildings—which, however, it is now proposed
to remove, so that the old Roman remains, however frag-'
mentary, may be again exposed to view.

The hall of the second or great bath (rectangular) is

Eastern Wing.

* This is assuming that the buildings were, on plan, simply a parallelo-
gram, which is hardly probable.

The Baths, Ancient and Modern. 151

110 ft. 434 in. by 68 ft. 5 in., with three recesses or exedvae
on each of the longer sides; the central recess being rect-
angular, and the others semi-circular.

The hall of the third bath (circular)—if we include the
arcades at each end of the hall—occupies an area of 68 ft.
by 35..

The water surface of the fourth bath—one end of which
has a shape that may be taken for a semi-circle, while the
other end forms the segment of a circle—stands within an
area of 33 ft. 4 in. long by 17 ft. 10 in. wide.

The fifth bath (rectangular) stands within a hall 33 ft.
long by: 20 ft. wide. The second and third baths were
arcaded, while the others were enclosed within pilastered
walls ; but if the arcades at either-end of the first bath were
open, that might be called arcaded also. The height of the
apartments, which were all vaulted, measuring from the
Schola surrounding the bath, must have varied from 35 to
44 ft. In addition to these larger baths, several smaller
ones have been discovered, and there are indications of
still more.

Heated Chambers COnmected with the Baths was a complete
connected with the system of what are now known as Turkish

Roman Baths. Baths, both in the east and west wings of
the establishment. The east wing, discovered and opened
out in 1755, discloses five apartments; but there are at
least three, if not six, more. All these were floored on Jilae,
and some had also flues carried up as a coating to the walls.
On the north side was a praefurnium, or stove, by which all
the apartments were heated; and this pracfurnium was in
all probability supplemented by another on the south side,
The hot chambers discovered on the west are by no means
so extensive or so symmetrically planned as those just

152 The Baths, Ancient and Modern.

mentioned ; and the hypocaust, partially complete in the
rectangular chamber, has disappeared altogether from the
circular room, which was the hottest. There were two
pracfurnia also, but in the excavations made at the begin-
ning of this century—and perhaps previously—so much was
removed that it is difficult to complete the plan.

The western wing, which was supplied with
water from the spring now called the Cross
Bath, has unfortunately but little history. The discovery
of the well has alone been noted, and that but recently ;
but its Roman buildings to the east were cut through
without care, on the formation of Bath-street in 1793, and
no record was kept. The Hospital of St. John on the west
was no doubt originally built from Roman ruins, if indeed
the buildings themselves did not form a portion of the hos-
pital at the time of its first foundation, which is generally
supposed to have taken place under the auspices of Bishop
Reginald, who was consecrated in 1174, or of his predeces-
sor Robert; but a far earlier date may be safely assigned.
The area occupied by the buildings of the Charity may be
said, roughly speaking, to be the area of the former Baths.
A fragment of tesselated pavement described by the Rey.
Preb. Scarth, was, doubtless, as already mentioned, a floor
of one of the chambers of the western Baths.

After the Romans abandoned this country, a.p. 410, the
baths still continued to be used, although the buildings
were not maintained in perfect repair. The pavements still
existing are, in places, so uneven from wear that there is a
difficulty in walking on them, and the ‘esserae, where made
good, are replaced by an inferior material. After the battle
of Deorham the Baths were abandoned, and the city became
a waste.

Western Wing.

The Baths, Ancient and Modern. 153

On the rebuilding of the city in the eighth
century under its new name Bathancastra, the
Baths must have been standing, although in so great ruin
that the Saxon street over the Avon, by the bridge, (the
Roman piers of which the writer has seen,) instead of
running directly north on the line of the Roman street, was
diverted eastward and across their ruins, skirting in doing so
the spring of the King’s Bath. Beneath this Saxon street
the Baths and corridors still exist, and, as far as the plan
and arrangements are concerned, the fragments are much
more complete than where buildings have been erected and
re-erected during the last eleven hundred years.

The only description extant of the condition of the Baths
during this period is contained in the Saxon poem of Zhe
Ruin in the “Exeter Book,” to which attention was first
called by the Rev. Professor Earle in 1871,* and more
recently by Mr. Charles Elton, Q.C., M.P., in his “ Origins
of English History.” ‘There stood arcades of stone; the
stream hotly issued, with eddies widening up to the wall
encircling all the bright bosomed pool; there the baths
were * * * hot with inward heat; so they caused to
flow (into a sea of) stone the hot stream. High was the
roof of gold * * * And the court is dreary. And the
‘crowned roof lies low in the shadow of the purple arch.”+
‘This, though possibly written in the seventh century, may,
_ allowing for their then more ruinous condition, be taken to
‘describe the state of the Baths as late as the tenth century.
“The eddies widening up to the encircling wall” doubtless
refer to the springs themselves forming a sheet of water.
‘The ruins, standing more or less in fragments, fell in, and in

Saxon Baths.

* See p. 20.
+ This poem is assigned to Cynwulf by some writers.

154 The Baths, Ancient and Modern.

their fall choked the conduits and blocked up the baths,
preserving by so doing the valuable coating of lead that
would otherwise have disappeared. The actual springs of
both the eastern and western establishments were themselves
the baths, if baths were then in request. The first spring
appears to have been distinctly outside the boundary of the
ecclesiastical buildings, the Cathedral and the monastic
grounds being to the east of it, whilst the other springs were
enclosed within the Saxon Hospital for the sick and poor,
which was replaced by the hospitals of Bishops Reginald and
Robert. The boundaries of these springs within the Roman
walls have not been correctly ascertained, but the dimen-
sions of the enclosure of the King’s Bath (the medizval
name of the eastern spring) between the ancient walls are
approximately 63 feet by 33. This was doubtless the public
bath of the city, and was de facto Crown property as late as
the seventeenth century ; and was held by the municipality,
the monastery, or the Bishop, on the payment of a small
rent and with the obligation of keeping the surrounding walls
and steps in repair. The main buildings of the ancient
Baths became the quarry, out of which the mediaeval walls
of the city as well as the monastic buildings were constructed,
as a few (though up to the present time undoubtedly only a
few) Roman stones have been observed in their foundations.
It may be pointed out that almost the whole of the domestic
buildings of the monastery of King Osric were built within
the ruins of the eastern wing of the Baths, and eastward of
the spring.
At a future time it may be possible to fill up
a considerable void in the history of the Baths;
from the Norman invasion to the reign of
Queen Elizabeth, but having now rather to deal with the

Medizval
Baths.

The Baths, Ancient and Modern. 155

subject from a structural point of view, it will be sufficient
to note that during the medizval period the King’s Bath
was but little altered. The boundaries of this spring were
maintained as of old, though slightly reduced ; but the walls
surrounding the other springs were much changed, and their
extent was unsymmetrically reduced by the encroachment of
the buildings of the hospital. In 1235 the Crown sent Com-
missioners to report on. the condition of the King’s Bath.
They found that it was falling into decay and needed the
sum of £13 115. (equivalent to more than £ 300 at the present
time) for its repair. It is clear that so large a sum as this
could not have been required without very considerable work
having to be done; and it is therefore to this date that we
must ascribe the reduction in the size of the King’s Bath
from its original dimensions. The Roman wall to the south
still continues to be the boundary, but new walls with niches
were erected within the ancient enclosure on the three
other sides, making the dimensions to be 57ft. by goft. 8in.
In A.D. 1530, Leland visited Bath, and his description of
the Baths, slightly abbreviated, is as follows :—“ There be 2
springes of Whote Wather in the West south West Part of
the Towne, Whereof the bigger is caullid the Crosse Bath,
(previously spoken of as one of the springs of the western
establishment) bycause it hath a Cross erectid in the midle
of it having 11, or 12, Arches of Stone in the sides for men to
stonde under yn tyme of Reyne. The Hote Bathe is lesse
in Cumpace withyn the Waulle then the other, having but
7 Arches yn the waulle. The Kinges Bathe is very faire
and large and is compassid with a high Stone Waulle. The
Brimmes hath a litle walle cumpassing them, and in this
Waul bea 32 Arches for Men and Women to stand seperately
yn. Ther goith asluse out ofthis Bath, and servid in Tymes

156 The Baths, Ancient and Modern.

past with Water derivid out of 2 Places in Bath Priorie usid
for Bathes, els voide.” One of these “Places” was destroyed
on the discovery of the Roman Baths in 1755, and the other
was unfortunately destroyed but recently during alterations
effected in some water-courses, under superintendence over
which the writer had no control. During the medizval
‘period there were no means of emptying the baths (or rather
the reservoir of the springs), unless the Cross Bath was still
connected with the Roman Aqueducts, the over-flow running
off into the river.

In A.D. 1557 Dr. Turner in his book did
not describe the Baths but confined his re-
marks to their medical use, and advocated
every bath having a “ a covering above it” ; and he also ad-
vised the erection of chambers, separately “appointed ” for
men and women, in an upper story, into which water should
be pumped. No effectual attempt was made to carry out
this recommendation for a space of two hundred years. Dr.
Turner advocated the construction of a Horse Bath, to be
supplied with the waste hot water, a suggestion which was
adopted within a few years; but this bath has unfortunately
been filled in long since. Dr. Turner also advised that some
means should be provided for emptying the baths every
day “at eight of ye clock afternoune, yt agaynst ye morning
they might be full of fresh holesome water!;” and this re-
commendation was carried out.

A map of Bath, dated 1610, gives views of all the baths
and shows the “ Wewe Bath” (adjoining the King’s Bath),
added about the year 1575, and removed, three years since,
to open out the circular Roman Bath which was beneath
it ; and also the small Leger’s Bath, which had been added,
in a similar way to the “‘ hotte Bath.” T. Johnston, writing

Post-Medizval
Baths to 1750.

The Baths, Ancient and Modern. 157

in 1634, gives copies of these views, although sixteen years
previously the King’s Bath had been surrounded by a hand-
some balustrade (a portion of which still exists) at the cost
of Sir Francis Stonor, an ancestor of the present Lord
Camoys.

Dr. Jones, in 1572, advocated drinking the Mineral
Water, and a pump appears to have been erected, but its
position has not been traced. A drawing of the King’s Bath,
executed by J. Johnson in the year 1675, gives a very good
idea of the King’s Bath and the adjoining buildings ; but
there is no view of a similar date extant of the other Baths,
although the Cross Bath at this time was the fashionable
Bath. This Bath was much smaller than the King’s Bath,
but enjoyed a gallery, presented by Robert Lord Brook, for
musicians, who performed daily.

Winter bathing was not at this time (as it was afterwards)
recommended to patients, and the inconvenience of the
only baths then existing being entirely uncovered was often
commented upon, without a remedy being effected. The
Earl of Marlborough offered to roof over the Cross Bath,
if the Bath Corporation would roof in the King’s Bath;
but his offer met with no response. The King’s Bath and
the Hot Bath are still uncovered, but the Cross Bath (the
charge for which has been reduced to one penny) has been
roofed this year, 1888. The King’s and Queen’s Baths from
1625 to 1750 appear to have undergone little alteration, so
that the picture by Johnson gives a correct view of their
appearance during these 125 years. Lodging houses were
erected on a part of three sides, having direct access to the
Baths, so that bathers, although bathing in the open bath,
might readily get under cover. In addition to this, “slips”
(little rooms) were attached to the baths at four of the angles ;

158 The Baths, Ancient and Modern.

and in these slips bathers might deposit their clothes.
Sedan chairs were in great request, enabling bathers to
undress and dress at their own lodgings in any part of the
town, which was then confined within its medizval walls
Partially surrounding the baths, and open to the public,
were terraces, from which a view could be obtained of the
bathers ; ladies and gentlemen, wearing bathing dresses,
bathed together. In the centre of the Bath an octagonal
building, known as the Cross, in height about 4o ft. (afford-
ing a slight protection to the bathers) was erected in 1664,
and removed in 1789. Inserted in the walls of the bath
were, and are still, a number of brass rings, given as thank-
offerings for benefits received by bathers, with the names
of the donors and dates ranging from 1639 to1754. A
rough sort of douche was practised by “ bucketing” a
bather, and by what is now called a dry douche (an opera-
tion then in vogue on the Continent). Adjoining the Bath
was a small building, in which was a pump used for drink-
ing as well as for douching. There was at that time no
other Pump Room, although on the north side of the Bath
there was a small Assembly Room, which was displaced in
1705 for the erection of the first Pump Room (in which a
band played). This room was enlarged on two occasions
prior to its removal for the erection of the present Grand
Pump Room*
In 1755 the removal of the Abbey House
a ie disclosed a portion of the Roman Baths and
, the existence of what was supposed to bea
distinct hot spring, since proved to be a leakage from the
King’s Bath. This discovery led to the building by the
Duke of Kingston of a small establishment of Private Baths,

* “The Bathes of Bathes Ayde,” by Charles E. Davis. 1883.

The Baths, Ancient and Modern. 159

very carefully planned, with domed vaulting, but only three
in number. These Baths were slightly enlarged in subse-
quent years, but on the purchase by the Bath Corporation
of the Hot Spring in 1878 they ceased to be Hot Mineral
Baths. These are now known as the Turkish Baths, and
are held on lease of the Corporation by Mr. Sheppy. The
erection of these Baths was followed by the building of
the Royal Private Baths in 1778, containing four private
baths communicating with a large central bath, called the
Hot Bath, with eight dressing-rooms, four vestibules, douche
rooms, etc. A large Swimming bath, with dressing-rooms,
was added in 1859. The Cross Bath was in great part
re-erected in 1797 with a small pump-room, douche-rooms,
and private baths, since removed.

In 1788 the new King’s and Queen’s Baths were com-
menced, and these were followed by the erection of the
present Grand Pump Room. These buildings, notwithstand-
ing a large purchase of contiguous property, entailed con-
siderable encroachments on the north and west sides of the
King’s Bath, and involved the removal altogether of the
ancient “slips” and the substitution of long corridors for
Sedan-chairs, and the addition of some small auxiliary baths
without dressing-rooms, with the exception of perhaps two
or three apartments communicating with the public baths ;
the Queen’s Bath being reserved for ladies. In a storey
above this was a central vestibule with six dressing-rooms,
four of these being attached to four baths, each containing
800 gallons of water; the other two communicating with two
douche-rooms with a small closet for a “spray.” About thirty
years ago these Baths were improved, and an entrance was
opened from the Pump Room; the basement was enlarged
with additional corridors, and a vapour-room was also added.

160 The Baths, Ancient and Modern.

In 1870 the Baths adjoining the Grand Pump Room
Hotel were built, comprising large private baths, Reclining-
baths, Douches, and a Tepid Swimming-bath. The latter
has recently been enlarged to 8oft. in length of water with
seventeen dressing-rooms, and there is also a cooling room
for ladies, and one for gentlemen, for whom a smoking-room
is also provided.

Strictly speaking, however, these last additions
ier rier oe ought properly to be included in@this section,
ipresent time. 28 they were built under the direction of the

writer in 1885. The King’s and Queen’s
Baths just completed have involved an expenditure exceed-
ing £20,000. These Baths now incorporate all the portions
of the Roman Baths hitherto discovered which are available,
whilst in erecting the new work no part of the ancient
buildings has been destroyed or hidden. Taking into
consideration the accommodation provided by the sevetal
establishments, there is sufficient provision for bathing simul-
taneously 120 bathers. The rooms and baths are appointed
in the best manner, every comfort is afforded, all the appli-
ances are complete, from the simple bath to the most delicate
administration of the Mineral Water. Vapour as given off
from the springs at their source, is collected in a volume for
a complete bath, or so delivered that it can be applied
locally or for inhalation. Water or vapour can also, if
thought fit, be combined with electricity. The bather can
be accommodated with a chamber, warmed either with dry
heat to 150°, or moist heat to about 114°, and even higher
if required. Appliances exist for “‘ spray,” “sitz,” “needle,”
or “lave,” with hot plates when prescribed by the medical
adviser, and all the previously described systems can be given
with imported natural waters from the Continent or with the

The Baths, Ancient and Modern. 161

waters of our own country. The Aix-les-Bains douche and
massage, the Turkish system, but somewhat modified, the
Russian, the Marien-bad, the Vichy, the Mont Dore in
Auvergne System, as also those which local Medical men
consider best adapted to the Hot Mineral Springs of Bath,
are here available. Each establishment is provided with a
Cooling room, supplied with the London and local papers.
The writer is preparing for publication plans of the various
baths, and a description of each room and bath, in order
that no one seeking the waters shall lack full information, it
being impossible within the limits of these pages to give
more than a general idea.

The King’s and Queen’s Baths also have large private baths,
reclining, sitz, needle baths, the spray, lave, etc., attached to
them; also douche baths, local, as at Aix-les-Bains,
lumbago baths, vapour, and local vapour, as previously
mentioned ; atomised (or pulverised) water, and vapour in
an inhalation room, pulverised douche, and douche with
vapour, from delicate instruments, for diseases of the throat,
nose, eye, &c., whilst provision is made for the application
of water, or vapour, in a variety of ways. The Royal Baths
have all the appliances previously described, as also have
the New Baths in connection with the Grand Pump Room
Hotel, except that the more delicate treatment is admin-
istered in the Queen’s Baths only.

In all the establishments are crane chairs for lowering the
helpless invalid into the bath, whilst the corridors are suffi-
ciently wide to admit wheel-chairs or Sedan. The Grand
Pump Room is in connection with the King’s Bath. Here
the hot mineral water is delivered at a heat of 114° for
drinkers by a continuous fountain of water direct from the
spring.

12 7

162 The Baths, Ancient and Modern.

During the last year the number of bathers was 86,551,
and the receipts from all sources amounted to £5,707.
The Corporation of Bath, who are the owners of all the
springs and baths, spare no expense to make the latter an
attraction to the visitor and the means of restoring health
to the invalid who is advised to seek relief from the waters,
which, it should be remembered, have a record of having
continuously flowed during nearly nineteen centuries, and
in that time have been resorted to by millions seeking
pleasure or a cure for ailments that medical science would
otherwise have failed to relieve.

The well-nigh uninterrupted continuance of the Baths on
one site is recorded in an inscription on the south wall of
the King’s Bath. To this wall the Roman and the Saxon,
and succeeding generations to the present time, have in turn
contributed, so that the structure represents an unbroken his-
tory from Vespasian and Edgar, Henry III. and Charles I,
to the present day.

The Inscription is as follows :

ON JULY 23RD, 1886,
UNDER THE MAYORALTY OF ANTHONY HAMMOND,

THE HOT MINERAL BATHS COMMITTEE, (J. J. WILKINSON, CHAIRMAN,)
HAVE LAID ON ROMAN MASONRY SEVENTEEN HUNDRED YEARS OLD
THE CORNER STONE OF NEW BATHS,

THUS CONNECTING IN WORK AND OBJECT
THE MODERN WITH THE ANCIENT WORLD.

CHAS. £, DAVIS, F.S.A., Architect.

THE BATH THERMAL WATERS; AND BATH
AS A HEALTH RESORT.

Joun Kent SPENDER, M.D. Lond.,
Physician to the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath.

HE Science of Balneology, as it is termed, has been built
upon the different properties and temperature of water.
Pure water is practically unknown ; as it exists in Nature it
has always saline or gaseous material, generally both. These
are the characters of what is termed spring water, fitting it
for the -various purposes of domestic economy. A water
ceases to be potable, and is unfit for domestic use, when it
contains matter alien to the necessities of the healthy body.
It then becomes a medicine. No precise line can be drawn ;
but when a water is so far mineralized as to be decidedly
medicinal, it is the duty of medical men to find out what
can be done with it.

But a medical man may perfectly know the physiology of
the whole body, and perfectly know the chemistry of a
mineral water, and yet not understand how to apply that
mineral water to any healing purpose. The one faculty does
not teach or imply the other. Medicated Waters are the
workmanship of Nature, and we learn their virtues solely by
their effects. To discuss what they ough? to do is a purely
scholastic exercise. Thermal medicine is a matter of appre-
ciation and tact. A mineral water has no other value than
that which a skilful physician knows how to elicit from it.
Even the illustrious Boyle, with his analytic mind, confessed

that the “surest way of knowing them ” [mineral waters] is
Fd .

164 The Bath Thermal Waters,

to study patiently their good and bad effects. In judging
the medical- action of a spa, therefore, it is wrong merely
to take into account the principal constituents ‘of the Water,
as if it were a question of pure chemistry. Every mineral
water is a complex medicine, having a peculiar mixture and
a specific temperature. Put the same materials together in
a laboratory, according to identical weight and measure,
and we do not at all get the same vital product. Nature
will not be mimicked so easily. “There are natural com-
positions contrived for the benefit of mankind,” wrote Dr.
Oliver (1719), “which exceed all the compounds man can
invent.” Thus we approach with unbiassed minds those
benign pools which flow “without tides” at our very feet,
and have a genealogy beyond all historic record. Legend
and romance have embellished what might have been only
a bit of dull science. Without metaphor, this hot fluid is
a message from the very deeps, telling us of the structure of
things beyond all hypothesis and all knowledge. What has
been flowing for so many ages will go on ad secula; and
we realise the ancient epigram that the least stable phe.
nomena of Nature are yet sometimes the most permanent.*
The Bath Thermal Water is a clear and almost colourless
fluid. When freshly drawn, it may show a momentary
sparkle ; in bulk (as seen in the open baths) its tint varies
somewhat with atmospheric conditions, appearing sometimes
light sea-green, at other times pale blue. There is no odour

* Charlemagne found an inscription on the spot where he afterwards
built his palace at Aachen. The inscription contained the name Grazus,
which he supposed was that of a Roman Emperor, and that induced him
to build his own palace there. Granus was really the local name of a
Celtic deity—the Sun. Aix-la-Chapelle or Aachen is called in Latin Ague
Grani (Waters of Granus), exactly equivalent to the Roman name of Bath
{Aquze Solis). For this note I am indebted to my learned friend and
kinsman, the Rev. T. L. Kingsbury, Canon of Sarum,

and Bath as a Health Resort. 165

from a glass of the fresh water ; any pungency from a large
body of the water is never unpleasant or sulphurous. Water
hot from the pump gives a chalybeate impression on the
tongue, and a faintly saline taste. On standing in the open
air for some hours the water becomes somewhat turbid and
of a whey colour after the “ochre” is precipitated, but no
other substance is deposited in any ascertainable quantity.
Gas rises through the water in large clusters of bubbles ; it
was discovered by Dr. Priestley (1755) to consist of only
gs of its bulk of carbonic acid gas, and the remainder is
almost entirely nitrogen.*

The temperature of the Bath Waters is their most import-
ant phenomenon. Telluric heat is a subject always of
intense interest. Writers differ slightly as to the exact heat
of our own springs; but it is quoted by a recent authority
as follows :—‘‘ The hot bath is 120 degrees, the King’s bath
is 117 degrees, the Kingston (or Old Roman) bath is 108
degrees, and the Cross bath is 104 degrees.” The poverty
of the British Islands in the supply of thermal water is
shown in the fact that the next warmest spring is at Buxton,
the temperature of which is only 82 degrees. It is not
within the scope of this chapter to discuss the cause of the
heat of thermal springs ; and, in truth, the most advanced
geological speculations do not afford a perfect solution of
the problem.

The chemical philosophy of the Bath Thermal Waters
may be thus described. We may look at them as

(1) So much water.—The quantity is practically illimitable

* In a delightful volume on Greece, originally published in 1840, Bishop
Christopher Wordsworth (late of Lincoln) speaks of the hot springs which
gave a name to Thermopyle, and which are connected with the history
both of Hercules and Leonidas. These springs still flow from the earth,
and expand their streams into pools of the clearest blue, as they did in the
ages of the demigod and of the king.

166 The Bath Thermal Waters ;

(not much less than half a million gallons daily). This
abundance makes our use of it easy and highly advantageous.
Movement and play of muscle are permitted by the mere
bulk of fluid.

(2) So much hot water.—Whether the water be hot or
warm, .it increases the heat of the body, partly by direct
supply, partly by diminished radiation and evaporation. To
put the matter in the fewest words ;—cold refreshes by stimu-
lating the functions, heat by physically facilitating them.
Heat helps organic life when it is incapable of independent
work ; so that there is a quickening of all vital processes
which take place in cells, juices, and animal tissues. Now
Nature’s store of cold water is prodigal enough ; it is here
and everywhere ; but to obtain hot water in any quantity
from the interior of the earth is a grand economy of force
and trouble. From the days of Rome to the present day,
natural thermal water has furnished the bath of luxury and
the bath of health.

(3) So much hot saline water—The chief Continental
balneologist, Dr. Braun, calls Bath a “representative of the
hot indifferent springs ;” and he styles our city the English
Teplitz. The gross element of heat cannot be separated
from chemical composition. Essentially Bath thermal Water
is alkaline ; but not alkaline in the sense in which the waters
of Vals and Vichy are. The alkalinity of these waters
depends on carbonate of soda. A lime water is called
“earthy,” and its alkalinity is modified by a combination
with sulphuric acid. Hence in a geological grouping of
mineral waters, we call all those in which sulphate of lime
is the main constituent Lime SuLPHATED WatTeErs.* There

* For this term we are indebted to our English balneologist, Dr. John
Macpherson.

and Bath as a Health Resort. 167

are, besides, fractional quantities of sodium sulphate, mag-
nesium and sodium chlorides, and minute percentages of
silica and oxide of iron. The gaseous contents are five parts
of carbonic acid and 95 of nitrogen in 100 parts.

We now clearly understand our medical position, and we
call Bath Thermal Water the most important Hot Lime
Sulphated Water in the world.

There are two ways in which the Bath Thermal Waters
may be applied :—an internal use and an external use.

(A) The key to the zzternal use lies in this chemico-vital
fact, that a Lime Sulphated Water increases the alkalinity of
the blood, but scarcely affects the alkalinity of the secre-
tions. The practice of drinking the Bath thermal Waters
did not become common until about the middle of the
seventeenth century. Warm Waters were said to have three
advantages over cold ones—(a) the heat is more agreeable
to the stomach; (4) they have more “balsamic healing
virtue”; (¢) they may be drunk at any time of the year.
Heat and fluidity alone (so it was said) could not be the
sole causes of specific medical power ; but the “immediate
and sensible” effects were always distinguished from those
which were called “secondary.” The primary effects most
spoken of were—an internal glow, felt sooner and lasting
longer than after common hot water ; a warmth in the head,
a quickening of the pulse, and a mo#ture on the skin. The
more remote effects were described as exhilaration of spirits,
increased appetite, more sleep, and a feeling of inward
support. The old and true doctrine was that the fluid
should be taken “sincere from the spring”; and part of the
doctrine was that the draught should be sipped slowly while
the aérial bubbling lasted. Not a few in the old time
disbelieved the medical virtue of a spring in which nearly

168 The Bath Thermal Waters ,

all the saline constituents exist in a comparatively small
proportion : “so little soul,” complained some, “in so large
a body.” But the bulk of fluid is Nature’s way of offering
a medicine. Interrogate Nature, and she says: “I give a
medicine which is hot and diluted” ; that is to say, the heat
and the dilution are the conditions on which the medicine
is supplied.

Drinking the Waters was considered to be a prepara-
tion for bathing. The old notion was that drinking and
bathing should never go on at the same time; but the
physicians of the last century were unanimous that each
‘process helped the other, and both were commonly ordered
together. During the seventeenth century an enormous
quantity of the water was drunk; many took ten pints in
the day, and unlimited measure was now and then given.
Dr. Peirce’s patients often drank three pints on the morning
after arrival, and afterwards regularly two quarts per diem,
intermitting a day sometimes. An alderman of the city
drank a quart of thermal water every day for nineteen
months, and was restored to “perfect ease and health.”
“How miserable a man had I been,” said the dignitary,
“had I lived anywhere but in Bath.” But some physicians
were much more temperate in their prescriptions, and de-
sired convalescents to drink only so much as “ shall not be
grievous to the stomach.” At the end of the last century
the rule was (according to Warner) to divide the daily dose
of the water into three portions, two of which were taken
before breakfast, allowing the space of half-an-hour between
each, and one at noon. If the old methods of drinking
the thermal Waters were too extravagant, our present practice
is too restricted. The timid dole now commonly prescribed
reads like a quiet censure on the bold medical ways of

and Bath as a Health Resort. 169

generations gone by. But in no branch of therapeutics may
better work be done when experience and knowledge are
our guides.

(B) Concerning the external use of our mineral Waters,
our own management may be favourably compared with
that of many foreign Spas. The temperature of the first
and second baths should never be above 96 degrees when
the patient enters them; nor should it rise above blood
heat (98 degrees) during the whole time of the bath. The
duration of the first two baths ought not to exceed fifteen
minutes. In many cases both temperature and duration
require to be at lower points; and they must always be.
determined by the strength of body and by the nature of
the disease. The arrangements for wrapping a patient, for
shampooing him, and for the application of electricity or any
medicated substance, form a ceremonial of itself which there
is no room to discuss here. Nor is it an unimportant func-
tion of the doctor to decide when constitutional peculiarities
and weakness forbid any bathing at all. But we heartily
agree with the old medical dogma that the external use of
our hot mineral springs does not weaken, but “stimulates
and invigorates ;” and to this end all professional instruc-
tions about bathing should steadily contribute.

Thermal Water put in motion confers new therapeutic
power. In primitive times the water was taken into buckets
by tall and strong guides, who lifted the full buckets as high
as they could, and then let the water fall leisurely on the
part affected. During this process, which was clumsy and
inadequate, the patient stood in the hottest part of the bath.
Next four pumps were erected, which were called ‘“ wet”
and “dry ;” the wet pump drove the water on the invalid
when he was in the bath, and the pump quaintly called

170 The Bath Thermal Waters ;

“dry” operated without immersion. We call them now the
dry and wet douche (Ital. duccia) ; the latter being for a long
time the only one used. The old custom was to pump every
part of the body; the fears of the timid were, however, often
kindly consulted by putting segments of the body into hot
mineral water, and then pumping on them. But just as the
time of sojourn in a bath was absurdly long, so the number
of pump-strokes often inflicted seems to us now quite aston-
ishing. Dr. Peirce relates that 700 or 800 pumps were now
and then directed on the bare head, then 1,500, then 2,000,
and so on for five or six weeks every year. For lumbago
2,000 strokes were ordered to be pumped on the back, and
the cure was completed by ten more pumpings of a thousand
strokes each. The tremendous hydrotherapy of former days
is now banished from medical practice ; and a more mild
and frequent regimen is in every way better. The excellent
plan of combining douching and shampooing has been in-
troduced here from Aix-les-bains, with more refinement and
gentleness. The “reclining bath” and the “chair bath”
provide for the necessities of those patients who are afflicted
with weak limbs and failing hearts. —

An old physician (Dr. Guidott) was right in saying that hot
baths have the advantage of cold ones during nine months
out of twelve; but the dictates of care and forethought

_have for that reason to be the more punctually observed.
The custom of a morning bath has many recommendations
in its favour. Refreshed by sleep and the early meal, the
system is better able to bear the toils of the bath and all the
processes auxiliary thereto. Bathing should not be, as a,
rule, within two hours of a meal; but some milk, or warm
broth, is admissible just before going to a bath, especially
during the winter. Most patients are ordered to bathe three or

and Bath as a Health Resort. 171

four times a week. The thermal Waters should not be taken
within an hour of a meal; and after drinking the Waters in
the Grand Pump Room, a patient should not go into the
open air for a quarter of an hour.

Looking through a number of cases recorded during the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, we find that nine or
ten weeks are mentioned as an ordinary period for a stay
in Bath; but a cure or a great improvement was often
accomplished in a much shorter time. A common prac-
tice was to come for six weeks, even for twelve successive
years, if the disease or the disorder seemed to yield. It
was urged on reasonable persons that the length of time
a complaint has lasted proportionately retards the cure; and
that a second or third visit might do what the first did not.
It was shown that a steady continuance in the use of means
was necessary to conquer all stubborn and inveterate dis-
eases ; and that chronic maladies are the proper province
of natural or mineral Waters. Eager people come and go ;
they bathe with fierce energy, aud imagine that their baths
can hardly be too long or too frequent ; and they forget that
by such tempestuous haste new maladies are begotten.
Proper credit must be given to a new manner of living, new
air, new faces, and new amusements. In the early days
of the fame of the Bath Waters invalids came here in the
former part of the summer, and went away in the latter part,
chiefly because the roads were then in the best condition
for travel. Afterwards (150 to 200 years ago) it became
the custom to visit Bath for medical purposes in April, to
leave during the height of the summer, and to return (if
possible) in September. The physicians then in repute
recommended the “spring and fall,” because those seasons
were most free from excess of heat and cold, and therefore

172 The Bath Thermal Waters ;

“fittest for all persons and distempers.”* Assuming that
a malady is not urgent, and that a full choice of time of
year can be exercised, the invalid’s best months in Bath
are March, April, May, and June, as the “spring thermal
season”; and September, October, and November, as the
“autumn thermal season.” Different parts of the city have
their appropriate seasons, too, for the lodging of the sick
and the convalescent ; for the climate of a place has neces"
sarily a determining influence on the healing virtues of a
Spa.

MEDICAL APPLICATION OF THE BATH THERMAL
WATERS.

When we examine the medical application of a thermal
Water, we have to remember the properties which make it
what it is. So much water; so much heat; and such and
such saline materials held in solution :—these are the points
which practical physicians consider. We cannot separate
any element from the others ; the compound bulk is before
us to work with as we tan. Nature does not always tell us,
as a matter of common sense, what that work is ; and so we
have patiently to observe and try. “English Waters,” said
an old physician,. “best suit English bodies ;” and Dr.
Granville wrote (about half a century ago) that then no con-
valescence was thought “ secure and respectable ” which was
not confirmed by a trial of Bath Hot Waters. But whether
this be so or not, we must agree with a physician more
ancient and learned than Dr. Granville, that mineral Waters
are not wise enough to cure a disease by themselves, any
more than a sword by itself is able to defend a man or to

* When Dr. Peirce was asked, ‘‘ What do you do with your baths in
the summer?” ‘‘ We then have leisure to bathe ourselves,” was his
prompt reply.

and Bath as a Health Resort. 173

offend an enemy, but according to the right and skilful
use of it.

(1) The association of the Bath Thermal Waters with
Rheumatism dates from remote times. Stiff joints and
aching muscles are often bequeathed by an attack of rheu
matic fever ; the nervous system is shaken, and the blood is
made poor. By a proper course of bathing, joints which
are weak and fixed are rendered strong and mobile; feeble
muscles recover tone; and the whole health improves.
And not only are the consequences of an acute attack
removed, but the system is fortified against a new invasion
of disease. Children and young adults receive special
benefit. All active symptoms must be subdued before any
thermal plans are tried by a rheumatic convalescent.

Chronic rheumatism covers a large area of ground, and
the term is often used in an indiscriminate way. Poor folk
in our Mineral Water Hospital apply the word ‘“rheuma-
tics” to all large and painful joints, especially when there
is conspicuous deformity and contraction of sinews. To
loosen and undo these bonds is the every-day beneficence
of our thermal Waters.

(2) Counterfeiting ordinary rheumatism are the destruc-
tive and crippling processes of what is commonly called
“rheumatic gout.” A misleading name for a disease which
has a mere outside resemblance to either rheumatism or
gout ; and the scientific title of Rheumatoid Arthritis (or
osteo-arthritis) conveys more accurately its grave significance
as a probable disorder of the nervous system. Its later
stage is as much beyond the art of medicine as a malignant
disease ; but in its early development few things yield more
readily to the lenient influence of a thermal spa, especially
when helped by other medical resources.

174 The Bath Thermal Waiters ;

(3) Concerning the action of our thermal Waters on Gow,
there is a remarkable unanimity of opinion among the phy-
sicians of the last and present centuries. A composite thing
gout is ; easy to formulate according to the frigid moonlight
of chemical symbols ; but this is the pathology ofa laboratory,
not human error and sickness. When we think of gout as
a human quality, and not merely-a chemical perversion of
so much blood and tissue, we shall treat the man first and
his gout afterwards. Our aim is to get out of the body as
fast as possible, and in the most easy manner, the essential
morbid poison which constitutes gout.

Much care and skill are néeded in the treatment of gout
with any natural thermal Water. A quiescent stage of the
malady is soon kindled into fire by baths of too high
temperature and of too long duration. The work we have
to do is that of a long and steady siege; we promote tissue-
metamorphosis by proper medicines and copious drinking
of the Waters. Hear what Sydenham says:—‘“No man in
his senses can expect that momentary alterations wrought
in the blood by medicines or diet can perfect the cure of
gout; the whole habit must be changed, the body must be
hammered out (as it were) anew.” Changing a diathesis is
a serious business. Generally it is beyond our power ; but

‘it is well within our scope to “tame down” those disease-
storms which surely undermine the health, even though they
become milder with the advance of age.

In all times rheumatism and gout have been accepted
as symbols of blood-disorder ; but the nervous system is
involved too, and requires its own special treatment.

(4) How peace is brought to the tumults of brain and
nerve, we see in the management of Chorea and other sorts
of muscular spasm by gentle washings and douchings. They

and Bath as a Health Resort. 175

strengthen because they reduce action ; they bring into
subjection what was rebellious ; and they coax disorderly
elements into physiological rule.

(5) Some forms of /Veuralgia are distinctly relieved by
a thermal regimen, the most common being sciatica and
lumbago. Other less common kinds of local pain yield to
the same treatment. More than a century ago cases of the
so-called Devonshire colic (or “cyder colic”) were nearly
always sent to Bath, for the thermal Waters were deemed
nearly a specific remedy for them. The pains of hysteria
and of hypochondriasis have been submitted to the same
plan; and from time immemorial the Bath Waters have
been counted “ good for hypochondriacal melancholy.”

(6) What effect have our thermal Waters on diseases of the
skin? We denominate many of these by Greek names,
suggestive of fanciful or far-reaching metaphors ; but it
greatly simplifies matters if we say that most cutaneous dis-
eases denote the plain fact that the skin is badly nourished.
For the present purpose it is sufficient to put our cases into
two great groups—the dry group and the moist group. The
moist varieties of skin disease are made moister, and the
skin tissue softer, by thermal soaking; so that healing is
checked rather than favoured. The dry varieties are either
soon cured or greatly ameliorated. In the medical litera-
ture of the Bath Waters during the eighteenth century there
are many records of the successful treatment of “ leprous
eruptions.” Dr. Oliver gives the history of a number of
such patients as they were admitted into the Mineral Water
Hospital. And a beneficent asylum this hospital is for all
whose occupations are unfavourable to steadiness of treat-
ment and permanent cure. Better elements of hygiene are
provided, rest is enforced, and the skin is protected from

176 The Bath Thermal Waters ;

those changes of temperature which injure its healthy
functions.

Outside the admitted healing gifts which our thermal
Waters possess, there are certain diseases or disorders which
they may occasionally control—to wit, some forms of par-
alysis, derangements of liver and kidneys, anzmia, and

chronic indigestion. There can be no doubt of the efficacy

of our mineral springs in the so-called lead palsy. Dr. Darwin,
in his famous ‘“ Zoonomia,” recommends the frequent use
of the bath when we become thin and worn ; a few beams
from Ague Solis give lustre and comfort to the evening of
life. A medizeval author proclaimed the Bath Waters to be
good for ‘lethargy and forgetfulness ;” but, if this were
true, surely there would be more candidates for the baths
than there is water to bathe in !

In days not long ago, a rigid code of diet was enforced
by “Bath doctors” on the many people who came here to
be cleansed of their surfeits of meat and drink. In this
question of diet there is no magic or mystery, and a sensible
physician will not tease his clients with empirical whims.
To prescribe rational and wholesome food is not difficult ;
and Dr. Oliver said with truth that “there are many Persons
whose End in coming to Bath had been answer’d, had they
been prudent, and liv’d by Rule. At Bazh, as well as in
other Places, the more simple the Food is, the better it is
for the Patient.”*

It is the glory of a natural phenomenon that it sometimes
creates a literature. Zuman sympathies and interests are
stirred. A crowd of learned Doctors of Medicine flourished
here during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and
earned their honest bread. Their writings are little known,

* Practical Dissertation on Bath Waters. 1747.

and Bath as a Health Resort. 177

for they are with difficulty obtained, and will, probably,
never be republished. But they are full of wisdom and
gentle humour, and are mostly faithful records of what their
authors heard and saw. We shall keep in honourable re-
membrance the names of Jones, Jorden, Venner, Guidott,
Peirce, the two Olivers, Sutherland, Charleton, Baylies,
William Falconer, Harington, Gibbes, and Parry ; the mortal
remains of some lie within our “great church of SS. Peter
and Paul,” and are duly commemorated in John Britton’s
“History and Antiquities of Bath Abbey Church.” Nor
may we forget the scarce and precious volume written by
our own Bishop Ken—“ Prayers for the use of all persons
who come to the Baths for Cure.”

In a short monograph one can only indicate in a general
way the place of the Bath thermal Waters in our therapeutic
economy. There is no room for more than the alphabet
or elementary grammar of a large subject. It was a bold
saying of Emerson’s that it is the duty of man to repair
Nature; or, in other words, to make the most of what
Nature gives us. Unworthy though we may be, we are the
stewards of what is held in trust for the benefit of all man-
kind. There is a discourse by Pliny on the wonderful things
which exist in water (Aguarum mirabilia), and on Cicero’s
estate there were particular springs dignified in poetry. The
thermal fountains of Bath have been called her “staple
commodity.” By chemical and organic powers is their
work done ; and we know that these powers are in harmony
with the old and abiding law, that “ Nature is the physician,
and Medicine her mate.”

13

178 The Bath Thermal Waters ;

BaTH AS A HEALTH RESORT.

The laudatory epithet of “King of Spas” which Dr.
Granville gave to Bath half a century ago denoted much
more than the medical faculty of its thermal springs. It
included the attractions of Nature, the embellishments of
Art, and the qualities of situation and climate which make
Bath a pleasant residence, and a healthy place to live in.
One of the Saxon appellations of Bath was—the City of
the Warm Vale.

Meteorological statistics tell us nothing about human
susceptibilities to weather. When all the figures are set
down in dull, dry order, and everything has been recorded
which may be registered by instruments, there still remain
influences not easy to describe, capable of affecting people
(especially invalids) in entirely different ways. The Transac-
tions of the Bath Natural History and Antiquarian Field
Club may ‘be consulted for details of barometric pressure,
thermometric and hygrometric range, mean temperatures,
prevailing winds, cloud, and rain.

“The Bath climate owes its chief distinction to its more
temperate character, or to its extremes of heat and cold
lying within more contracted limits, notably in very hot and
very cold seasons.” The girdle of hills protects the city
from the extremity of cold, and blunts the edge of frigid
winds ; while that long arm of salt water, the Bristol Channel,
moderates heat in accordance with the well-known law about
proximity of sea. The Midland Counties and even central
Yorkshire are hotter than Bath on any given hot day, and
colder than Bath on any given cold day. Those parts of
England approach, like other large areas of land, the Conti-

and Bath as a Health Resort. 179

nental type of climate ; and the fuetiations of this type are
often sudden and decisive.

The hills around Bath afford wide scope for atmospheric
change. Altitude is equivalent to lessening of temperature,
with increase of ozone and circulation of air. The acute
bend (nearly a right angle) of the parallel ranges of hills
checks a “ draught” through the valley, but makes the air
near the river close and hot during the latter part of July
and the greater part of August. There are, however, two
great points in which the climate of Bath is favourably dis-
tinguished when compared with that of Greenwich, and of
the Midland and Eastern Counties generally :—(a) in Spring
Bath has a higher mean temperature ; and the mean daily
range is less; (6) in Winter the mean temperature is
decidedly higher; and the extreme day and night tempera-
tures are higher also.

Such are the general data for judging the climate of
Bath as a health-resort. Few places in the British Isles en-
joy so many bright and genial Winter days ; the excellent
way in which Bath is paved makes it quickly dry aftér
storms ; and the westerly gales of Autumn make the at-
mosphere more clear and pure.

THE ENVIRONS OF BATH.

NOTES ON THE PRINCIPAL PaRISHES WITHIN Four MILES
OF THE CITY.

W. DAUBENY.

BaTHAaMpPtTon. Distance 2 miles E.—This Parish, formerly
known as “ Hantone,” afterwards as “ Bathentune,” and then
as Bath-Hampton, was one of the exempt Liberties of the
Church of Bath, and included in the Hundred of Bath-forum.
The Manor of Bathampton formerly belonged to the Church
of Bath, and continued in its possession till 1548, when the
Bishop of the See exchanged it with the King for other
property belonging to the Priory of Bath. In 1552 it became
the property of one William Crouch, but shortly afterwards
it was sold to Thomas Popham, and from him passed to the
Hungerfords, and Bassets ; Sir William Basset’s heirs selling
it in 1701 to Charles Holder, through whom it came to
Ralph Allen, of Prior Park, the members of whose family
still hold it. The Church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was
mainly rebuilt in 1754, the north aisle being built in 18509,
The tower contains five bells, the third and fifth being
pre-Reformation—with Latin inscriptions on them; on the
fourth bell is inscribed the date, 1622, the initials of the
caster, Robert Purdue, and the arms of the Prince of Wales,
with the motto /h Dien, and the letters “C.R.” There
were under the south wall of the old Church, two recum-

The Environs of Bath. 181

bent effigies on altar tombs of about the fourteenth century,
the one being a cross-legged knight in armour, and the other
a lady: these, though much mutilated, are now temporarily
deposited in the sills of windows in the south aisle. Under-
neath the east window, in the exterior wall, will be found in
a niche, a mutilated figure, which has puzzled archeologists :
some consider it to represent an Ecclesiastic of the twelfth
century, while others contend that it is a female figure, and
may probably be intended for some abbess. There is no
doubt that it was originally inside the Church, but was re-
moved to its present position when the chancel was rebuilt.
The patronage of the Church was, for many centuries prior to
the Dissolution, vested in the Bath Abbey, after which it was
granted to the present: patrons, the Dean and Chapter of
Bristol, who united this living with Bathford, from which it
was formally separated in 1855. The Fisher family, whose
monuments appear in the chancel, were for some centuries
the lay impropriators, and lived in the house that was in
1317 formally set apart for the Vicar.

BarTHEasTon. 21% miles E.—This place was formerly
known as “Estone,” and consists of the Tithings of
Estone, and Amrill or Amorel, which were two of the
exempt liberties of the Church of Bath, and are within the
hundred of Bathforum.—The greater portion of this Parish
appears to have been granted to John de Villula, the first
Bishop of Bath, by William Rufus, and the Bishop con-
veyed the property to the Bath Abbey. There was an
old mill on the Avon known as Batheaston Mill (part of
the property belonging to the Bishop) and when this was
pulled down in 1844, two quaint sculptural devices were
found in the old walls, one representing a good and
bad spirit striving for a soul, and the other the scourg-

182 The Environs of Bath,

ing of our Lord. These, as well as portions of Norman
columns also found in the old building, may still be seen
in the new mill which is on the site of the old one.*
The Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, consisted of
nave, chancel and south porch ; it has, however been mainly
rebuilt, and much enlarged during this century, and is now
a handsome and commodious Parish Church. The original’
south wall and porch were decorated, and it is understood
that the materials were again utilised and replaced in erect-
ing the present south aisle and porch. There are several
mural monuments to the memory of the Panton and Walters
families in the last century. The tower, perpendicular,
contains six bells, one of which, the fourth, is supposed
from the inscription to be of the thirteenth century. After
leaving the Church and proceeding about a mile and a half
further through a most picturesque valley, we reach the ro-
mantic and interesting hamlet or Parish of St. Catherine’s or
St. Katherine's. The Church and Mansion House, known
as St. Catherine’s Court, lie close together. The whole of
the Parish formerly belonged to the Bath Abbey ; who had
here a grange, gardens, and a vineyard, and from a descrip-
tion of the house given in a lease granted by the Prior and
Convent of Bath in 1524 it must have been not only a very
capacious habitation, but one in every way well adapted to
carry on the various farming operations of the monks. Many
portions of the old house still remain, the front facing the
Church appears to be of the Elizabethan age, but the porch
is supposed to have been erected in Charles the First’s reign.
The hall formerly contained a fountain, supplied from St.

* Lady Miller and her literary gatherings in Batheaston Villa have already
been referred to. (See p. 125.)

The Environs of Bath. 183

Catherine’s well, and a handsome carved screen surmounted
by the arms of King Henry VII.—the united roses with
the garter supported by the lion, and the dragon for England
and Wales. After the dissolution this property passed to
the family of Malté; it was then possessed by John Har-
ington of Kelston, and by him sold to the family of Blan-
chard, who held it for several generations; it afterwards
passed to the families of Walters and Parry, and was even-
tually sold to the late Colonel Strutt about the early part of
this century, from whom it descended to the late Rev. R.
Drummond, whose widow still resides in the house. The
Church, dedicated to St. Catherine, though mainly built by
John Cantlow, Prior of the Bath Monastery about the end of
the fifteenth century, contains traces of much older work ;
the capitals on which the tower arch rests, as well as a small
window in the tower, and the font, are evidently Norman.
The East window is filled with stained glass to the memory
of Prior Cantlow, as will be seen by the Latin inscription on
it, and the arms of the Bath Abbey ; in the smaller compart-
ments are roses with the midday sun. The other windows in
the chancel contain similar devices, as well as an eagle with a
scroll from his beak, on which is inscribed the Prior’s name.
There is an old wooden pulpit with gothic niches, which was
originally coloured red and yellow. There are several monu-
ments to the memory of the Blanchard and Parry families.
The tower has a peal of four bells; the Latin inscriptions on
three of them being invocations to the Virgin, St. Nicholas,
and St. John the Baptist.

CHARLCOMBE. 234 miles N.E.—This village is known in
Domesday Book as “‘Cerlecume,” otherwise Ceorl’s Combe.
The Manor and Parish belonged to the Bath Abbey prior to
the Conquest, and continued in their possession till the

184 The Environs of Bath.

Dissolution. It was an exempt liberty of the Church of
Bath, and included in the hundred of Bathforum. The
Church, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, is, according to
tradition, the Mother Church of Bath. It is a very small,
but interesting building, though, in its partial reconstruction,
not a few of the older architectural features have been lost.
The porch is ancient, and the inner arch, as well as the
walled-up doorway on the north side bespeak Norman work.
The bowl-shaped font stands on a single shaft, and is
believed to be Saxon. The stone pulpit, says Collinson,
“is curious, and without doubt as old as the Church itself;
it was formerly ascended through a door in the south wall
by stone steps, which door still remains, though now blocked
up by the seats. It is circular, nine feet in circumference
within, and one foot thick all round.” The doorway has
since been walled up, and quite obliterated; the pulpit
lowered, an access made to it from the interior, and its
thickness much: diminished. It has been suggested that
the nave of the Church was originally intended for the
chancel to an older Church, the design of which was never
carried out, and certainly the internal structure affords evi-
dence in support of this theory. On the north-east side of
the Church traces have been discovered of the foundations
of some monastic buildings, and, it is quite probable that
a small monastic body might have been established here in
connection with the Bath Abbey ; in confirmation of which
it should be mentioned that there is a well near the Church-
yard wall, though now covered up, known as the Monk’s
well. The small turret originally contained two bells with
Latin inscriptions on them, being invocations to St. Peter
and the Virgin, these being the tutelary saints of the Abbey
Church of Bath, and of this Church. In the Chancel

The Environs of Bath, 185

will be seen a monument to the memory of Lady Barbara
Montague, fifth daughter of the Earl of Halifax, who died in
1765, and another to Sarah Fielding, sister of the novelist.

ENGLISHCOMBE, or INGLISHCOMBE. 2% miles, S.W.
—This village is within the Hundred of Wellow, and is
recorded in Domesday Book as “Engliscome;” but the
etymology is uncertain. Collinson suggests that it may be
derived from the Saxon Juga, and Lomb., signifying the Pas-
tures in the Valley ; or from /zg/a and Lomb., the Valley of
the English, in reference to some victory obtained by the
inhabitants of the country over the Danes, or some other
hostile race—or it may have been so named from the
fact of the Wansdyke passing through this parish. The
Manor of Englishcombe was, at the Conquest, given to the
Bishop of Coutance. In King John’s reign the estate passed
to Thomas de Harptree, whose son Robert assumed the
name of De Gournay, and in this family it continued till
about 1330, when Sir Thomas de Gournay was attainted for
the murder of Edward II.; he was afterwards beheaded,
and his estate confiscated to the Crown, and this manor
then passed to the Duchy of Cornwall, the present owners
of it. The Gournays appear to have had large territorial
possessions in this county, as well as in Wilts and Dorset, and
to have erected in this parish a baronial castle, surrounded
by a deep fosse, which, as well as a small portion of the wall
work, was to be seen about the end of the last century, but
no traces of the building are now left, though the site of the
Castle is known to have been in a field called Culverhayes.
The materials of the building were used in erecting the old
rectorial barn near the Church, which belonged to the
Abbey of Bath, and is well worth inspecting. The advowson
of the Church was in King John’s reign given to the Monas-

186 The Environs of Bath.

tery of Bermondsey, by Hawisa de Gournay, but it shortly
afterwards became the property of the monks of Bath, who
received from the rectory for the use of their refection
a pension of sos., the Prior of Bermondsey receiving
therefrom another pension of two marks, ros., the whole
rectory being in the thirteenth century only rated at six
marks, 3s. 4d. The Church (the dedication of which is
unknown) is interesting, and without doubt originally Nor-
man. It consists of a nave, chancel, and central tower, with
a porch and chapel on the south side. The doorway is
Norman, with a fragment of a stoup in the angle, and in
the porch are two small cuspated lights looking into the
chapel. The arches supporting the tower appear to be early
English, but the capitals and pillars on which they rest are
Norman. Under the tower on the north side are two sedilia
in fair preservation. The font, though much mutilated, is
supposed to be Norman. The chapel, which is said to have
belonged to the Gournay family, has a perpendicular window
which has been moved from the east end to its present
position, and has on the mouldings surrounding it several
coats of arms. There was no doubt an altar at the east end
of the chapel, and the piscina is still zz szte. The west
window is also perpendicular, and has in its mouldings four
shields, one of them being charged with the Bath Abbey
arms. The windows in the chancel as well as the piscina
and credence table are decorated. On the east side of the
chancel arch will be seen what is not common in our
churches, a figure of the “Bambino” well carved and in
good preservation. The belfry contains five bells, two of
which are pre-Reformation bells, and have Latin inscrip-
tions, being invocations to the Virgin and our Saviour.
About half a mile from the village will be seen a conical

The Environs of Bath. 187

hill known as Barrow Hill or Round Barrow, which was
formerly supposed to be an ancient barrow or tumulus, but
is now considered a natural formation of no antiquarian
interest.

Keston. 4 miles W.—This village was formerly known
as Calveston, Kelveston, or Kelweston, and is in the Hun-
dred of Bath-forum. The Manor of Kelston was from a
very early period the property of the Addey of Shaftesbury,
and continued in its possession till the Dissolution. It was
supposed not to be mentioned in Domesday, but it has
been suggested that it may be included under the name
of “ Hengstostrig,” Kelston Round Hill being also known
as “Henstridge Hill,” and the Abbey owning no other
property in Somerset of the name of Henstridge, except the
Manor of Hengstostrig. At the Dissolution this manor was
given by Henry VIII. to John Malté, who took charge of
the King’s natural daughter, Etheldreda, or Awdrey, who
succeeded to this manor in 1547, and shortly afterwards
intermarried with John Harington, gentleman, of Stepney.
She survived her marriage but few years, leaving one
daughter only, who is supposed to have died unmarried,
when the estates descended to her father, and he, about
1550, intermarried with Isabella, the daughter of Sir John
Markham, and by her had a son, Sir John Harington,
who succeeded to the estate in 1583. Mr. Harington ob-
tained a grant of arms in 1568, from which it appears that
he claimed to be descended from the old family of Haring-
ton or de Haverington, of Brierley, Yorkshire. Sir John
Harington, who was a literary and witty man, was a godson
of Queen Elizabeth, and much in her favour. He died,
and was buried at Kelston in 1612. The Harington family
continued in possession of this property till 1759, when

188 The Environs of Bath,

it was sold to Cesar Hawkins, gentleman, after Sir C.
Hawkins, Bart., and he, a few years afterwards, pulled down
the old mansion erected by the Haringtons, which was near
the church,.and built the present house. From a descrip-
tion given of the old house in 1764, it appears that it con-
tained, amongst other things, two grand carved stone
chimney-pieces, one of which was in the hall, and has
fortunately been preserved from the wreck, and may still
be seen; it contains a curious representation of Joseph
and his brethren. The estate was sold by Sir J. C.
Hawkins, the grandson of the first baronet, to the late
Joseph Neeld, gentleman, from whom it passed by marriage
to the late Colonel Inigo Jones, whose son now owns it.
The Church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, originally consisted
of a nave and chancel, with north and south porches,
as well as a perpendicular tower. It was, however, found
necessary to pull down nearly the whole of it, except the
tower and the north porch, and it was rebuilt in 1860.
In the door jamb in the north porch is a very small and
curiously sculptured rood, and in the porch may be seen
carved specimens from the old church, consisting of sections
of a cross and sepulchral slab, the device on the former
representing the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, with
the usual Saxon knot, that on the latter being an inscribed
cross. An old circular ornamented bronze, with christian
emblems on it, and a section of a piscina were also found,
most of which antiquities appear to be of Saxon, or tran-
sitional Saxon, work, and lead one to suppose that some
Saxon church or chapel probably existed on the site of the
church which was taken down. There are several monu-
ments in the church and churchyard to the memory of the.
Harington and Hawkins families and their connections.

The Environs of Bath, 189

LANGRIDGE. 4 miles N.E.—This village lies on the
eastern ridge of the Lansdown hill. It is in the hundred
of Bathforum, and appears in Domesday under the name of
* Lancheris,” which Dr. Stukely suggests, may be derived
from the Roman road which passes westward of it, but it
seems more probable that the situation of the place on a
long ridge of hills gave rise to the name. It was formerly
the property of the Bishop of Coutance, but in the early
part of the fourteenth century Adam le Walish was found
by inquisition to be the owner of the Manor and Advowson
of the Church, which continued in the possession of his
family for several generations, probably till about the end
of the fifteenth century. Many members of this family re-
sided in the old manor house, and were buried in the
Church. From the Walish’s the manor passed to a gentle-
man of the name of Walrond, in whose family it continued
for some generations till the early part of the eighteenth
century, when it was sold to William Blathwayte, Esq., of
Dyrham, a member of whose family still owns it. The old
manor house was built by one of the Walishes, but very
little of the original building is left. The Church, dedicated
to St. Mary Magdalene is very small, consisting of nave,
apsidal chancel, tower and south porch. The inner door-
way is Norman, and on the right hand side is a stoup for
holy water. The chancel arch, which is also Norman and
only seven feet wide, was a few years ago obliged to be
partially taken down in consequence of its insecure state, but
all the old materials were worked up again, and a careful
restoration effected. Above the arch is an old piece of
sculpture which is supposed to represent either the two first
persons in the Trinity, or the Virgin with the Saviour in her
lap. The Church was restored in 1870, when the old

190 The Environs of Bath.

chancel was taken down and an apse erected. The old east
window consisted of two lights with representations of our
Saviour, and of a Bishop, and Robert Walsh’s initials.
There are two brasses to the memory of Robert Walsh and
his wife. The font and tower are considered to be early
English. The belfry has one old bell, which is thus in-
scribed, “ Zaudem Resona Michael.” The Rectory house
occupies the site of an old Roman villa, several remains of
which have from time to time been discovered.

Newton St. Lo. 334 miles W.—This village is charmingly
situate on the summit of a hill to the left of the Lower
Bristol-road. The view of Newton Park, and of the surround-
ing country, will well repay the visitor for his short climb.
The suffix St. Lo is the family name of the former possessor
of the manor. At the Conquest this was one of the nume-
rous possessions of the Bishop of Coutance, and was known
in Domesday as ‘“Niwetone,” and is in the hundred of
Wellow. It is not known precisely when this property came
into the possession of the St. Lo family, or, as they were
formerly called, ‘de Sancto Laudo”; but they held it until
the latter end of the 12th century, and the last lord of
Newton of this name was Sir John St. Lo, Knt. He was
succeeded by his daughter, and heiress, Elizabeth, the wife
of William Lord Botreaux; and from him it descended to
her son and grandson ; and the latter dying without.male
issue, it passed to his daughter and heiress, Margaret, the
wife of Sir Robert Hungerford, and from them to their son
and grandson, Thomas Lord Hungerford, and from his
descendant to Lord Hastings’ family. It ultimately came
into the possession of the family of the late William Gore
Langton, esq., whose son now owns it. The church, dedi-
cated to the Holy Trinity, was in 1857 restored and much

The Environs of Bath. 191

enlarged by the late Mr. Gore Langton, and the then rector
of the parish, and at the same time a small door on the
south side of the chancel arch, and a hagioscope, which had
been blocked up, were reopened. The belfry contains six
bells, and, as the inscription on one of them proclaims, “In
1741 Thomas Bilbee cast all wee.” There is in the south
aisle a large mural monument to the memory of several
members of the Langton family, the first death recorded on
it being in r7o1. In the churchyard will be seen the re-
mains of an old cross, consisting of a portion of the shaft,
and: three steps. Near the church is a free school for poor
children, built and endowed by Mr. Richard Jones, of
Stowey, in 1698. A Roman pavement was discovered
during the formation of the G.W.R., and subsequently
removed to Keynsham.

SWANSWICK. 3 miles N.E.—On the right of the main
road the visitor will observe the conspicuous hill, known as
Solsbury hill. The view from the top is very extensive, and
commands several camps, and other interesting objects.
The derivation of the name is uncertain. Some connecting
it with the myth of Bladud and his pigs, suggest that it is a
corruption of Swineswick, while others would derive it either
from Swain, a Saxon lord, who owned property in these parts,
and Wick a village, or from King Sweyn. The name is spelt
as Swayneswyke, Swainswick, and Swanswick ; but the last is
the most usual. Swanswick does not appear to be recorded
in Domesday ; and the first mention of it is in Edward III.’s
reign, when the manor was held by Sir Matthew Gournay,
Knt. In 1399 William Schawe, Parson of the church of
Swaynsewyke, and Thomas Norton, Chaplain of the same,
granted to Edmund Forde, and Johanna his wife, their
Manor of Swayneswyke; with the advowson of the church,

192 The Environs of Bath.

and all of their lands and tenements which they were
possessed of in Swayneswyke, Tatwyke, and the city of Bath.
This manor and advowson seems to have passed from the
Fordes to several proprietors, and ultimately came into the
possession of the Rev. R. Dudley, D.D., Fellow of Oriel
College, Oxford, and Chancellor of Salisbury Cathedral, who
in 1529 granted them to his college for the maintenance of two
fellows and two exhibitioners, and the college still holds these
properties. Tatwick, or Tatwyke, is an ancient manor and
hamlet in this parish, situate about onemile north of thevillage.
Tt is known in Domesday as “ Tatewiche;” and after the Con-
quest was given to the Monks of Bath, but at the Dissolution it
was granted to Sir Walter Dennis. This village was the birth-
place, in 1600, of the celebrated William Prynne.* The
church, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, now consists of a
western tower, nave, with north aisle, a chancel with a chapel
on the north side, and a south porch. It shows evident
signs of considerable antiquity, and was originally probably
either a Norman or a transitional Norman building. The
tower, which is now included in the church, and presents a
very awkward appearance, was, no doubt, originally outside
the old church. The entrance from it to the Nave is under
an early English arch. The south wall of the Nave, as well
as the south pier of the chancel arch, which is early English,
are much out of the perpendicular, and probably have been
in the same state for along period. The windows on the south
side, as well as the stoup, with its ornamental canopy, just
inside the south door, appear to be decorated. The chapel is
separated from the chancel by an arch with modern panel-
ling. On the south side of this chapel there is a piscina ; and

See p. 68, -

The Environs of Bath. 193

on the north side of it an ornamented canopy, with a shield
at each end, forming no doubt the head of a recess for some
altar tomb, or effigy. Outside the small door on the north
will be seen a stoup, and over the door was at one time a
statue of the Virgin. The southern doorway is an interesting
specimen of Norman architecture, and in very fair preserva-
tion. The south aisle is perpendicular. The chancel is
modern. There is in the chancel a brass to the memory of
Edmund Forde, before-mentioned, with a Latin inscription,
and his portrait in the attitude of prayer. He died in 14309,
and is described as of Swayneswyke. The old manor house,
now used as a farm house, is close to the church, and, with
its surroundings, still shows some signs of antiquity. It was
in the early part of the 17th century occupied by the Capell
family, who probably held it on lives, or on lease from the
college. Ona stone in the wall of the garden belonging to
the house is inscribed the Capell crest—a demi lion rampant,
holding a crosslet fitchée—and, underneath, are the initials
“E.M.” “Capell. Edward. Mary. 1625.” In this house is
preserved a very old sword, the blade of which is nearly four
feet long, by two inches wide, and near the hilt is a shield
charged with two bars conjoined in fesse wavy ; the initials
R. D., and the date 1423. It has been suggested that this
sword was probably some municipal relic, used for processions
or other like occasions, and that the original date was 1623,
the figure 6 having by mistake been converted into a 4.

TwERTON. 134 miles S.W.—This is a large and populous
parish, a great proportion of the inhabitants being artisans
and mechanics. There is an extensive cloth manufactory
here, one of the largest in the west of England, and of far
famed reputation, carried on by the Messrs. Carr, who employ
between four and five hundred hands, and have conducted

4

194 The Environs of Bath.

this business for nearly half a century. A cloth manufactory
is known to have existed here ever since the seventeenth
century, and most probably one was established long prior
to that period, as this business was commenced at Bath as
early as the fourteenth century, under the auspices of the
Monks, and the situation of this suburb is so favourable for
utilising water power. The name of this village has been
variously spelt Twyverton, Twyforton, Twiverton, Tiverton,
Twirton and Twertone. In Domesday book it is known as
“ Twertone,” and is in the hundred of Wellow. The deriva-
tion of the name seems rather uncertain. Professor Earle
suggests “that it may possibly be a condensation of zet-weer-
tune, 7.e., at the town of the weir or weirs, and it is not at all

unlikely that the earliest weirs were projected from that bank
of the stream, or it may be an abridgment of @tofer-tune, i.e.,

at the town on the dank (ofer) of the Avon, implying the

further idea of opposite bank, yonder bank, because of its
suburbanity to Bath. This latter derivation is favoured by
those varieties of spelling Twiverton and Tiverton.” The.
Manor of Twerton formerly the property of the Bishop of
Coutance, was at the conquest held of the Bishop by Nigel,

physician to the Conqueror, and by Goisfrid or Goiffrid
Malreward of Norton Malreward, in this county. It sub

sequently passed to the family of Sir Richard Rodneye, who
held it till Queen Elizabeth’s time, after which it was divided
and held by different persons, and ultimately the whole
became the property of the late Mr. W. Gore-Langton.

In 1318 Sir William Malreward gave the Church of Twi-
verton to the Prioress and Convent of Kington St. Michael,

near Chippenham, free of all services saving Episcopal
rights, and this grant was shortly afterwards confirmed
by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and subsequently by

The Environs of Bath. 195)

the grantor’s son Geoffrey. In 1342 a vicarage was estab
lished, and it was directed that the Vicar should have the
Rectorial house and Curtilage, that he should pay to the-
Convent roos, yearly, and, in default thereof, that he should’
pay one mark to the building of the Church of Bath. A.
pension of two marks was reserved out of the rectorial:
tithes of this parish to the nunnery of Minchin Barrow, in
Barrow Gournay Parish. At the Dissolution the Rectory was:
granted to Sir Richard Long, formerly Steward to the Convent:
at Kington. The Rectory is now owned by Oriel Coll., Oxon..
The Parish Church, dedicated to St. Michael, is entirely new"
except the porch, tower, Norman doorway, and font. It
appears that a fifteenth century Church succeeded a Norman:
structure, and that the former was pulled down, and a new
one created in 1839, but this being inconvenient and ilt
adapted to modern requirements, it was removed, and
another erected in 1886, when the Norman doorway was"
fixed in its present position within the north porch. The
alabaster reredos reflects great credit on the designer and’
workman, and all the internal fittings are substantial and
good. A new Church (St. Peter’s) has recently been built:
at the east end of the Parish, to accommodate the large and’
increasing population in that locality. There is a house-
which Henry Fielding once occupied at the corner of a row
of buildings, called after him Fielding’s Terrace, and over the-
door is some sculptured design or crest; but its history is:
unknown.

Weston. 134 miles W.—This is an ancient and very:
large parish, extending in one direction from the River:
Avon to Lansdown, bounded by Kelston and North Stoke-
on the west, and by Walcot on the east, and is in the Hun-
dred of Bath-forum. The name of the place has scarcély’

14*

196 The Environs of Bath.

varied since the Conquest ; it was then known as ‘“ Westone,”
the greater portion of the parish belonging to the Bath
Abbey, which received a further grant of land therein from
John de Villula, Bishop of Bath in the twelfth century, the
monks thus practically possessing the entire parish, which
they held till the Dissolution. John Harington, gentleman,
of Kelston, in the seventeenth century acquired the Rectorial
tithes of this parish, and he in 1699 conveyed them in per-
petuity for the augmentation of the Vicarage. After the
Dissolution the Crown held the Manor of Weston till 1628,
when it was sold, and about the middle of the last century
came into the possession of the late William Oliver, gentle-
man. The greater portion of the land on Lansdown, in-
cluding Chapel Farm, was in the early part of the eighteenth
century the property of the Blathwayte family, and still
continues in their possession. This Chapel Farm, which is
nearly opposite the inn known as the “ Blathwayte Arms,”
on the Lansdown-road, was so called from the fact of there
having been formerly on this site a hospital for Pilgrims on
their way to or from Glastonbury, with a chapel annexed,
dedicated to St. Lawrence. Very scanty remains of these
buildings now exist, though a portion of what was most
probably the east end of the chapel may still be seen,
with traces of old windows, though partially hidden by
the ivy, and it is understood that a piscina has been
discovered within this portion of the building, which is
now unfortunately used as a coal-cellar, and was thus in-
accessible when we visited the spot. It seems probable
that a portion of the Hospital cemetery was on the south
side of the chapel, as several skeletons have been exhumed
hereabouts; some found in stone coffins, and all buried with
their faces downwards. The monks of Bath, who formerly -

The Environs of Bath. 197

held a fair at the Barton Grange, Bath, some time afterwards
removed it to the road near this old chapel, and held it on
Saint Lawrence’s Day. To the left of this inn will be seen
the Bath race-course. Lansdown was the scene of a noted
sanguinary battle between the Royalist and Parliamentary
forces in 1643, the former under the command of Prince
Maurice, Lord Hopton, and Sir Beville Grenville, the latter
being commanded by Sir William Waller.* A monumental
obelisk to the memory of Sir B. Grenville, was erected by
his grandson, Lord Lansdown, in 1720, and is a conspicuous
object at the extreme end of the Down. Soon after reach-
ing the summit of Lansdown from Bath the visitor will
observe on his left a lofty erection, known as “ Beckford’s
Tower.” It was originally built by the late Mr. Beckford,
of Fonthill Abbey, as a place of retirement, and as com-
manding a magnificent view of the surrounding country.
He fitted up, and most tastefully decorated, several rooms
in this building, besides filling them with valuable works
of art and articles of wvtu. The Tower is 154 feet high.
Weston is supposed to have been the birthplace of Elphege,
the first Abbot of the Bath Abbey. The Church, dedi-
cated to All Saints, is quite modern. The tower is per-
pendicular and originally contained six bells, which were
taken down and recast by Thomas Bilbee in 1739. There is
an old tomb in the vault or crypt under the tower of about
the twelfth or thirteenth century, with an incised cross upor
it, and a Latin inscription. The Church contains many
monuments to the memory both of visitors to Bath, who were
buried here, and of some eminent Bathonians.

* See p. 61.

198 The Environs of Bath,

NoTEs ON THE HisToRy OF CLAVERTON.
H. D. Sxring, J.P., D.L.
“THE village of Claverton is romantically situated on a ter-
race about half-way up the steep slope of the hill-known
:as Claverton and Hampton Down, and overlooks the lovely
-valley of the Avon which divides this parish from Bathford.

The ancient name of the Manor was Clat-ford-ton, which
was afterwards altered by spelling to Claftertone and then
‘to Claverton. The name, in the opinion of Professor Earle,
‘is derived from the ford over the Avon between Claverton
and Warleigh. Clat-ford-ton would then mean the settle-
‘ment by the ford of the water-lily. That this is no mere
‘conjecture may be shown. The stream near the ford
abounds in water-lilies, and a field on the Warleigh side is
‘still called Clot-mead: Barnes, in his poems, calls the Stour
‘the “Cloty Stour,” for a similar reason. The bounds of the
‘parish are probably the same as in the earliest times, as in
“‘The Land Limits” of Hampton, a document of the tenth
‘century, the boundary-line of the parishes of Claverton and
Hampton is the same as at present. This was—‘“ First from
ithe Avon, along the Mere-broc, or boundary-brook, to the
‘Herces-nes, or angle of the camp (on Hampton-down),
then along the Herces-Dic, or Dyke, of the camp to the top
‘of Bathwick-hill.” This Mere-broc can still be distinctly
‘traced, and is the boundary of the parishes now.

The Manor of Claverton is thus described in Domesday
‘Book :—“ Hugolin holds Claftertone. Suain held it in the
time of King Edward (confessor) and gelded for 5 hides
‘The arable is 6 Carucates, and there are 4 villanes, and 7
‘cottages with 4 serfs (servants), and a mill of 7s. 6a. rent,
and 20 acres of meadow, and 12 furlongs of pasture in length
and breadth.” It was formerly, and is now, worth £7.

The Environs of Bath. 199

Hugolin, or Hugo-cum-Barba, also called Juterpres (Inter-
preter), who held the manor in the time of the Conquest, is
said to have been one of the Justiciaries to whom William I.
entrusted the verification of Domesday Book. Hugh, in the
time of William Rufus, sold the manor to John de Villula,
together with Warleigh and Hampton and part of Easton ;
avery pretty property almost in a ring-fence, affording doubt-
less certain sporting advantages. That Claverton was to
some extent a sporting ground may be inferred from the
fact that Bishop Button, of Wells, who owned it in the four-
teenth century, obtained from Henry III. a charter of Free-
warren on all his lands in this parish, and one of the fields
still bears the name of cony-gre. Not long after, a grant was
procured that this manor should be exempted from the
jurisdiction of the Hundred Court, and be constituted a
separate liberty with Hampton. John de Villula, Bishop of
Bath and Wells, endowed the Abbey of Bath with this and
other manors, but afterwards resumed possession of some of
them as Bishop, and Claverton in this way escaped the fate
of the other manors belonging to the Abbey at the Dissolu-
tion, and was exchanged by Bishop Barlow in 1548 with
King Edward VI. for other lands in the county. Soon
after (4 Edward VI.) it was granted to Matthew Colthurst,
of Wardour Castle, Wilts, whose son Edmund in 1588 sold
both the manor and advowson of the living to Edward
Hungerford, Esq., from whose family it passed to Estcourt.
Sir Thomas Estcourt (1609) sold the estate to William
Bassett, Esq., whose monument is in the chancel of the
church. His grandson having deeply mortgaged it, it
passed into the hands of Richard Holder, Esq., who sold it
in 1714 to William Skrine, Esq., of Bath. Mr Holder gave
421,367 75. for the estate, including in the purchase 4

200 The Environs of Bath,

hogsheads of wine from the vineyards of Claverton, valued
at £28. William Skrine’s son sold it to Ralph Allen, of
Prior Park, in 1758.

The old Manor House, which occupied an imposing site
immediately above a noble flight of stone steps, which still
arrest attention near the little church, was built in the Eliza-
bethan period by Sir Edw. Hungerford, and was a fine spe-
cimen of domestic architecture, and its destruction must be
considered, from an artistic point of view, a public-misfortune.

Although the name of Claverton does not figure in the
early annals of England, there are some historical land
marks on its boundaries. The Ford and Pack-horse-road
which traversed it, and the Wansdyke, the ancient frontier
rampart of the Belgz, passed along two sides of the manor.*

This Pack-horse road, which traversed the ford at War
leigh, joined the Roman road to Marlborough on Farleigh
Down, and the Wansdyke can be traced at Warleigh, oppo-
site the Belgic Camp on Hampton Down. This Camp was
the frontier fortified town of the Belgz, and the Wansdyke
was connected with it, and formed its circumference on three
sides. The vallum can be distinctly traced all round the
Camp—which must have been nearly 80 acres in extent, as
it is 74 now, without counting the space that has been
destroyed on the eastern face by the quarries. The interior
is parcelled out into parallelograms, divided by low grass
embankments, the foundation of ancient walls. Similar in-
closures are to be seen outside the Camp, both on the
Claverton and Hampton sides, showing that this must have
been a very considerable settlement. Ptolemy says that Bath
was one of the cities of the Belgz ; no doubt the Hampton
Camp was the Bath he had heard of. The great Foss-road
from Exeter to Lincoln traversed this Camp, and can still be

* See p. 8.

The Environs of Bath. 201

traced through it. It led to the Ford over the Avon just
below. Bathford Church, which gave its name to Bathford,
anciently called “Forde.” In a field called Horslands, at
Bathford, through which this Ford-road passed, were found,
in 1640, the hypocaust and floor of a Roman villa, described
by Aubrey in the “ Monumenta Britannica.”

In the month of June, 1643, Claverton was the scene of a
battle between the Royalists and Parliamentary forces.
Waller occupied Claverton Down with his main body, and
sent a strong detachment, with two cannon, across the Avon
which he had spanned with a bridge at Warleigh, and built
a redoubt to defend the bridge and ford on the Claverton
side. His lieutenant, Major Dowet, placed his guns on
Monkton Farleigh Down, and sent forward a detachment to
occupy a wood on the road to Bradford, by which the Royal
army was advancing. After an hours engagement, the
Royalists overcame all opposition, and chased the enemy to
Batheaston and Bath, and, turning the guns on Claverton,
attacked and took the redoubt and Claverton village—the
Parliamentarian army retiring into Bath. This was imme-
diately before the Battle of Lansdown, and opened the road
to Oxford to the Royal army. One of the cannon balls fired
from Warleigh. lodged in the chimney-piece of the gallery of
the Manor House, and is still preserved. The Parish
Register records that “‘ under ye west wall of the Churchyard
were buried 3 soldiers killed of the Parliamentary party, and
one of the Royalists in an unhappy civil war at the river side
in the Ham Meadow.”

Passing over another hundred years, we find the Rev.
Richard Graves the Rector of Claverton. He was rather a
remarkable character, a scholar, poet, and satirist, of no mean
order, and it might be truly said of him that “he was a fellow

202 The Environs of Bath.

of infinite jest and excellent fancy.” He was presented to
the living by Mr. Skrine in 1748, and subsequently purchased
the advowson. He held the living 56 years without one
month’s absence from his ministerial duties. His literary
fame rests principally on his work “ The Spiritual Quixote,”
an imitation of Cervantes, intended to employ the force of
satire against what he considered an unwarrantable intrusion
by the laity into the priestly functions, and as a protest
against the religious excitement which Wesley and Whitfield
and their immediate followers had aroused, and which, in
the opinion of Graves and of most the old-fashioned church-
men of the day, was a very great danger. It was composed
in consequence of an invasion of his own spiritual dominions,
by a journeyman shoemaker from Bradford-on-Avon, who
held a conventicle in an old house in the village, and
measured swords with the rector in a dialectic combat.
“The law being on the side of the parson, the shoemaker
beat a retreat, but expressed his desire to preach there for
half a year, that it might be seen which would convert most
drunkards and sinners of every description.”

One of his pupils, Henry Skrine, of Warleigh, in his book
on “The Rivers of Great Britain,” thus speaks of Claverton
and its Rector :—‘ About midway in the ascent overlooking
Warleigh and the river the pleasing village of Claverton seems
to hang suspended, where its large Gothic mansion renowned
in the civil war, and its little church, with the pyramidical tomb
of the late much esteemed Mr. Allen, are striking objects.
Neitheris its Parsonage less pleasing; thelittle grounds of which
arelaid out in a truly classic taste by the Rev. Mr. Graves, the
friend and literary rival of Shenstone, where that worthy vete-
ran closes the placid evening of his days in the retirement he
has happily embellished, deservedly beloved and respected.”

SKETCH PLAN

SHOWING POSITION OF HAMPTON CAMP WITH REFERENCE
TO SURROUNDING COUNTRY.

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204 The Environs of Bath.

SKETCH PLAN oF Hampton Camp.
Cuas. E. Davis, F.S.A.

Although Aquz Sulis with its suburbs must have occupied
a much larger area, it is here represented as bounded by a
wall and fosse to the north on the same line as the medizeval
borough-wall, and by a similar line of boundary almost at a
right angle from the borough-walls near the present Theatre,
to the river by a direct line slightly to the east of a brook
that ran in that direction and still forms a parish boundary.

The area between these two lines and the river on the
remaining two sides exceeded 6g acres.

The Camp on Hampton-down is bounded on the north,
west, and south by a dyke, and on the east by a cliff.
This Camp contains an area of from 74 to 80 acres.

Sulisbury Camp occupies a plateau on the summit of a
distinct hill which, partially escarped,’ covers an area of
22 acres.

The Wansdyke is shown in the map by shaded lines, and
is also denoted by the letters A-B, C-D, E-F, G-H, I-K, L-M,
Nn-o. The Wansdyke on the west of the letter a could not
be shown, but it followed the Fosse-way a short distance,
and then crossed it, taking a more westerly direction through
Englishcombe to Stantonbury. The dotted lines between
the letters B-c, D-E, etc., indicate its presumed position.

Between the letters 8 and nearly to c a cliff. gives the line,
as is also the case between E and F. The surface having
been quarried between p and E the line cannot be traced,
but between F and c, as also betwéen H and 1, the surface is
barely sufficiently artificial to justify the assumption that the

The Environs of Bath, 205

Wansdyke took this course. The continuation of the dyke
eastward of the Hampton Camp is in a great measure a
matter of surmise, the surface of the cliff having been in great
part quarried. Two series of dotted lines are given on the
map, as it is difficult to ascertain the connecting link of the
dyke between the fragment on the other side of the river
Avon denoted by the letters Land Mm andthe Camp. A little
stream rises near the S.E. angle of the Camp and falls almost
precipitously over the cliff. This stream is called in an old
survey—‘ The land limits of Hampton,” the “ Mere broc.”
This stream is the present boundary of the parish, and from
this circumstance it may be inferred that the Wansdyke
followed the course of this stream, although it is more pro-
bable that it took the line indicated between k and L.

The Roman road known as the Fosse-way from Ilchester
(fscalts) appears to have avoided Ague Sulis and to have
been carried partly along the Wansdyke, to the south of the
latter city, on the lines shown on the map (the broken lines
showing the unascertained way) through Hampton-down
Camp, afterwards crossing the river and bearing away to the
north. This road, which obtained a fabulous celebrity in
the Welsh legends as having passed “from Totness unto
Caithness,” and which can be traced for some distance west-
-ward of Ilchester to the boundary of the county of Somerset,
was the road to Cirencester (Corinium), and thence to a
place called Stretton-on-the-Vorse near Leamington and
another Stretton-on-the-Fosse in Warwickshire, not very far
from High Cross ( Venoniae) where it cut the course of the
Watling Street, and so on towards Newark, and thence (still
being known as the Fosse-way) to the Roman Colonia at
Lincoln (Zindum). “The latest and most accurate sur-
veys,” says Gale, “‘ have followed the Fosse from the Bath by

206 The Environs of Bath.

Walcote into Wiltshire* at the Shire stones ; from thence it
visibly takes its course by North Wraxall, Littleton Drew,
Alderton, and Shearston, where the coins found seem to in-
dicate a Roman station ; then it passes by Easton. Grey, and
leaving Tetbury a mile-and-a-half to the west, enters
Gloucestershire a little beyond Kemble,” thus practically
bounding the counties of Wilts and Gloucester till it reaches
Siddington, and so on to Cirencester.

The Roman road from Caerleon (/sca Si/urum). was the
line of communication between the great fortress at Caerleon
and Silchester (Ca/eva), and appears to have also neglected
Ague Sulis, crossing the river to the north of the city and
so to Hampton-down Camp, to Marlborough, Speen, Sil-
chester, and London. The intermediate stations west of
Agque Sulis were at the ferry (Saérina) Sudbrook by Ports-
kewet (Ports-is-cefn) and Bitton (Adone).

A branch of this road was continued on the north side of
the river, avoiding both Ague Sulis and Hampton-down
Camp, joining the road to Cirencester as also the road to
London at Bathford.

The western portion of this road has been called the Via
Julia or Strata Julia, and many ingenious guesses have been
hazarded as to whether it was Julius Agricola or Julius
Frontinus or some other public man of the Julian race who
gave his name to this great military work. It seems, however,
to be much more probable that the street derived its medi-
eval appellation from a fanciful derivation of the name of
Strigul Castle (Castellum de Estrighoel) by Chepstow, in
which name the monkish chroniclers found a reference to
the first syllables of the words composing a Roman name.

* Hearne’s Leland, vi. 114.
4.

The Environs of Bath. 207

It seems likely that Alexander Neckam (a.D. 1157-1217),
whose verses are cited in Gale’s Essay on the four great
Roman ways, may have been the Author of the imaginary
derivation.

“ Intrat et auget aquas Sabrinze fluminas Osca
Preeceps, testis erit Julia Strata mihi.”

“T am apt to think,” says Gale, “this Strata Julia came
near Strigull Castle, the word Strigull, or Strigool, as it is
also wrote, seeming to be formed from Strata Julia, the
course of it also corresponding both to Oldbury and
Caerleon.*

That A4gue Suis, an important city in Roman times, was
in direct communication with the military roads, is apparent
from the fourteenth route in the Antonine Itinerary. It is
therefore evident that the original roads were at an early date
diverted to include Ague Suls in their route. The map
shows these original lines of roads and their subsequent devi-
ation. Hampton-down Camp is the centre to which they
originally led, and the deviations were made to include
Aque Sulis. These deviations are in the Fosse-way from
the letter P to Q, and in the other roads from Q to R and s,
and R to T, and these diverted roads were eventually the
more frequented, to the total or partial abandonment of
those through Hampton Camp.

The map is by no means complete, and consequently
must be accepted as a sketch map to scale, although nothing
has been indicated on it that it is not believed can be borne
out by ancient roads or fences.

* Hearne’s Leland, vi. 130. .

GEOLOGY.
Rev. H. H. Winwoop, M.A., F.G.S.

ESTRICTED in former times to narrow limits, and
nestling around the vent of its hot mineral waters, the
city of Bath has in subsequent times spread out in all direc-
tions, until the slopes of the surrounding hills are dotted
with its crescents, villas, and houses, rising tier upon tier to
their summits. One of the many English Avons, rising near
Didmarton, flows through its midst, and receiving back again
the waters of the Somerset Coal Canal, already united
with those of the Kennet and Avon at Dundas, is navigable
to the sister city of Bristol. Several small affluents contribute
their quota to swell the main volume before it passes through
the city. Four only of these are worthy of special mention as
the chief agents in forming the physical features of the district,
z.e., the Box, St. Catherine, and Swanswick brooks, and the
Frome river. The first, taking its source in the romantic
valley of Castle Combe, passes through Box and joins the
Avon at Bathford, the second and third, bursting forth from
the Oolitic plateau on the N. and N.W., flow into it at Bath-
easton and Lambridge respectively ; whilst the Frome, the
most important of the four, rises from the Greensand, near
Stourton, and after a winding course northwards over very
varied geological formations, and receiving several tributaries
on its way through Frome and Farley, debouches into the
Avon near Freshford, and so onwards through the celebrated
Warleigh Valley,

Geology. 209

eucsas These four waters, with their numerous brook-
district and -— lets and feeders, constitute the main drainage
oar ie lad of the district before their junction above
, Bath. Anyone standing on the spur of
Hampton Down, near the present rifle butts, can trace the
course of these streams winding through their wooded
and picturesque channels, ultimately combining to form
the Bath basin widening towards the S.W. Here the
geologist has before him the key to unlock the pecu-
liar physical characteristics of the neighbourhood. On
either side, as he looks around him, he is struck with
the uniform level of the ground; his eye ranges over an
extensive plateau, bounded on the eastern horizon by the
Chalk downs of Wiltshire; looking in another direction
northwards, across the valley to Lansdown and Bannerdown,
he notices the same table land extending as far as his eye
can reach, till it is lost in the sky line; here and there
certainly an isolated round-topped hill breaks the view, and
seems apparently unconnected with the adjoining heights,
but this is only an ocular deception, and closer inspection
shows that it was originally one and the same portion of this
table land, but in later times cut out of and separated from
the main mass. Turning southwards, he sees a somewhat
more rolling country, where this uniformity has been inter-
rupted, the general level being affected by the underground
irregularities and disturbances of the rocks, especially notice-
able in the vicinity of the Mendip hills. What then does he
gather from this panoramic view? this surely, that he is
standing on the edge of a vast plain of marine denudation,
and looking down into the valleys which have subsequently
been worn down by subaerial agencies. The hills around the
city and out of which the Bath basin has been carved, form
15

210 Geology.

the southern prolongation of that great irregular band of
Jurassic rocks, running diagonally across England, from
Lyme Regis in Dorset, on the S.W., to Redcar in Yorkshire,
on the N.E. As spurs and outlyers of the great Cotteswold
range, they present the same peculiar features. The main
line of our escarpment, jagged and indented with promon-
tory and valley, faces the N.W., whilst the beds have
generally a gentle dip to the S.E. Comparing the heights of
our hills with those near Gloucester and Cheltenham, it is
found that there is a gradual rise in the elevation of the latter,
with a greater development of the Inferior Oolite ; for whereas
Lansdown is about -7oo feet above mean sea level, Cleve hill
near Cheltenham rises to a height of 1093 feet.

Before entering on the details of the Geology of
the surrounding hills, it may be well to glance at
the importance of the Mendip range, in connection with the
physical features of the district. Stretching in a continuous
line, nearly E. and W., from Frome to the Bristol Channel,
it forms the base of a triangle, of which Tortworth is the
apex. The core of these hills consists of Old Red sandstone,
forming a saddle back, whence on each side the Carbon-
iferous Limestone has been thrown off at angles varying from
about 12° to almost the perpendicular. A broken irregular
N.E.andS.W. line of this Limestone, with occasional exposures
of Old Red, forms the highground overlooking the Severn
flats, circling round to the N. at Tortworth, and then extend-
ing southwards towards Bath, and most probably continuing
beneath the more recent covering of Mesozoic rocks onwards
to the Mendip anticlinal on the south. Enclosed within this
irregular ring of Paleozoic rocks, lie the Coal basins of
Gloucestershire and Somerset, divided by anticlinal folds
into the smaller coal fields of Bristol, Nailsea and Radstock,

Geology.

Geology. 211

26 miles in length from north to south, and 12 miles in
breadth from Bath to Bristol. Bath is situated on the
eastern edge of this Coal basin, and but few places probably
in England can boast of so varied and interesting a geological
locality ; for within an easy day’s walk no less than thirteen
or fourteen formations can be traversed from the Mountain:
Limestone on the one hand, right through the series of the
Coal measures and the overlying Triassic and Secondary
formations, to the recent Post Pliocene and Alluvial deposits
scattered here and there through our picturesque valleys.

As before stated, the Mendip hills appear to have played
a very important part in modifying the Geology of the dis-
trict ; for whereas to the south of that range the thickness of
the Mesozoic formation from the Trias to the Inferior Oolite
has been estimated at more than 3,000 ft.; these same
beds lying to the north within the basin have been calculated
to attain the minimum thickness of 169 ft. The late Chas.
Moore considered that this variation in the thickness of these
deposits to the north and south of this range of hills was due
to the probable presence of an old land area; the Mendips
having been seldom, or perhaps never, entirely submerged
within Rheetic and Liassic times, and so acting as a barrier
to the incursion of the waters which laid down these deposits
so thickly to the south. Whatever may be the true reason
of this difference, certain it is that the Mesozoic beds are
abnormal in our district, forming as it were but a com-
paratively thin covering to the Coal Measures below, and
presenting but a slight obstacle to the mining engineer in
winning that valuable mineral for his economic purposes.
This is especially the case in the Radstock area.
Proceeding now to a more detailed description
ot the rocks forming the varied structure of
our district, and beginning with the oldest

Carboniferous
Limestone.

212 Geology.

beds laid down, the Carboniferous Limestones, though
generally concealed by newer formations, there are many
outcrops of these beds here and there in our immediate
neighbourhood indicating their presence beneath ; in every
case they contain the usual fossils, Brachiopods, Corals,
and Cvinoids, and are found dipping at a more or less high
angle towards the Coal basin inside. Besides the great
mountain mass to the south, they crop up at Wickwar,
Yate, Tynings south west of Codrington village, and at
Wick ; and, within close proximity to the city, on the
northern slopes of Lansdown, at Granham, or Grammar
Rocks. The exposure at this latter place presents the
usual condition of solid blue beds, 150 ft. in thickness, and
dipping at an angle of 55° W.N.W.

It has been stated by Chas. Moore ( Wright's Historic
Guide to Bath, p. 388) that in a fruitless attempt to sink for
coal at Batheaston, in the year 1812, these rocks were there
found at a depth of 334 ft. ; but the details of that sinking,
as given in Conybeare and Phillips ( Geol. of Eng. and Wales,
p. 262) does not bear out this statement. The depth of the
shaft is there given as 287 ft., and the series of beds pierced
through extended from the Lias to the new Red Sandstone.
The thickness of the whole series of Carboniferous Lime-
stone in this district may be set down as 3,000 ft: The
Lower Limestone Shales, consisting of clays and shales
alternating with impure beds of limestone, may be estimated
as 500 ft. thick ; the middle beds, composed of solid blue
Limestones, about 2,000; and the upper Limestone Shales,
alternations of Shale, Sandstone, and impure Limestone
gradually passing up into the overlying Millstone Grit, about
500 ft. The Sandstone at Tytherington, called “ Firestone”
locally, is hardly distinguishable from Millstone Grit.

Geology. 213

The Millstone Grit, or the miner’s “ Farewell
Rock,” estimated as 1,000 ft. thick near
Bristol, is not so extensively developed in the Mendips,
or near Bath. According to Mr. McMurtrie, between
Coleford and Nettlebridge it does not exceed 500 ft. At
Wick, where it is faulted against the Carboniferous Lime-
stone, it is difficult to calculate its thickness. Lithologi-
cally, however, it corresponds with that at Bristol, and is
very close grained and quartzose; frequently little rusty
grains are scattered throughout, and it is seldom so coarse
and conglomeratic in character as similar beds in the north,
Besides the before-mentioned localities, it may be seen at
Cromhall, Luckington, and Vobster.

We now come to the Coal Measures proper,
and will consider that portion only of the
Coalfield in our own immediate district—
zZ.e., the southern basins of Somerset and Radstock, which
are separated from that of Bristol and Gloucester by the
Kingswood anticlinal. Only a small portion of these Mea-
sures are exposed at the surface, owing to the covering
of the Secondary rocks which lie unconformably upon their
upturned edges. Our remarks shall be based on Mr.
McMutrtrie’s communications to the Proceedings of the Bath
Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, vols. t. and it.
Taking the Radstock district first, as the most important,
about seven miles distant in a bee line from the city, we
there find the strata tossed about and disturbed in every
possible way, and consisting of two main divisions, an upper
and lower, separated by a great thickness of Coal Measure:
Sandstone, locally called Pennant—the upper, about 2,200 ft.
thick divided into the first, or Radstock, series; and the
second, or Farrington. The upper includes all the coal bear-

Millstone Grit.

Coal
Measures.

214 Geology.

ing strata above the Pennant, and the lower all that between
this latter Sandstone and the Millstone Grit. The first, or
Radstock series, is divided from the second, or Farrington
series, by from 500 to 700 ft. of unproductive ground, con-
taining beds of red shale from 130 to 250 ft. thick, as highly
coloured as Hematite. The Radstock series has eight
veins, varying from g in. to 2ft. 4in., known by local names
in all about 13% ft. thick, the beds being parted by bands
of Shale and Sandstone. The second, or Farrington series,
consist of six veins, from rft. 2in. to 2ft. 4in., and is about
10% ft. thick. The Coal of both these series is adapted for
Rousehold use, the first series, however, being superior in
quality to the second. None of these veins exceed 3 ft. in
thickness, and many of the thin seams, which would not be
considered worth the trouble of winning in the richer fields.
«f the North are worked here at a profit.

This rock is peculiar to our district, for
whereas the Coal Measure Sandstones in
the North and Midland counties are more
evenly distributed throughout the various seams of coal,
they seem here to be focussed as it were in one solid
mass, estimated at 2,000 ft., consisting generally of thick
beds of siliceous grit, sometimes very fissile from the
mica which abounds in them. Coloured red at the surface,
this colour does not permeate the interior, which is of a
bluish grey tint, sometimes speckled with carbonaceous
markings, and charged with the oxides of iron. It affords
excellent stone for structural purposes, and is the best material
for tombstones, for which it is largely quarried in the vicinity
of our city. It may be well studied in the picturesque gorge
of the Avon at Hanham, through which that river has cut its
way to Bristol. Some interesting beds may also be seen at

Pennant
Sandstone.

Geology. 215

the Mangotsfield Station, where a white quartz pebble band
occurs, intercalated between the more solid beds ; in the
cutting of the Midland Railway, near Bitton ; also at Framp-
ton Cotterell and Iron Acton. Below this comes the Lower
division of the Coal Measures, consisting of the third, or
New Rock, and the fourth, or Vobster series, in all about
2,800 ft. The former is made up of 18 veins, ranging from
4ft. to rft. 6in., with a total thickness of 54 ft. ; the latter of
8 veins, from 8ft. to 1ft. 6in., and 28 ft. in thickness. The
veins of the New Rock series are used for household purposes,
and like those of the upper division, worked without danger
from firedamp ; but those of the Vobster series are more
adapted for smelting purposes, and are extremely fiery, and
much disturbed owing to their proximity to the Mendip
Anticlinal. Two other smaller Coal basins have been worked
close to our city, one to the east of Corston, at Newton St.
Loe, called the “Globe” Colliery ; and the other at Penny-
quick Bottom, at Twerton, one mile south east of the “Globe”
Colliery. Both of these belong to the lower division, and
consist of coal of inferior quality. The former has been
closed for a long period, and the latter was re-opened during
the coal scare a few years ago, but only for a short time,
proving an unprofitable speculation, owing to the disturbed
condition of the beds and the consequent irregularity of the
seams. These varied from 2 ft. to 5 ft. The total depth of
the shaft was 861 ft., and it was sunk through the Zima
Buchlandt beds of the Lower Lias—a quarry of that formation,
and a few shale tips only now marking the site. In giving
these few details of the coal workings, the important basins
in the Kingswood district and Golden Valley have been
omitted, as they belong rather to the Bristol area. As to the
characteristic fossils of the Somerset and Radstock Coal

216 Geology,

Field, Mr. Robert Kidston, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., who has per-
mitted me to make use of his paper (“ Ox the Fossil Flora of
the Radstock series of the Somerset and Bristol Coal Field,”
Trans. Royal Soc. Edinb., vol. xxxiii., part. 2), states that
from this area several of the species described by Brogniart
were obtained, and that it is richer in fossil plants than any.
other coalfield in Britain—not only in the number of species
it contains, but also in their excellent state of preservation.
Besides the specimens in our Bath Museum named by Mr.
Kidston, Mr. McMurtrie, of Radstock, possesses also a very
fine collection of fossil plants from the Radstock series.
Before passing onwards it may be well to
allude briefly to the faults, characteristic of
the locality. Without attempting to explain the origin of
the Mendip upheaval, it is a well-established fact, that
it has had far-reaching consequences in the disturbed
strata to the north in the neighbourhood of Nettle-
bridge and Wells, where the beds have not only been
raised perpendicularly, but have actually been doubled back
upon themselves, so that instead of dipping northwards they
now dip southwards towards those hills. Resting upon the
lower division, two masses of Carboniferous Limestone
occur at Luckington and Vobster, beneath which there can
not be any doubt that coal has been won. It is difficult, by
any amount of complicated faults, to account for the abnor-
mal position of these beds, otherwise than by an inversion
from the Mendips, though this may possibly seem to some as
a flight into the regions of romance. Mr. McMuttrie states
that we seek in vain for anything analagous to it or approach.
ing it in interest amongst the other coal fields of this country;
and to find its counterpart, we must cross the Channel to
the mining districts of Belgium and France.

Faults.

x,

Geology. 217

Besides this now classical topsy-turvey disturbance, there
are numerous faults and overlaps which may be briefly
touched upon; they are found to occur chiefly in the Paleeozoic
rocks below, without affecting the Mesozoic covering above.
Amongst the chief may be enumerated the greatest fault of
the district, in the neighbourhood of Timsbury, Kilmersdon,
and Clandown, called the Great or 100 Fathom Fault. It
has a down-throw to the west varying from 120 to 720 feet.
The Farmborough Fault, with an up-throw or down-throw,
it is difficult to tell which, of 600 feet; and the Overlap
Fault, running parallel with the Mendips at Radstock,
where it attains its fullest development. Mr. McMurtrie
states that in the under surface of the upper strata of the
part thrust forward, the fractured ends of the beds are
frequently bent downwards,—the upper surface of the strata
beneath being turned up, or forced into a succession of
smaller overlaps, by the immense mass shearing above.
(B. WV. H. and A. F. C. “ Proceedings,” vol. i., p. 140).
Between these clearly defined lines, there exists a thick layer
of crushed materials of every kind.

Next in ascending order comes what is called
the “Red Ground,” at the base of which
is invariably found a more or less thick bed of Conglom-
erate, overlying the Coal Measures. This seems to be the
first break in the orderly sequence of deposits, and from
its position and contents, indicates a vast amount of denu-
dation. From a bed of only a few feet thick in the centre of
the Coal Basin, it increases to some 60 or 80 ft. southwards
nearer the Mendips ; the contained pebbles, also increase
in size in the same direction from that of small marbles to
rounded blocks 3 ft, in diameter. It rests, too, unconform-
ably on the upturned edges of the Pennant, the Carbonifer-

Conglomerate.

218 Geology..

ous Limestone and the old Red Sandstone, even mounting
up to the summit of the hills. It is made up of the
debris of the rocks on which it rests, including pebbles from
the Old Red Sandstone and hollow nodules called ‘‘ Potato
Stones,” lined with crystals of quartz and calc spar, Millstone
Grit and Mountain Limestone, cemented together by carbon-
ate of lime and magnesia ;—hence its name, Dolomitic Con-
glomerate. Mr. Etheridge has called it the “Palzeozoic beach
of the Period,” skirting the land at the time of its deposit, and
rising higher and higher up its flanks as depression went on.
It persistently occurs throughout the district, rarely more than
30 feet thick, and bears witness to that enormous erosion
described so graphically by Prof. Ramsay ; for when asked
where all that mass of strata has gone to which is supposed
once to have arched over the Mendips, the geologist points to
this “old beach” and says “si queeris monumentum circum-
spice.” A very fine section of this formation may be seen on
the Bath and Evercreech line, between Midsummer Norton
and Chilcompton; at Yate, too, and near Doynton, if the yellow
Conglomerate there found similar to that at Clevedon be
identical. Various opinions have been held as to the exact
age of this Conglomerate, but by general consensus it may
be now put down as indicating the coming in of the Keuper
Sandstones and Marls ; that formation which attains so great
a thickness in the Midland Counties, and as Horace B.
Woodward (Memoir, Geol. Surv., 1876) writes, “maintains
the same relation to the Keuper Marl as the pebble
beaches of the present day do to the sands associated with
them.”
Keuper Marls Covering this pebble bed, and dovetailing
and with it, come the Red Sandstones and Keuper
Sandstones. oy Pogkilitic Marls, red, grey, and green in

Geology. 219

colour, generally occupying the low-lying grounds, and afford-
ing fine subsoil for meadow and orchard lands; containing
here and there veins of gypsum and celestine, but singularly
destitute of fossils, and chiefly interesting as ground suitable
for trial shafts to be sunk for the coal beneath. The estimated
thickness north of the Mendips, is about 200 ft. ; whilst to
the south of these hills it is proved to be as much as 800 ft.
Immediately succeeding these marls, and form-
‘ing the transition between them and the strata
above, come those beds wherein our late distinguished geolo-
gist, Charles Moore, won his geological spurs ; beds, in the
investigation and working out of which he so lovingly toiled,
and which have made our district so well and widely known—
ze, the Rhetic beds. The upper portion of the new
Red Marls so insensibly graduate into these that it is
very difficult to define accurately where one formation
ends and the other begins. One fact is, however, certain,
that a marked change in colour takes place from the red and
green variegated Marls of the Keuper to dark grey or bluish
Sandstones or Marlstones, and black shales and Limestones.
There is also a great accession of organic life; for whereas
the beds below are singularly destitute of any remains of the
life of the period, those immediately succeeding are crowded
with fossil remains of Mollusca, reptiles, fish, and with traces
even of the higher Mammalia—the as yet earliest known for-
mation in which these occur. The name Rheetic was given to
this formation by Charles Moore, who was the first to correlate
them with certain beds in Austrian Tyrol and the Rheetian
Alps, which are of great thickness, and contain a similar fauna.
We prefer to retain this name in our locality, though some
geologists call them “ Penarth beds,” from the fact that these
strata are so well developed in the headland of Penarth, near

Rhztic beds.

220 Geology.

Cardiff. Besides this important section, and other and per-
haps better known ones at the Aust Cliff and Westbury-on-
Severn, wherever cuttings are made through the Lower Lias
sufficiently deep to the Keuper Marls below, these character-
istic beds are opened up, and expose sections more or less
thick, but rarely exceeding from 50 to 100 ft. (Mr. Moore says
rarely more than 30 ft.) in our district. Besides the above-
mentioned sections, and others described by Mr. Moore in
the Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vols. xvit. and xxtit., a most
typical one was exposed during the construction of the Mid-
land Railway between Bath and Mangotsfield, at Newbridge-
hill near the Weston Station on that line, giving the following
succession of beds from the Red Keuper Marls, which were
just seen at the N.W. corner, through the shales and White
Lias to the Zima gigantea beds of the Lower Lias above :—

Lower Lias, limestones, with brown and blue clay eat

partings toe o we we =12
Arenaceous shale, with iaivea feast ony o 2
White Lias (‘‘Sun bed,”) divided bi: a i parting

of yellow clay ... I Io
White Lias, more or less solid ae ve 3}
Rubbly White Lias, very fossiliferous ae a 5 9
Blue clay, marly stone, and reddish brown clay Io
“ Landscape ” stone, cream coloured and blue, so-called

“Cotham marble” i te wy 0 62
Blue and grey shales, with Mavletone i 8 5
Bone bed, dark pyritous limestone, resting on black

clays, and Keuper marls as es w I of

This section can be easily visited, being so close to Bath, and
shows one of the best developments of the White Lias in
the neighbourhood and has the advantage up to the pre-
sent time of remaining fairly free from talus (vide “* Proc.”
B. N. H. and A. F. Club, vol. tt., p. 208).

Geology. 221

Another section, about 36 feet thick, on this line close to
the Bitton station, (Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxtit., p. 498,) now
nearly concealed, gave the same series of beds. Since then
another small section has been recently discovered close to
the Kelston station, where the White Lias is seen on the top
of the embankment with only a thin covering of Lower
Lias beds above (wide “Proc.” B. N. H. and A. F. Club,
vol. v. p. 224). Besides these sections close at hand, one
must not omit to notice that remarkable Rheetic dédris
filling the fissures of the Carboniferous Limestone at Hol-
well near Frome; three cart-loads of which; when washed,
by the persevering industry of Charles Moore, yielded 29
teeth of the AZicrolestes, fragments of nine genera of reptiles
and of fifteen fishes, including 70,000 teeth of Lophodus,
now enriching our Bath Museum. A very pretty instance
of these beds squeezed up into a V shape or synclinal
fold between the Dolomitic Conglomerate on one side and
the Red Marls on the other, was until lately exposed in a
cutting on the Bath and Evercreech line, just beyond the
Chilcompton station, near Lynch House, (wide “ Proc.”
B.N. H. and A. F. Club, vol. ttt., p. 302.) A generalised
section of these beds may be given after H. B. Woodward
as—

“ Sunbed ” ... ue ae on « 6 to 18 in.
White Lias Limestones i ays «. 10 to 20 ft.
‘“‘Landscape” stone or ‘‘Cotham Marble” __... 4 to 8 in.
Black Shales with bone beds a .. TO to I5 ft.
Greenish, cream-coloured and grey Marls passing

downwards gradually into the Keuper «+ 20 to 30 ft.

It is impossible in the brief space allowed to give details
of the contents of these beds, or to more than briefly touch
upon the conclusions generally derived from the controversy

222 Geology.

that has been waged over them. But as our area has been
the chief scene of the battle-ground, it may be stated that,
formerly placed in a subordinate division of the Lias, they
are now admitted to a distinct place of their own, or are
placed on the top of the Keuper; that the White Lias, so
named by William Smith, though it retains its original title,
has been relegated to the beds below; and that the facies of
the fauna of this formation indicates a shore line and
brackish water; whilst in Austria it is more of a deep sea
deposit. Amongst the characteristic shells are :—/ecten
Valoniensis, Modiola minima, Cardium Rheticum, Pleuro-
phorus elongatus, Avicula contorta, Ostrea intusstriata, Crus-
tacea (Estheria minuta); Fish :—(Sargodon Tomicus and
Saurichthys acuminatus); Maramals :—(Microlestes antt-
guus or Moore).

Resting upon the “Sunbed” of Wm. Smith
comes a thin band of yellow arenaceous
shale crowded with Ostrea Liassica, and here and there
dotted with fish scales. As this band, varying from one to
two inches in thickness, is persistent in our district and may
be traced wherever the White Lias is seen, it affords a good
datum line to mark the coming in of new conditions,—the
ushering in of the great age of Reptiles that must have
swarmed when the lower beds were laid down. The change
in colour and lithological character is very marked. The
white close-grained stone gives place to flaggy brown, earthy,
blue beds, with intermediate bands of yellow and blue clays,
the whole presenting a “ribbon-like appearance,” layer upon
layer (hence probably the name of Lias given by the Somer-
set quarrymen) in continuous horizontal strata. The beds
vary in thickness from a few feet to 200 or 300 ft., and in
most of our local sections those beds whence the Saurian

Lower Lias.

Geology. 223

remains at Street, near Glastonbury and elsewhere, have
been obtained are wanting, and generally the Ammonites
Buckhlandi or Lima gigantea beds are the first to be found
at the base. An exception may be made of the Newbridge
Hill cutting before alluded to, where the Ammonites angu-
latus bed comes in. The upper clays of this formation
occur everywhere throughout our basin, weathering to a
brown or foxy colour on the top ; and it was on this horizon
that William Smith constructed the bed of the Somersetshire
Coal Canal on the south side of the city. About forty in
number these beds vary in thickness in every quarry, the
lower portion consisting of irregular limestones with dark
blue clay partings, the upper, generally brown, may be seen
on both lines of railway from Bath to Bristol, Weston,
Twerton, Saltford, and Keynsham, and in the cuttings of
the line between Bath and Evercreech. We know also that
they exist beneath the superficial covering of our valley,
as proved in two memorable instances. A well sunk in
1838 in the western part of the City showed the following
section :— _
1. Black Marl (upper blue marls of the Lower Lias) 50 ft.

2. Thin beds of blue Lias, succeeded by blue Lias
nearly solid, with White Lias below vw 40 ft.

A fruitless attempt to win coal at Batheaston in 1812 gave
the following succession :—

1. Upper Marls (Middle and Lower Lias) we 210 ft
2. True Lias beds, including White Lias, Io ft. .. 47 ft. 6 in.

In both these cases it may here be incidentally remarked
that water of a high temperature was found when the red
beds below were tapped in the Kingsmead sinking at a tem-
perature of 80°. The chief peculiarity of these beds in our

224 Geology.

district consists in the absence of the Jusect and Crustacean
and the Saurian beds that are more fully developed in the
typical sections further south ; and consequently the paucity
of Saurian remains; a single vertebra, and portion of a
jaw or tooth occurring here and there, but rarely the whole
skeleton.

The Middle Lias is but poorly developed
near Bath, consisting of a thin series of
Clays and Marls. The Marlstone worked so profitably in
other parts of England, and of such great thickness, being
rarely opened up, but traceable along the escarpment of
the hills near Bitton and Bath. It has been proved at
Beechen Cliff, Lyncombe Vale, Monckton Combe, St.
Catherine, Charlcombe, above Cranwells, and at the Bath-
ampton reservoirs.

This, ‘too, is rarely exposed in our district.
Some years ago the following section, now en-
tirely concealed by vegetation, was seen by the writer in
company with Chas. Moore. It was on the right bank of
the Avon opposite Dundas.

Middle Lias.

Upper Lias.

ft,

Blue Micaceous Marl with thin nodules of ironstone 20
2. Brownish Marlstone with A maculatus. Unicardium
cardioides, Lingula Beanii abundant, Crustacea

and Saurian teeth te ts So
3. Blue clay te as as aes
4. Upper Lias. A single bed with A. Walcott, A. Ser-
pentinus, &c. ... ies 5 oes

5. Gray clay oe ie oe x 2

6. Inferior Oolite, sands of ans ss a, 20

(Vide Som. Arch. and N. Hf, Soc. Proc., vol xitt., p. 153.) That
rich fish and saurian bed which ought to come in above the
Marlstone No. 2 is not represented here, as it is south of the

Geology. 225

Mendips, near Ilminster, whence came that fine and unique
collection of Icthyosauri, Pelagosauri, and Fish, now in the
cases'of the Moore collection at our Museum. It may be in-
teresting to give here a typical section of Middle and Lower
Lias beds, showing how remarkably they thin out in some
localities. It is taken from a roadside section near Paulton.
ft.
1. Middle Lias. Various beds of rubbly Marlstone 6 0
Gray sandy bed with Leptena, ros-
trata. Foraminifera. Belemnites
clavatus. B. acutus, etc. ice o 53
2. Lower Lias. { Stone with 4. raricostatus ose o 63
Gray sand with Spirifer Walcottiz,
-| @ Gryphea incurva, &c. Belemnites
é clavatus. B. acutus &c. oes °o 6
3. Rheetic-White Lias, various beds _... we “ROS 26

We now pass on to the sands which come in
at the top of the Upper Lias, and at the base of
the Oolitic series, and are so well developed around our city.
They consist of yellow and micaceous sand, with bands of a
tough, dense, arenaceous limestone called “ Sand-burrs.”
These latter sometimes contain organic remains, and have
been the subject of much controversy as to their classifica-
tion ; on the one side it is maintained that they are Liassic,
on the other that they ought to be classed with the Oolites,
Prof. Phillips has judiciously called them Midford Sands,
a most appropriate name, indicative of their neutral position
as passage beds between these two great formations, and as
having been first studied by William Smith at Midford—a
picturesque little village about 3 miles from Bath, where the
“Father of English Geology” lived and worked. The late
Chas. Moore considered them to be Oolitic, andfadopted the

nomenclature given to them by William Smith}who named
16

Midford Sands.

226 Geology.

them “Sand of the Inferior Oolite.” Evidently then, pas-
sage beds “they may (as H. B. Woodward says in his
Memoir, p. 118,) very properly be considered as forming the
natural base of the Inferior Oolite,” constituting the lowest
beds of the Lower Oolite Division. And here in passing
we may state, that though much has been done of late years
amongst these rocks, yet in the main but little alteration has
been made in their stratigraphical order, since the time
when William Smith laid down that important formula of
the identification of strata by their characteristic organic
remains, the great key to unlock the definite order of
organic succession in the crust of this earth (wide Prest-
wich, Geology, vol. tt., p. 190). The division then laid
down of the Lower Oolites into—

Cornbrash.

Bradford Clay and Forest Marble.

Great or Bath Oolite and Stonefield beds.

Fuller’s-Earth.
Inferior Oolite.

2Pe Ds

still holds good, and marks the correctness of that great
man’s geological prescience. These sands were exposed
in making the Bath and Evercreech Railway, the long
tunnel between Bath and Midford being cut through them.
“At the S.E. entrance of the tunnel, on the Midford side,
a good section may now be seen, the weathering having
brought out the hard “ sand-burrs ” into marked prominence.
The thickness may be estimated at 150 ft., or somewhat less.
Beechen Cliff, whence is the best bird’s-eye view of the city,
is another good place to study them. They may also be
seen cropping out under Beacon-hill, on the opposite side ;
at Charlcombe, too, they appear about 70 ft. thick. At the
furthest end of the tunnel, beneath Devonshire-buildings,

Geology. 227

they measure about 30 ft. Though but rarely exposed, they
are persistent round our hills; yet at Wellow, a short dis-
tance beyond Midford, they thin out, and the Inferior Oolite
limestones rest immediately upon the Lias, (wide “ Proc.”
Bath Nat. Hist. and A. Field Club, vol. tit., p. 133.)
Directly overlying the Sands isa peculiar con-
glomeratic or nodular bed, from 18 in. to 1
ft. thick, very fossiliferous, containing the characteristic
shells of the Inferior Oolite—eg., Rhynconella spinosa,
Trigonia costata, Astarte excavata, Ammonites Brochit,
etc., succeeded by other limestone beds of the same
group, averaging about four feet in thickness in the par-
ticular section before-mentioned, eastwards of the tunnel,
under Devonshire-buildings. We, however, seek in vain
for that great development which is found in the Chelten-
ham district, where the Freestone beds, affording the prin-
cipal building stone, alone measure some 100 ft. The
Trigonia bed; Gryphaa bed; Ragstones; Flaggy Free-
stone ; Fimbria bed, Freestone and Ferruginous Peagrit,
measuring more than 200 ft. together, are here in our
district comprised in, at the most, 50 or 60 ft.; sometimes
much less, as at the well-known section at Vallis (De /a
_Beche, “Mem. Geol. Survey, vol. t., p. 288), where thin
beds, a few feet thick, rest upon the planed down up-
turned edges of the Carboniferous Limestone. Mr. H. B.
Woodward divides the beds into :-—

Inferior Oolite.

ft.

1. Soft Freestone, more or less oolitic a 40 to 50
2. Rubbly stone, consisting principally of corals 10
3. Hard brown limestone, abounding with casts

of shells os see ass 6

The Inferior Oolite follows the course of the Avon on both
16*

228 Geology.

sides, runs up to Freshford and Limpley Stoke, where it may
be seen on the banks of the Canal, and has recently been
well exposed in the Railway cutting just beyond Midford
Station ; it occurs on Sion and Beacon hills, and near Charl-
combe. At Lyncombe and Beechen Cliff the rock, as
Moore states, is almost composed of Corals, Trigonie, Os-
tree, and Brachiopoda.

Separating these beds from the Great Oolite
above, comes a thick deposit of clay. It can be
traced all around our hills just below the top by the undulating
nature of the sloping ground, caused by the running down in
wet weather of the intervening clay, or the slipping over of
the solid beds above on the greasy unctious beds below. It
is yellow and blue in colour, and has generally near the
middle a bed of nodular earthy limestone, called “ Fuller’s-
earth Rock,” but feebly developed in our neighbourhood.
‘The total thickness around our hills is about 150 ft. Lately
important works have been opened on the south of the basin,
near Midford and Combe Hay, for the yellow earth, con-
sidered the most valuable for economic purposes. It is im-
portant, too, as being a water-bearing bed around our hills,
throwing out from its surface the drainage of the Great Oolite
above, and forming the upper belt of springs in our district.
The characteristic fossils are—Ostrvea acuminata, Waldeimia
ornithocephala, and Rhynconella varians, with several new
forms of Ostracoda, lately described by Professor Rupert
Jones and Mr. Sherborn in “ Bath Nat. Hist. and A. F. C.
Proc.,” vol. vi., part 3, p.°249.

The Great Oolite, for which Bath ‘is so
famous, and hence often called “ Bath
Oolite,” caps all our hills, which are in some places, espe-
cially on the south, completely. honey-combed with old

Fuller’s Earth,

Great Oolite.

Geology. 229

and modern workings, extending for miles underground.
Consisting of beds of shelly limestones and fine freestones,
it may be divided into

1. Coarse shelly limestone.
Upper Rass 2. More or less fine Oolites. tee
3. Tough brown argillaceous Limestone. °
Fine Freestone is tke es Io to 30
Lower Rags. Coarse shelly limestones __... 10 to 40

Near Gloucester and in Oxfordshire the Great Oolite
thins out to 60 ft.

In the quarries, the most celebrated of which are situated
at Box, Farley, Hampton, and Combe Down, the workmen
generally leave one of the ‘‘Rag”* beds—a hard, tough,
shelly limestone—to form the “roof,” as less liable to give
way, and work out the softer and finer-grained beds beneath,
leaving another “‘rag” bed as the floor. The stone, when
first cut in its green state, is quite soft, and of a warm,
yellow colour, but hardens and whitens much by exposure
to the air and the evaporation of the moisture. It has been
stated that a cubic foot of Bath stone will absorb one gallon
of water. The spherulitic granules or eggs (whence its name),
of which the rock is composed, have often been examined
microscopically, and usually fail to present any organic struc-
ture, consisting merely of concentric films of carbonate of lime.
The beds so much used in building are not by any means
highly fossiliferous, though here and there minute ‘mod/usca
and a stray Za/atal tooth occurs. But on the Cotteswold
hills, particularly at Minchinhampton, they are especially rich
in fossils. The absence of organisms indeed renders them
the more easy to work ; but the beds which form the “ roof”

* Rag is aterm used by the workmen for those beds containing shells,
and less easy to work. .

230 Geology.

and “floor” of the workings, abound in shells and corals.
The upper beds on Hampton rocks are so rich in remains
that Charles Moore used to say “They were alive once,”
and from them he gathered a rich collection of sponges,
polyzoa, corals, and brachiopoda, now in our Museum. From
the upper beds on the opposite side, Mr. Walton ob-
tained his Aicrosolena. Indeed, the upper beds, as de-
veloped especially on the Farley Down escarpment, seem to
be one great coral reef. Some very good instances of false
bedding or current action occur, especially near the top of
the hill overhanging Warleigh Manor in the Avon valley, and
in the quarry on Banner Down. The quarries on Combe
Down have the character of containing the best weathering
stone, and Mr. H. B. Woodward tells us that the stone from
Lodge Hill, Combe Down, was selected for the restoration
of Henry the Seventh’s Chapel, whilst the stone from Bayn-
ton quarry was used in the construction of Windsor Castle,
and that from Drewe’s quarry in building Buckingham
Palace. The following is a section of Baynton Quarry :—

ft.

Rubble Stone se we ees 16
Scallet (finest grain used for Ashlar) at 12 to 153
Black and white rag... ae Ss 5» 10
Corn grit (used for Dressings) = ses 15, 20
Ground stone at a iiss 16 ,, 22

The Bradford Clay, a local deposit, so-called
from its development at Bradford, near
Bath, comes next. It may be considered as
forming a portion of the Forest Marble, being hardly dis-
tinguishable from the bands of clay intervening between the
shelly limestone beds, where this formation is more fully
developed than it is on our hills. It consists of a pale-blue

Bradford
Clay.

Geology. 231

clay, from 60 to 80 feet thick, lying upon the white upper
limestone of the Great Oolite, and contains the celebrated
Pear Encrinite (Apiocrinus rotundus) which seems to have
once extended in a great colony over the bottom of the sea
at that time, as stems and roots of this crinoid are found
attached to the surface of the rock. It is very difficult to
obtain perfect specimens now of this interesting fossil, and
the magnificent collection which once adorned the cabinet
of Mr. Channing Pearce in the Circus, and was obtained by
him at so much cost and labour, has, it is to be regretted,
found a resting-place in London, far away from its local
habitat. The other fossils found in this clay occur also in
the overlying beds of the Forest Marble.

This is comparatively thin around our hills,
rarely exceeding 100 feet, though it is much
thicker (450 feet) at Abbotsbury, in Dorset, and in the
Forest of Wychwood, whence it was named by Wm. Smith.
Some of the shelly beds, composed almost entirely of a small
ostvea, are compact enough to be polished, and used for
marble ; whilst the more flaggy beds have been utilized until
quite recently for roofing tiles. The numerous irregular pits
near Grenville’s Monument, on Lansdown, indicate where
these fissile slabs have formerly been excavated. Lonsdale
has divided this formation into the following beds :—

ft.

Forest Marble.

1. Clay with occasional laminz of grit vie wee, 5
2. Saad and grit bse i. 40
3. Clay with thin sla!s of stone and tatu , grit .. I0
4. Shelly limestone or coarse Oolite es see BS
5. Sand or sandy clay and grit ... ae w 10
6. Bradford clay

The sandy beds called ‘Hinton Sands” are largely de-
veloped at Charterhouse Hinton and contain concretionary

232 Geology.

and spheroidal masses of dense hard grit more or less cal-
careous. We may here note that the Great Oolite on Lans-
down varies very much from that on the other side of the
valley ; all the softer and more workable beds are absent,
and some 20 ft. only of a denser, harder rock called “Bastard
Oolite” good for rough walling and rustic building, come in.
The characteristic fossils are Terebratula digona ; T. coarctata
common to this and the Bradford clay, 7. maxillata and
Avicula echinata. Tracks of annelids are found in the
sandy films of some of the beds and the dotted markings of
a crustacean, or, as Prof. Phillips thought, the indentations
left by the progress of some bivalve opening and shutting its
shell.

With this formation we take leave of our hills, as the
Cornbrash is rarely found in our immedate district, though
a faulted mass appears near Westwood; it will, however,
be necessary to record a few surface or superficial peculi-
arities.

Indications of the Tertiary period are found
on both sides of the Warleigh valley, but
especially on the Bathford side, where on the top of Farley
Down, 629 feet above the Avon, overhanging that pic-
turesque village, a large mass of Tertiary flints was de-
scribed by the writer (“ Proc.” B. N. H. and A. F. Club,
vol. iv., p. 82), filling one of the numerous juints in
the Great Oolite; veins of these rounded flints are also
sometimes found running down the fissures of the under-
ground quarries—remnants of the Tertiary period, if not
of the Chalk which may have once covered our hills. Cony-
beare also alludes to transported Chalk flints, as covering the
higher grounds on the Bathampton side. These fissures
have been found to contain bones of Bison, Ox, forse,

Tertiary period.

Geology. 233

Deer, Lemming, Arvicola, Sorex, Bat and Frog, specimens
of which have been deposited by Chas. Moore in the top
cases of the gallery at the Bath Museum.

From the porous and fissured nature of the
rocks, with their intercalated bands of marl
and clay, forming the nucleus of our hills, abundant springs
burst forth on their slopes. Generally, however, there are
two zones, whence our chief supplies are obtained. The
upper source issues from between the Great Oolite and the
Fuller’s-earth Clays beneath, copious at certain seasons, but
liable to be readily affected by the climatic conditions pre-
vailing at the time; the lower one, however, bursting forth
between the Sands at the base of the Inferior Oolite and
the impervious Lias Clays, is both more constant and abun-
dant, and less liable to sudden fluctuations.

As regards the Hot Mineral Waters of our
City, issuing in such volume and at so high
a temperature (117° Fahr.), from the bottom of the basin,
the source whence they come cannot so easily be traced ;
suffice it to say, that the generally received opinion is,
that they well up from great depths, probably through
some fracture or fissure in the Paleeozoic rocks, which lie
beneath the horizontal covering of New Red and Lias. It
may be of interest to give here a section of the beds which
were cut through in excavating for the foundations of the
Grand Pump Room Hotel.

Springs.

Hot Springs.

Made ground, or accretions from the time of the Ro-

man occupation, including pockets of brownish

marl, containing many bones of frogs, fish, and

other remains, and insects ... & 6
Drifted marl with vegetable matter, weiod, &e., tying

on the Roman foundation a ip 4.0

234 Geology.

Fresh water Alluvial clays with great numbers of fresh

water and land shells, seeds, &c. as ite 8 0
Mammalian gravel a5 4 0
Lower Lias, a series of alternating pede ‘t blue élay

and stone cea wl oy ae 36 7

(Chas. Moore, B. N. A. and A. F. Club, vol. it., p. 44, 1869.)
Beneath the Alluvial covering of our valleys,
deposits of gravel are found at varying heights
above the present river, both in the main valley and those of
Box and Limpley Stoke, joining it from the N.E. and E.
Several beds have been opened up from time to time, at
Freshford, Larkhall, Bathampton, Twerton, and at Victoria
gravel pit on the Midland Railway. The beds at this latter
place attain the highest elevation of any hitherto worked,
being over 100 ft. above the present river. All these pits
have yielded Mammalian remains, Zilephas primigenius,
and antiguus, Rhinoceros tichorinus, Bos primigenius, Equus
caballus ; and at Freshford was found Ovwbus Moschatus
and Reindeer. But nowhere as yet has the most careful
research been rewarded by the finding of any implements
of human manufacture associated with those extinct animals
in our immediate district. Varying from 4 to 1o ft. thick,
these gravels rest generally on an eroded surface of Lower
Lias clays. At Freshford, however, they lie in a trough
excavated in the Inferior Oolite, and are made up chiefly
of the Lias and Oolite of our hills, with sub-angular and
rolled Chalk flints and Greensand-chert, the latter more
sparsely represented. Associated with these are Millstone
Grit, Old Red, and Mountain Limestone from the more
distant Mendips. (Vide “ Proc.” B. N. H. and A. F. Club,
vol. vt., P. 331.)

Space does not admit of a more detailed description of

River Gravels.

Geology. 235

the Geology of our district. The accompanying map has

been especially prepared for this meeting of the British As-

sociation, under,the superintendence of Horace B. Wood-
ward, F.G.S., who has kindly furnished the writer with the
following list of the localities where the sections can be
seen. Most of these have, however, been already included
in the text.

LOCALITIES WHERE SECTIONS ARE TO BE SEEN.

Alluvium.—Lower portions of Bath.

Valley Gravel and Brickearth.—Freshford Station; Bathampton Sta-
tion; Bath; between Saltford and Keynsham.

Chalk.— Near Westbury (Bratton White Horse), &c.

Upper Greensand.— Devizes ; Westbury.

Gault. - Brickyards at Westbury ; and by Canal Locks west of Devizes.

Kimeridge Clay.—Brickyard north of Coulston.

Coraliian Rocks.—Westbury (Iron-Ore, Coralline Oolite); Steeple
Ashton (Coral Rag); Seend (Lower Calcareous Grit) ; West-
brook (Lower Calcareous Grit, Coral Rag); Calne (Lower
Calcareous Grit and Calne freestone).

Oxford Clay.—Brickyards at Road ; Studley and Islington near Trow-
bridge ; near Seend Bridge; Bromham Common; S. E. of
Chippenham ; Dauntsey Station; formerly in cuttings near
Christian Malford (now obscured).

Kellaway’s Rock.— South of Upper Studley, and Brickyard north-west of
Trowbridge Station ; by Canal south of Chippenham ; in banks
of streams about half-a-mile south of Kellaways; brickyard by
the 6th milestone between Chippenham and Malmesbury.

Cornbrash.—Berkley, near Frome; Road; Hilperton; Semington ;
Thingley, near Corsham ; Chippenham ; Hardenhuish ; and east
of Biddestone ; Stanton St. Quintin and Corston, near Malmes-
bury.

Forest Marble-—Frome ; Buckland Downs, and above Highwood Farm
near Hemington ; west of Laverton; between Norton St. Philip
and Charterhouse Hinton (Hinton Sandstone); Norris Hill,
between Road and Westbury (Hinton Sandstone) ; north-west
of Atford ; near Giddy Hall; north-west of Biddestone ; Upper
Castlecombe ; Malmesbury Station ; Badminton.

236 Geology.

Bradford Clay—Bradford-on-Avon (south and south-west of Station) ;
Corsham Railway Station; Brickers Barn, north of Corsham ;,
lane by church at West Keynton.

Great Oolite—Odd Down; Combe Down; and Bathampton Down ;
Lansdown ; Banner Down ; Box; Kings Down ; Farley Clump;
Bradford-on-Avon ; Limpley Stoke ; Corsham ; Yatton Keynell ;
&c.

Fuller's Earth—Economic products worked at Midford Castle, Combe
Hay and Wellow.

Fuller's Earth Rock, etc—Egford Bridges, near Frome;
drainage works north of Frome, and Oldford,
Frome ; between Hassage and Lower Bagger-
idge, south-east of Wellow ; east of Duncorn
Hill ; lane from Widcomb to Comb Hill; Lans-
down (near Wesleyan College).

Inferior Oolite.—Beacon Hill, Bath ; east of Charlcombe ; west of High
Barrow Hill; near Severcomb Farm, north of Dunkerton ; Mid-
ford Railway, south of Station; Dundas; Clan Down ; Dundry,
&e.

Upper Lias.—Devonshire Buildings, Bath.

Middle Lias—Upton Cheyney, near Bitton.

Lower Lias.—Weston ; Pennyquick, near Twerton ; Keynsham ; Tims-
bury; Paulton; Radstock ; Downside, near Broadfield Down,
(like Sutton Stone).

Rhetic Beds—Weston ; Kelston ; Willsbridge, near Bitton (Station) ;
Midsomer Norton ; Radstock, &c.

New Red Marl.—Weston ; near Radstock, &c.

Sandstone.—Chew Magna ; Brislington.

Dolomitic Conglomerate.—Clifton ; Chilcompton ; West Harptree.

Coal Measures.—Pensford ; Clutton; Brislington; Hanham; &c.

Millstone Grit—vVobster ; Leigh Down, near Winford ; Clifton.

Carboniferous Limestone.—Wick Rocks; Tytherington ; Clifton; Vallis,
near Frome; Ebber, near Wells, &c.

Old Red Sandstone.—Avon gorge ; Mendips.

Eruptive Rocks.—Beacon Hill and Down Head.

METEOROLOGY.

Rev. H. H. Winwoop, M.A., F.G.S.

T the meeting of the British Association in Bath, during
the year 1864, the Rev. Leonard Blomfield (then Jenyns)

read a paper before Section A on the “Temperature and
Rainfall of Bath.” After first describing the sources of his
information, he gave the following as the results of his
observations :—That having at various times compared the
temperature at Bath during periods of unusual heat or cold
with what it had been at other places on the same days,
more especially with the temperature recorded at Greenwich,
Cambridge, and Nottingham, he found that on an average
the maximum temperature in extreme seasons had been
5° lower and the minimum 5° higher at Bath than else-
where. He went on to state that, in his opinion, the
hills surrounding Bath had a very important effect in
moderating the heat of summer and in tempering the cold
in winter. The fact, too, of the position of the city in a
basin may cause that oppressive feel of the atmosphere in
calm and sultry weather, which would be relieved by an
ascent to the high plateau above. Passing from the tem-
perature to the rainfall, he stated that the average annual
fall in the town at a height of go ft. above sea level was
31°97 inches. One of the many beneficial results from that
meeting was the determination of the Committee of the
Royal Literary and Scientific Institution to at once com-
mence systematic meteorological observations. Accordingly,
at the advice and under the direction of Mr. Jenyns, an ob-
servatory was erected in as suitable a place as‘could be found

238 Meteorology.

in the Institution Gardens, and a daily register has been kept
from the year 1865 to the present date. From time to time,
at the end of the decades, the results of these observations
have been tabulated and presented to the members of the
Bath Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, and pub-
lished in their “‘ Proceedings” (vols. i., iii., v., and vi.). On
these the following remarks are based :—‘“ The observations
of the thermometer and rain-gauge have been carried on
during a period of twenty years—z.e., from the year 1866
to the end of 1885; those of the barometer relate to a
period only of eleven years. From the tables it appears
that the mean height of the barometer from 1875 to 1885,
corrected to temperature of 32° and sea level, was 29°976
inches. The highest barometer occurred on January 18th,
1882, when it was 30°978 inches; the lowest was 28°337
inches on December 4th, 1876.”

The following Table will show the seasons at which the
maxima and minima occurred :—

Spring. Summer. Autumn, Winter.
Maxima . I we ° ts 2: ve 8
Minima I ° wis 3 Ke 7
2 Oo se 5 we 45

So that, from these eleven years’ observations, it appears that
the maxima elevations and minima depressions both occurred
in the winter months. :

The Thermometrical observations extended from the year
1866 to 1885 inclusive, with the following results :—Mean
temperature for twenty years, 50°.5. The highest mean
temperature occurred in the year 1868, when it was 52°; the
lowest mean was in 1879, when it fell to 47°.5. The fol-
lowing: Table gives the mean temperature and the range of
the seasons =

Meteorology. 239
SEASONS. MEAN. HIGHEST. LOWEST. RANGE.
Spring ..... 48-4 51-2 458 54
Summer.... 60°3 63°5 581 5°4
Autumn 50°7 52°3 48°5 38
Winter .... 44 46°3 36°4 9°9

The hottest summer was in the year 1868, when the
thermometer rose to 90°5 in the month of July, whilst at
Greenwich, on the same day, the maximum was 96°5. The
next hottest summer was in the year 1876.

The mean winter temperature for the twenty years is the

following :—
WINTER. sie WINTER. MESH
TEMPERATURE. TEMPERATURE.
1866-7 42°7 1876-7 46°1
1867-8 40°8 1877-8 42°38
1868-9 46°3 1878-9 364
1869-70 389 1879-80 37°5
1870-1 38°0 1880-1 39°0
1871-2 42°6 1881-2 43°0
1872-3 4I'l 1882-3 43°6
1873-4 421 1883-4 448
1874-5 39°0 1884-5 434
1875-6 412 1885-6 381

240 Meteorology.

From this it appears that 1878-9 was the coldest winter,
and the next coldest the winter following. Thirteen out of
the whole series had a mean temperature above 40°; hence
the conclusion that the Bath winters are generally mild.

RAINFALL.

The results of the twenty years’ observations on the
rainfall—z.e., from the year 1866 to 1885,—show that the
mean annual fall was 32°064 inches. The greatest amount
of rain registered during the whole period was 42°294 inches
in 1882, and in no other year did the fall attain to 40 inches.
The driest year was 1870, when only 20°982 inches were
registered, the next driest 1873, when the amount was
24°890, inches. It was also remarked that dividing the
twenty years into two decades, the first may be called the
dry one, the second the wet.

SEASONS. MEAN. MAXIMUM. MINIMUM.
Spring ........ 6°056 10°848 2°737
Summer ...... 77633 15°583 2'592 :
Autumn ...... 10°008 14°302 4°227
Winter osasaena 8785 13°388 4830

From the above Table of the variation during the seasons,
it follows that autumn is the wettest and spring the driest
season in Bath. January, Mr. Blomfield considers to be
the wettest month in the year, though September or October
approach very near to it.

THE BOTANY OF THE BATH DISTRICT.
W. G. WHEATCROFT.

HE neighbourhood of Bath offers many attractions to
the botanist. So long ago as the reign of James I.
Matthias de Lobel, who styled himself “ Botanist to King
James,” published his ‘“ Stirpium Historia,” in which certain
plants found in the Bath district are enumerated. A few
species are mentioned in Collinson’s “ History of Somerset,”
published in 1791. A longer list of the rarer plants, by
Mr. Sole, was appended to Warner’s “History of Bath,”
published in 1798. Mr. Sole, a former resident in this city,
was a distinguished botanist in his day. In the year 1798
he published an important work on the “ Mints of Great
Britain,” illustrated by 24 engravings, many of which, as we
are informed, ‘“ were taken from Bath specimens.” Mr. Sole
likewise wrote a valuable work on “The English Grasses.”
It appears that this latter book was never published. A
single copy belonging to the Bath and West of England
Agricultural Society, in the keeping of the Bath Literary
and Scientific Society, is, as we are informed, by the
Rev. Leonard Blomefield,* probably the only copy extant.
The same veteran naturalist also tells us “that a large
number of these grasses appear to have been gathered
in the neighbourhood of Bath.” In a small edition of
Warner’s “ History of Bath,” a list of Bath plants, contain-

* The Rev. Leonard Blomefield, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., will be better
known to many by the name of the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, the author of
“« A Manual of British Vertebrate Animals,” and other works.

17

242 Botany.

ing 191 species, and including many cryptogams, is given.
This list was supplied by the late Dr. Davies, of this city.
The works of most use to the Bath botanist of to-day are
the “Flora Bathoniensis,” by Professor Babington, pub-
lished in 1834, and the supplement thereto, published in
1839. The number of species given in these works is
756. Mr. Blomefield, in the course of a very interesting
and able lecture on the “Bath Flora,” delivered to the
members of the Bath Natural History and Antiquarian
Field Club, states that ‘many of these are unquestionably
mere varieties of others, while a few appear to have become
extinct, if they ever grew in the localities assigned to them,
and some other species were not mistaken for them.” For
the convenience of those who possess, or have access to,
the “ Flora Bathoniensis ” and the Supplement thereto, there
are appended, with the kind permission of Mr. Blomefield,
two lists prepared by him. The first of these shows addi-
tions to the Bath Flora since the publication of the Sup-
plement, and the second gives a list of plants which have
either become extinct in the Bath district or were probably
inserted in the Bath Flora “by mistake.” It is to be regret-
ted that the Rudi, Rose, and Sadices, have not been fully
worked out. Few things would, at the present time, be more
acceptable to local botanists than a full and critical Flora
of the Bath district. In a work like the present, it seems
desirable to give a list only of the rarer and more interesting
plants of the district, arranged in accordance with the third
edition of “The Student’s Flora of the British Islands,”
by Sir J. D. Hooker; referring to the Flora and Supple-
ment before-mentioned for particulars as to the localities in
which the plants may be found. A copy of Prof, Babington’s
Flora and Supplement, as well as one of ‘Flora Bristoli-

Botany. 243

ensis,” will be found in “ The Jenyns Library,” at the Institu-
tion.

The two great factors in the geographical distribution of
plants—climate and soil—have secured for the Bath district,
a tolerably rich, but not very uncommon Flora. As the
Geology of this district is fully treated of in a previous
chapter, it is only necessary to observe, that, belonging.
as it does chiefly to the Great Oolite, which forms the
uppermost stratum of the surrounding hills, and the Lias
which occupies most of the valleys, the Flora of Bath is not
so diversified as that of Bristol, where a larger intermixture
of the older rocks, the presence of a tidal river, of salt
marshes and brackish ditches, afford habitats for several
maritime plants, which are not to be met with in the Bath
district. For these reasons, it is not surprising that the
Bristol Flora numbers some fifty plants more than that of
Bath. There is, however, one locality in the neighbourhood
of Bath, the well-known Wick Rocks, distant some four
miles from the city, where the plants are somewhat
peculiar, owing to the presence of the Carboniferous
Limestone. There are few places in the vicinity of Bath
so well worthy of a visit by the botanist as this. The
pedestrian will reach it in the shortest time, by travelling by
the Midland Railway to Bitton or Warmley: a walk of half-
an-hour from either station will bring him to the Rocks.

Three plants growing in the neighbourhood of this city,
seem to call for special notice. These are Luphorbia
pilosa, L., Lysimachia thyrsifiora, L., and Ornithogalum |
pyrenaicum, L£, Lobel, writing in 1576, describes the
first of these plants under the name of Zsula major
Germanica, and speaks of it as plentiful “in a wood
belonging to John Coltes, near Bath.” It is unfortu-

17*

244 Botany.

nately far from plentiful there now. There has been much
controversy as to whether this interesting plant is indigenous
here. Although so eminent an authority as the late Mr. H.
C. Watson described it as “an alien or denizen,” and it has
been suggested that it “may have escaped from the neigh-
bouring grounds of the Prior of Bath, or from the Physic
- Gardens of the herbalists of this city,” there is something to
be said against the accuracy of this theory. It must be
borne in mind that Lobel, writing more than 300 years ago,
speaks of this plant, as he does of other wild plants of the
neighbourhood, as growing plentifully in Coltes’ wood. Mr.
Blomefield, referring to the escape theory, observes “Though
this might have been the case with the plants growing in the
station in the lane near the town, it seems hardly likely with
respect to those on the Down, which is so much further off.”
Mr. Blomefield has informed the writer that he and the late
Mr. C. E. Broome found this plant growing plentifully in
the wood named, some twenty years ago, and he further
observed that the scarcity or otherwise of its appearance in
this wood depended very much, in his experience, on the
condition of the underwood. With reference to Lysimachia
thyrsifiora, Mr. Blomefield observes “ With regard to Lys?-
machia, Professor Babington is of opinion, that it was origin-
ally planted by some cultivator of rare species ; but without
further evidence of this, the improbability of its having been
brought, as it must have been, from a considerable distance
to be set in a pond, not in a private garden, but in an open
field remote from the City, is against such a supposition.
Whatever may have been its origin, it is perfectly naturalised
there now, though, perhaps from the effect of dry seasons,
there has been very little seen, as I am informed, the last
two or three years.”

Botany. 245

Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, L., grows so plentifully in
woods and thickets near the city, that it may fairly be said
to be extremely common. The young flower spikes of this
plant, made up into small bundles, are sold in our market in
the spring as “ Bath Asparagus.” It is a tender and eatable
vegetable, but the writer has been unable to discover any
great resemblance in flavour to the highly and deservedly
esteemed plant, the name of which has been bestowed upon
it by some Bathonians in the past and present. There may
be room for differences of opinion in this as in other matters
of taste. It may here observed that Mercurialis annua L,
whose cemsus number is 42, is sadly too common in the
gardens of this city.

Botanists staying in Bath should not fail to visit the
Botanic Garden in the Victoria Park.* Though only laid
out and planted within the year the garden is already a most
attractive spot, and promises to be well worthy of the dis-
tinguished Botanist and Mycologist whose name it bears.

LisT OF THE RARER AND MORE INTERESTING PLANTS GROWING
IN THE BaTH DISTRICT.

Crucifere.
Nasturtium palustre, D.C.

Ranunculacez.
Clematis Vitalba, L.

Thalictrum flavum, L.

Ranunculus Lingua, L.
hirsutus, Curtis
parviflorus, L.

Helleborus foetidus, L.

H. viridis, L.

Aquilegia vulgaris, L.

Nymphzacee.

Nuphar luteum, 5m.

Papaveracee.

Papaver Argemone, L.

Arabis hirsuta, Br.

A. perfoliata, Lamk.
Senebiera didyma, Pers.
Lepidium campestre, Br.
Thlaspi arvense, L.

Resedacez.
Reseda lutea, L.

Caryophyllez.
Silene anglica, L.

Stellaria palustris, Ehrh.
Sagina apetala, L.

P, dubium, L.

See p.

120.

246 Botany.

Hypericinez.

Hypericum Androszemum, L.

H. quadrangulum, L. (in part)

Fries.

Malvacez.

Malva moschata, L.
Geraniacez.

Geranium pratense, L.

G. perenne, Huds.

G. rotundifolium, L.

G. pusillum, L.

G. columbinum, L.

G. lucidum, L.
Leguminose.

Ulex nanus, Forster

Trifolium subterraneum, L.

T. arvense, L.

T. medium, Huds.

T. striatum, L.

T. scabrum, L.

Hippocrepis comosa, L.

Vicia sylvatica, L.

V. bithynica, L.

Lathyrus Nissolia, L.

L. sylvestris, L.

L. macrorrhizus, Wimm.
Rosacez.

Geum rivale, L.

Potentilla verna, L.

Poterium officinale, Hook

Saxifragez.

Saxifraga granulata, L.
Chrysosplenium alternifolium,

C. oppositifolium L,.
Crassulacez.

Cotyledon Umbilicus, L.

Sedum Telephium, L.

S. album, L.

‘Onagrariez.

Epilobium roseum, Schreb.
Cucurbitacez.

Bryonia dioica, L.

Umbelliferz.

Bupleurum rotundifolium, L.
Carum segetum, Benth.
Cicuta virosa, L.

CEnanthe fistulosa, L.

C. Lachenalii, Gmel.

C. fluviatilis, Colem.
Caucalis daucoides, L.

Cornacee.

Cornus sanguinea, L,

Caprifoliacez.

Viburnum Lantana, L.
Sambucus Ebulus, L.

Rubiacez.

Galium Cruciata, Scopoli.
G. Mollugo, L.

G. tricorne, With
Asperula cynanchica, L.

Valerianez.

Valeriana dioica, L.
Valerianella dentata, Poll.

Dipsacez.

Dipsacus pilosus, L.

Composite.

Erigeron acre, L.
Solidago Virgaurea, L.
Inula Conyza, D.C

I. Helenium, L.

Bidens tripartita, L.
Artemisia Absinthium, L.
Senecio crucifolius, L.

S. saracenicus, L.
Serratula tinctoria, L.
Cnicus eriophorus, Hoffm.
C. acaulis, Hoffm.
Onopordon Acanthium, L.
Silybum marianum, Geertn..
Cichorium Intybus, L.
Picris echioides, L,
Hieracium umbellatum L.
H. boreale, Fries.

Lactuca muralis, Fresen.

Botany. 247

Campanulacee.

Campanula Trachelium, L.

C. glomerata, L.
Monotropez.

Hypopithys multiflora, Scop.
Primulacee.

Lysimachia vulgaris, L.

L. Nummularia, L.

L. thyrsiflora, L.

Anagallis tenella, L.
Apocynacez.

Vinca minor, L.
Gentianez.

Chlora perfoliata, L.

Erythreea Centaurium, Pers.

Gentiana Amarella, L.

Menyanthes trifoliata, L.
Convolvulacez.

Cuscuta Europa, L.

C. Trifolii, Bab.

C. Epilinum, Weihe.
Solanacez.

Atropa Belladonna, L.

Scrophularinez.
Verbascum nigrum, L.
Linaria spuria, Mill.
L. Elatine, Mill.
Veronica Buxbaumii, Ten.
V. montana, L.
Lathrzea squamaria, L.

Orobanchez. ;
Orobanche major, L.
O. elatior, Sutt.

Verbenacez.

Verbena officinalis, L.

Labiate.

Mentha sylvestris, L.
M. piperita, Huds.

Calamintha officinalis, Moench.

Salvia Verbenaca, L.
Nepeta Cataria L.

Labiatz—continued.

Scutellaria minor, L.
Lamium Galeobdolon, Crantz

Chenopodiacee.

Chenopodium murale, L.

Polygonacez.

Polygonum Bistorta, L.
P. dumetorum, L.

Rumex pulcher, L.

R. Hydrolapathum, Huds.

Thymelzacee.

Daphne Laureola, L.
D. Mezereum, L.

Santalacez.

Thesium linophyllum, L.

Euphorbiacez.

Euphorbia platyphyllos, L.
E. pilosa, L

E. Lathyris, L.
Mercurialis annua, L.

Orchidez.

Neottia Nidus-avis, L.
Spiranthes autumnalis, Rich.
Epipactis latifolia, Sw.

E. palustris, Sw.
Cephalanthera pallens, Rich.
Orchis latifolia, L.

O. Morio, L.

O. ustulata, L.

O. pyramidalis, L.

Ophrys apifera, Huds.

O. muscifera, Huds.
Herminium Monorchis, Br.
Habenaria conopsea, Benth.
H. viridis, Br.

H. bifolia, Br.

H. chlorantha, Bab.

Iridez.

Iris foetidissima, L.

Amaryllidez.

Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus, L.

Dioscorez.

Tamus communis, L.

248 Botany.

Graminez.
Calamagrostis epigejos, Roth.
Holcus mollis, L.
Avena pratensis, L.
Koeleria cristata, Pers.
Festuca gigantea, Vill.
| F. Myuros, L.
: Bromus erectus, Huds.

Liliacez.
Polygonatum multiflorum, All.
P. officinale, All.
Convallaria majalis, L.
Allium oleraceum, L.
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, L.
Fritillaria Meleagris, L.
Tulipa sylvestris, L.

1
1
1
i
1
1
i
!
i
|
i

caer lutea, Ker. : B. racemosus, L.
“Colchicum autumnale, L. , B. secalinus, L.
Paris quadrifolia, L. Brachypodium pinnatum,

Lemna trisulca, L. Lolium perenne, L.

4
Lemnacez. Beauv.
L. polyrhiza, L. L. temulentum, L.

Alismacez. ' Filices.
Sagittaria sagittifolia, L. ' Asplenium Ceterach, L.
Butomus umbellatus, L. Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh.

Polypodium Robertianum,

Cyperacez. Hsttm.

Scirpus fluitans, L.
S. Caricis, Retz.
Carex axillaris, Good.

|
| Ophioglossum vulgatum, L.
|
4

C. pendula, Huds. | Equisetacez.
1

Botrychium Lunaria, Sw.

C. digitata, L. Equisetum maximum, Lamk.

C. strigosa, Huds. ; L.
C. Pseudo cyperus, Te. Bayless

ADDITIONS TO THE BATH FLORA SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF
PROFESSOR BABINGTON’S SUPPLEMENT TO THE
“FLoRA BATHONIENSIS.”

The following names are indicated by their initials :-—
T. B. F.—Mr. T. B. FLower. C. E. B.—Mr. BRoomeE.
C. C. B.—Prof. BABINGTON.

Those marked [*] not indigenous, and those marked [+] probably not.

*Camelina sativa - - Waste ground at Weston.
Adonis autumnalis - “Occasionally observed among corn on
Rush Hill and Odd Down."—T. B. F.
Probably introduced with seed.
Ranunculus aquatilis. Var. In the river and canal.
fluviatilis :

Botany. 249

Barbarea precox -

t£rysimum orientale

* Dianthus cesius - -
Linum angustifolium -

{lmpatiens noli-me-tangere

* Trifolium incarnatum

Vicia bithynica :
Fragaria elatior -

Poterium muricatum

Rosa micrantha -

R. canina. Var. sarmentacea

TPyrus communis
Eptlobium roseum -

Saxifraga granulata
Cnanthe lachenalii —-

G. fluviatilis -

* Heracleum giganteum

A weed in gardens at South Stoke,
Considered by Bentham as only a
form of B. vulgaris.

A weed in fields at Limpley Stoke.—
Miss PEACOCK.

Naturalized on old walls at Swainswick.

Fields near Winsley. Probably in-
troduced with seed.

“In woods at Prior Park.” —Mr. CLARK.
A very doubtful native.

“Naturalized in several places about
Bath: an escape from cultivation.” —
T. B. F.

Slopes of the hills about Pensford.

In a wood by the side of the Gloucester
road, about four miles from Bath.
Considered by Bentham as only a
variety of /. Vesca.

“Combe Down.”—T. B. F. Only @
variety of P. sanguisorba, according
to Bentham.

Banner Down. Probably only a variety
of R. rubiginosa.

‘Hedges at Combe Hay.”—T. B. F.

Near the Rocks, Batheaston.—C. E. B.

Wet places, Combe Down, Batheaston,
etc. Not uncommon.

Stantonbury Camp, north-east side.

“ Not uncommon in bogs around Bath.”
T.B. F. Not considered by Ben-
tham as distinct from C. pimpznel-
loides.

“(In the canal between Bath and Brad-
ford.”—T. B. F. Thought by
Bentham to be only a variety of
G. phellandrium.

“Naturalized on the banks of the Great
Western Railway at Keynsham.”—
T. B. F.

250 Botany.

*Cortandrum sativum Found by Mr. Broome and myself in a
field of mangold near the monument
on Lansdown, Sept., 1858. Probably
introduced with seed. In Warner's
first list of Bath plants Mr. Sole gives
this species as growing on ‘waste
places about Dolmead, Bath.” It is
not mentioned in the “ Flora Batho-
niensis.”

+Asperula arvensis - - - Fields, Limpley Stoke-—Miss PEACOCK
Perhaps introduced with seed.

Valeriana sambucifolia “ Damp places in the neighbourhood of
Bath.”—T. B. F. Only a variety of
V. officinahs, according to Bentham.

*Dipsacus fullonum - “ By the side of the river at Keynsham ;
not wild.”—T. B. F.

Anthemis arvensis - On walls near Winsley ; also near South
Wraxall.

Guaphalium sylvaticum - “ Between Box and Marshfield.”—
T. B. F.

Efievacium murorum. Var. In quarries and on walls about Combe

maculatum - Down, as well as in the woods at Prior

Park, but not considered by Bentham
as distinct from A. sy/vaticum.

Utricularia vulgaris “In the canal between Bathampton and
Limpley Stoke.”—T. B. F.
*Cuscuta epilinum - “On flax at South Wraxall and Wins-
ley.”—T. B. F.
*C. trifolii - Clover fields, Batheaston. This and
the last species probably introduced
with seed.
{Mentha viridis Sides of a stream in a meadow between
South Stoke and Midford.
{Lamium maculatum On a bank by the side of the footpath

leading from South Stoke to Combe
Hay. Possibly an outcast from some
garden, though not near one.

* Rumex scutatus ‘Waste ground by the Saltford Railway
Station ; naturalized.”—T, B. F.

Botany. 251

Polygonum dumetorum - - ‘Among bushes near the railway, about
one mile from Keynsham, towards

Bristol.” —T. B. F.
* Euphorbia cyparissias - .- ‘Waste ground by the Railway Station,
Saltford; possibly planted.”—T. B. F.
Callitriche aquatica. Var. ‘Bogs near South Wraxall.”—T. B. F.

platycarpa
Ulmus campestris. Var.sube- ‘“Copse leading from Odd Down to
rosa Combe Hay.”—T. B. F.

Salix fragilis. Var. Russelliana ‘On the banks of the Avon.” —T. B. F.

S. triandra - - - ‘Box Brook.”—T. B. F.

Lemna trisulca In the canal near Combe Hay.

L. polyrrhiza - ‘Canal basins.” —T. B. F.

_ Potamogeton heterophyllus “ River Avon.” —T. B. F.
P. flabellatus, Bab. © “Tn the canal near Sydney Gardens.” —
: T. B. F.

P. decipiens, Noble. Found in the canal by Mrs. Hopkins ;
not previously observed in Britain.
Described and figured in “ Seeman’s
Journal of Botany,” No. 51, p. 71,
Pl. 61.

*Elodea canadensis - - - Inthe canal in great plenty; also in
the river.

Fritillaria meleagris This plant, which Mr. Ellacombe in-
forms me, is extinct at Bitton, the
station marked for it in the “ Flora
Bathoniensis” has been re-discovered
by Mr. Flower in meadows about
Phillip’s Norton, though seldom
flowering. He says it has been also
found near Bradford Wood.

Allium oleraceum - Borders of fields, South Stoke.

Scirpus fluitans - - “Bogs near South Wraxall.”—T. B. F.

{Setarta virides - “Waste ground near the church, Combe
Down ; very sparingly.”—T. B. F.

Gastridium lendigerum - “In very small quantity in the quarry

above the Observatory field, near
Prior Park.”—T. B. F.

252 Botany.

*Lolium perenne. Var. ltalicum About Swainswick ; escape from culti-
vation.

TL. temulentum. Var.arvense- “ Cornfields, Monckton Farleigh.”—
T.B.F. Probably introduced with seed.

Bromus commutatus - “Cornfields on Lansdown.”—T. B. F.

Bi secalinus - Cornfields, South Stoke. This and the
last, and 2. arvensis are considered
by Bentham as one species.

A spidium rigidum - - “Quarries on Hampton Down, very
sparingly. I fear the locality has
been destroyed by the numerous fern
collectors.”--T. B. F.

N.8.—This and the following List have been taken verbatim from a
lecture on the Bath Flora, delivered to the members of the Bath Natural
History and Antiquarian Field Club, by the Rev. Leonard Jenyns,
M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., etc., President of ‘the Club, on Dec. 5th, 1866.

PLANTS EITHER EXTINCT IN THE BATH DISTRICT, OR PERHAPS
INSERTED IN THE BATH FLORA BY MISTAKE.

Cardamine bellidifoia ~- Bab. Fl. Bath., p.4. Said to have been found
formerly by Merrett. No one has found
it since.

Dentaria bulbifera - “In Prior Park, near the Upper Lodge,
abundant.” —Rev. B. Richardson, Sole MS.
Mr. Flower informs me that this plant
has not been observed of late years, and
that possibly the locality may have been
destroyed by the building of the Roman
Catholic College.

Arenaria tenuifolia “ Probably a mistake.” See Bab. Supp., p. 71.

Menchia erecta - Bab. p.8. Said to have been found by Dr.
Heneage Gibbs. No one else seems to
have met with it.

Erodium moschatum - Bab. Supp., p. 72. Mr. Flower informs me

; this species rests on the authority of the
late Mr. J. Jelly, in his MS. Flora Bathonica,
whence it was copied by Prof. Babing-
ton. Possibly it may have been confounded
with the 2. czcutarium.

Botany. 253

Vicia latea

Lathyrus hirsutus.

L. latifolius -
L. palustris

Cicuta vivosa

Senecio sylvaticas

Carduus tenuifiorus.

Gentiana campestris

Bab. p. 13. ‘Gathered on the road-side be-
yond Midford, by the Rev. R. Richardson,
and reported by him to Dr. Davies. Not
observed of late years, and possibly extinct.”
—T. B. F.

Bab. Supp., p. 75. Inserted by error in the
Flora Bathoniensis, as well as in many of
the British Floras, as regards the Pensford
locality, the Vicza dithynica having appa-
rently been mistaken for it. The true
Lathyrus hirsutus is not known to grow any-
where in this country, except in Essex.

A mistake. See Bab. Supp., p. 75.

Bab., p. 14. Said to have been found by
Dr. Davies “in moist hedges about Small-
combe Wood.” Either a mistake, or now
lost by drainage.

Bab., p. 21. “A single plant, only observed
in the Canal by Dr. Heneage Gibbs. Has
long since disappeared."—T. B. F.

Bab., p. 21. Said, in the Flora Bathoniensis,
to be “frequent on dry banks and pas-
tures,” but neither Mr. Broome, nor Mr.
Flower, nor myself ever met with it. It
grows at Hanham, but must be considered
a very doubtful native of the Bath district.

Bab., p. 27. Said to have been found on the
“banks of the canal,” by Dr. Davies ; but
Mr. Flower remarks that Dr. Davies, a few
years since, could give him no information
about this species, and he considers it as
“ probably an error.”

Bab. Supp., p. 83. Dr. R. C. Alexander, on
whose authority this species rests, informs
Mr. Flower, the plant in question should
be referred to G. amarella. The G. cam-
pestris must therefore be erased from the
Bath Flora.

254

Botany.

Asperugo procumbeus

Verbascum lychnitis

Salvia pratensis

Ophrys aranifera

Narcissus biflorus -
Carex davalhana

Briza minor

Poa bulbosa - -

Equisetum hyemale

Polypodium dryopteris

Bap., p. 33. ‘The locality for this rare
species rests on the authority of Mr. Hill
in Blackst, Sp. Bot., p. 5. It is possiblehe
meant Lycopsis arvensis, which was occa-
sionally mistaken for it by the older Bot-
anists.’——T. B. F.

Bab., p. 33. Found by Dr. Davies many
years since, and by no one else. Possibly
an escape. Mr. Flower informs me, that
“Mr. Haviland had formerly a botanic
garden at Batheaston,” which may have
given origin to it.

Bab. 38. Said inthe “ Botanist’s Guide,” to
have been found at “Wyck, by Mr.
Swayne,” but surely a mistake for the S.
verbenacea.

Bab. Supp., p. 94. No one appears to have
found this species except the late Mr. Jelly,
If not a mistake, probably extinct.

A mistake. See Bab. Supp., p. 95.

Bab., p. 54. Not found for many years,
Bentham considers it as only a variety of
C. dioica.

Bab., p.59. An error: a variety of the 2.

~ media having been mistaken for it—C. C. B.

Bab., p. 59. On the authority of Mr. Dyer,
in the “ Botanist’s Guide.” Supposed to
be an error, some other species having been
mistaken for it.

“Not found for many years.”
p- 103. Probably extinct.

“ Not now to be found” where Mr. Sole met
with it; and Prof. Babington thinks that
perhaps the P. calcareum had been mistaken
for it. See Supp., p. 103.

Bab. Supp.,

If the above plants be withdrawn from the Bath List, it will
reduce the entire number of species to 747.
The Fungi of Bath have been enumerated and described by the late
C. E. Browne, F.L.S., in Wright's ‘‘ Historic Guide,” p. 407,

ZOOLOGY.

C. Terry, M.R.C.S.

HE following lists illustrative of the Zoology of the dis-

trict are restricted to such of the Aves and Insecta as

are accounted vare, or comparatively rare. An extended

catalogue more thoroughly representative of the fazxa of the

neighbourhood will be found in “ Wright's Historic Guide,

p. 415,” where the months in which the perfect insects
(Lepidoptera) make their appearance are also given.

All the species indicated have been collected within a
radius of about six miles, but this area “consisting of open
down, old quarry grounds, hill sidesdotted with plantations
and underwood, and luxuriant well timbered valley, watered
by innumerable streams, and intersected for nearly its whole
*length by the river Avon” is so exceedingly rich as to well
repay the naturalist who may select it for his hunting ground.

AVES..

Falco Peregrinus —Peregrine Falcon, shot at Bathampton, 1838 ; Monkton
Combe, 1840; Bathwick Hill, 1856. ;

Falco Subbuteo—Hobby. Falco 2salon.—Merlin. Astur Palumbarius—
Goshawk, shot at Claverton, 1833.

Buteo Lagopus.—Rough-legged Buzzard, shot at Swainswick, 1837.

Pernis Apivorus.—Honey Buzzard, shot at Batheaston and Swainswick.

Milous Regulus.—The Kite, shot at Claverton, 1858; Batheaston, 1859.

Circus Cyaneus—Hen Harrier, shot at Bannerdown, 1842.

Circus Rufus.—Marsh Harrier, shot in 1833.

Scotophilus Passerina.—Little Owl, shot at Batheaston in 1834.

Scops Aldrovand.—Scops-eared Owl, shot at Claverton in 1838.

Lanius Excubitor —Great Shrike, 2 shot at Claverton in 1840.

Regulus Ignicapillus —Fire Crest. :

Bombycilla Garrula.—Waxwing, shot at Charlcombe in 1832. -

Fregilus Graculus—Chough, caught at Bathwick in 1831. ;

Corythus Enucleator —Pine Grosbeak, caught at Widcombe and Foxhill.

Loxia Curvirostra.—Crossbill ; many obtained in 1837-8-9.

256 Zoology.

Upupa Epops——Hoopoe, shot at Weston in 1850. :

Merops Apiaster—Common Bee Eater, shot in Villa Fields in 1842 ;
seen at Widcombe in 1840.

L£egretta Garzetta.—Little Egrel, shot at Bathampton in 1841.

Butor Stellaris.—Bittern, shot at Bathampton, 1826 ; at Lansdown, 1857.

Ardeola Minuta.—Little Bittern ; two shot at Radstock, 1852.

Crex Pasilla—Little Crake, shot at Grosvenor Pond.

Mergulus Alle.—Little Auk ; one obtained at Pickwick Mills, 1836.

INSECTA.
LEPIDOPTERA. —Butterflies.

PaPILIO. HIPPARCHIA.

Papilio Machaon Hipparchia Semele

Colias Hyall Thecla Rubi
MANCIPIUM. Thecla W. album

Mancipium Duplidice POLYOMMATUS.

Leucophasia Sinapis Polyommatus A cis

Nemeobius Lucina Polyommatus Arion
MELIT&A. | HESPERIA.

Melitea Cinxia | Hesperia Paniscus
VANESSA. j

Vanessa Antiopa
LEPIDOPTERA.—Moths.

SPHINGIDA. BomsyciD&—continued.
Smerinthus Tile Lasiocampa Trifolit
Acherontia A tropos Trichiura Crategi
Sphinx Convolvuli Gastropacha Quercifolia

hoerocampa Porcellus ARCTIDA.

SESIIDA. Demas Coryli
Sesia Fustformis Orgyia Gonostigma
Sesia Bombyliformis Hypercampa Dominula

TROCHILIIDA. Diacrisia Russula
Sphecia Apifornis Arctia Villica
Trochilium Miopaforme LITHOSIIDA.

HEPIALIDA, Lithosia Axreola
Hepialus Hectus Lithosia Lurvideola
Zeuzera Escult NOcTUIDA.

NotopontTIp&. Triphena Interjecta
Clostera Curtula A ae.
Notodonta Ziczac Lyleg Unilvace

BoMBYCID, Chareas AEthiops
Lasiocampa Rubi Agrotis Corticea

Zoology. 257

NocTuUID4— continued.

Agrotis Valligera
Spaclotis Augur
Orthosia Gracilis
Anchocelts Litura
Anchocelis Pistacitna
Eupsilia Satellitia
Calocampa Exoleta
Xylophasia Characterea
Hama Alena
Mamestra Oleracea
Dianthecia Cucubalt
Eurow Herbida
Miselia Oxyacanthi
Thyatira Butis
Apetela Leporina
Eugramma Oo
Mythimna Turca
Mythimna Grisea
Meristus Quercus
Monagria Pygnina
Cucuillia Scrophularie
Plusia Orichalcea
Heliothis Marginata
Heliothis Dispacea
Acontia Luctuosa
GEOMETRID2.
Odoptera Angularia
Odopiera Lunaria
Odoptera Illustraria
Odoptera [llunaria
Pericalhia Syringaria
lodis Vernaria
Alcis Roboraria
Hemerophila Abruptaria
Boarmia Crepuscularia
Boarmia Laricaria
Plagodis Dolobraria
Coremia Montanata
Coremia Olivata
Electra Achatenata
Eupithecia Coranata
Eupithecia Subumbrata
Melanippe Hastata
Emmelesia Hydrata
Odezia Cherophillata
Ptychopoda Scutulata
18

GEOMETRID&—continued,

Timandra Exemptaria
Ennomos Flexula

PLATYPTERICID.£.
Drepana Unguicula
PYRALIDA.

Paracolax Nemoratis
A glossa Cupreolatus
LHypsopygia Costahs
Agrotera Flammealts
Diasemia Literalis
LEpicorsia Cinctalis
Lvergestis Margaritalis
Simaethis Pariana
Simaethts Lutosa

TORTRICID&.

HHylophila Quercana
Lars Chlorana
Tortrix Galiana
Lozotenta Fosterana
Lozoltenia Transitana
Lozotenta Corylana
Peronea Centrovittana
Peronea Auctumnana
Peronea Schalleriana
Cheimatophila Mixtana
Teras Excavata
Dict opteryx Forskaliana
Phycholoma Lecheana
Lithographia Campolihana
Anchylopera Subuncana
Ditula Rotundana
Carpocapsa Pomenella
Dicrorampha Sequana
Hemerosia Rheediella
Grapholitha Cana
Eupecila Angustana
Lozopera Straminea
CRAMBIDA,
Har pipteryx Dentella
Anacampsis Aleela
Adela Fasciella
Cerostoma Xylostella
ALUCITID.

Pterophorus Punctidactylus

AFTERWORD BY THE EDITOR.

It has not been compatible with the design of this Handbook
to supply the place of a Directory or to trespass on the domain
of the many excellent Guide-books which direct the steps of the
stranger to those objects of interest which are more or less com- ‘
mon to all large cities. A list of Churches and Chapels, of
Hospitals and Charitable Institutions, of Clubs and Societies,
would have seriously contracted the space already too scanty
for the subjects chosen. In confining the scope of the Handbook
to the distinctive features and peculiar history of the city, there
has been an inevitable omission of many things deserving of
mention, for some of which an afterword seems to be demanded.

The visitor to Bath is generally impressed with the remark-
able blending of town and country which is characteristic of its
situation and development. It is not so much the 7ws zz urbe as
the wrds in rure which gives a character of cheerfulness and a
sense of pervading beauty to the place. There is scarcely a
street from which views of the surrounding hills or glimpses of
charming landscape are not to be obtained, and the city itself—
seen from any of the heights around, or even from its own ter-
races and crescents—apart from its general picturesqueness,
arrests attention by the prevailing hue of warm grey which the
universal employment of the native freestone imparts to the
scene. To those who have an eye for repose and gradation of
tone, the view of Bath by morning or evening light from any
slight elevation is one not easily effaced from the memory.

In the streets themselves this pleasing effect is often lost, and
the fresh ochre of the unblemished stone is replaced by an
occasional sombreness, deepening, in rainy weather, into possible
gloom ; but this defect is only partial, and the prevailing oolitic

Afterword. 259

aN

grey soon re-asserts itself and is not less grateful to the eye than
are the comfort of the well paved streets, the variety of ex-
cellent shops, and the symmetry of the stately succession of
handsome residences, striking and attractive.

Surrounded as Bath is by wooded hills, it is scarcely neces-
sary to indicate those “coigns of vantage” from which the finest
views may be obtained, but the abrupt precipitousness of Beechen
Cliff, overhanging the city on its southern side and easily as-
cended from the Old Bridge, has long secured for its bird’s eye
view the palm of priority. “What Mount Oliyet is to Jerusalem,
and what Jotham’s Crag is to Shechem, such is Beechen Cliff to
the city of Bath. From this point every cranny and crumple of
the site seems to open and unfold itself to the view, and the
many-aspected city lies collected to a focus in one undulating
plain.”* The cliff itself is a remarkable feature in the landscape,
and, swelling gently with grassy slope from the further side,
with rolling woodland descending from its crest, it has been
compared to a breaking sea-wave, and seen from.many points
the comparison is just and striking.

‘« Soracte's height ""—'‘ from out the plain
Heaves like a long-swept wave about to break
And on the curl hangs pausing.”

—Childe Harold.

Of other favourite view-points—those of Prior Park and Pope’s
Walk, Hampton Cliffs, Beckford’s Tower and Prospect Point on
Lansdown, may be mentioned as a hint to the pedestrian, but
every excursion has its charm, and from each surrounding height
the eye naturally turns to

“" Where the glad city lies in distance doubly rare.”

But it is not necessary to quit the pavement to enjoy fine
scenery. Varied and delightful prospects are to be obtained
from spots as easily accessible as Camden Crescent or Widcombe
Hill, the North Parade and Cleveland Bridges, the Cleveland
Walk on Bathwick Hill, and Widcombe Old Church and Church-

* Earle’s ‘‘ Bath Anct. and Mod.,” p. 286.

260 Afterword.

yard—* one of the gems of Bath.” This venerable Church is
indeed a most picturesque object; its ivy-clad tower rising in
happy juxtaposition to the stately mansion, Widcombe House,
which is second only to Prior Park in architectural dignity and
beauty of natural situation. Said to have been built by Inigo
Jones, (though this is more than doubtful,) in nobility of design,
in choice of site, and admirable “setting,” it is every way
worthy of his genius. We can scarcely wonder that the culti-
vated taste of Walter Savage Landor should have delighted in
the scenery of this secluded and romantic spot, or that he should
have selected its quiet churchyard for his final resting-place.
Here too did Fielding, after the death of his wife, when “he
came out to dissipate” his grief, find a congenial retreat.* Old
memories cluster thick around the God’s Acre of the Parish-
church of Widcombe.

Of the objects in a strange city which are secure of observa-
tion, bridges are perhaps among the most prominent, but there
are two bridges in Bath which often escape recognition or notice.
One of these is the Palladian Bridge in the pleasure grounds of
Prior Park, a classical structure admirably fulfilling its purpose—
to supply a central feature in an exquisite landscape ; the other,
the Pulteney Bridge, which admits us to the parish of Bath-
wick, but which from being built upon on either side disguises
its pontine character so effectually that the stranger is uncon-
scious of the river which flows beneath his feet. In this respect
it recalls the memories of Old London Bridge, and suggests
another resemblance between the cities of the Avon and the
Arno.

Crossing this bridge and passing down Great Pulteney Street
the Sydney Gardens are worthy of a visit and—a note. Once the
Vauxhall of Bath, these gardens are still a delightful resort, and
though the sylvan seclusion is marred by the intersection of the
G. W. Railway, even this inevitable concession to the necessities
of the age has been turned to account, and the terraces which

* See ‘‘ Historic Houses,” Int. p. xiii.

A Lfterword. 261

overlook the great artery of daily traffic are pleasing and popu-
lar promenades, especially on the occasions of the Floral Fétes
and Horticultural Exhibitions now justly famous.

Close to the Pulteney Bridge may still be seen a portion of
the ancient Borough Wall. When Samuel Pepys visited Bath in
1668 he tells us that he walked “round the walls of the city,
which are good and the battlements all whole.” Now, though the
name of “‘ Borough Walls” still designates a busy thoroughfare,
the Walls themselves are only extant in two places, one facing
the Mineral Water Hospital* and the other in a depressed and
depressing situation at the back of the Market. Here too is the
sole surviving gate, the East gate, a forlorn and half-forgotten
relic of the little city in the bend of the Avon, the outline of
whose ancient limits is now preserved only in the names of its
streets and thoroughfares.

Hard by the East gate and adjoining the Guildhall are the Mar-
kets. There wasa time, not so long ago, when Bath in common
with other provincial towns held its Fairs and Markets szb Jove,
but its Cherry Fair and Orange Fair are things of the past, and
a well-housed and admirably appointed Market is now the
legitimate successor of the somewhat a/ fresco arrangements
which sufficed our fathers.

The Market is not only convenient and central, and well
provided with all the necessities of a daily food-supply, but is
rendered exceptionally attractive by the rich array of flowers
and fruits collected under its central dome. At all seasons of
the year the emulation of rival vendors secures a display not
more remarkable for its profusion than for its tasteful arrange-
ment. The law of supply and demand admits of few more
pleasing illustrations than this daily exhibition of the way in
which the prevailing taste for floral decoration has established a
new and beautiful attraction in the midst of a building primarily
devoted to the utilities and the necessities.

* « The battlement is modern, and was placed there by the public spirit of
the late J. H. Markland, D.C.L."—Zarle's '' Bath Anct. and Mod.," p. 100.

262 Afterword.

An interesting specimen of the domestic architecture of the
Elizabethan period, near to where once stood the West gate, is
Hetling House, occupied, if mot built, by Sir W. Hungerford of
Farleigh as a “town house, overlooking the western borough
walls.” It only needs the removal of some mean and miserable
buildings which have been allowed to encroach upon its precincts
to worthily remind us of the history it represents. Its vicissi-
tudes of occupation have been many and strange. In the 16th
century it was a noble mansion with subterranean passages
eading to the gardens and pleasure grounds without the walls.
In the 17th it was garrisoned by the soldiers of the King, and
its spacious upper chamber converted into a barrack. It has
been the temporary dwelling place of Princesses of the Blood,
the Hall of the Odd Fellows, the office of the Bath and West of
England Agricultural Society, and is now the Church House of
the Abbey parish. The noble fireplace and old oak staircase,
which still recall the memory of departed grandeur, are now it
may be hoped in safe keeping.

INDEX.

Abbey Church a6
ey Chure yi
Adelard ... ... - iis
Akeman ... ... 21
Allen, Ralph ... 81
Alphege, St. 36, 139
Altars, Roman “1g
. Anne, Queen ... ... 77
Anne of Denmark . 57
Anthropometric Committee .. 4
Aqueze Solis eB 22, 164
ve wr Ba Pe)
see 255
ny Mons, Sea 27.
Balneology.. 163
Barker, B. and T. rj. 105
Barton Estate . 57
Bathampton 180
Batheaston 18r
Bathing customs ... ... ... 86
Bath and West of Eng. Soc. 112
Baths... ... eis 49 148, etc.
Beckford, Wm... w= 96
Beechen Cliff... ... wee 259
Benedictine Monastery ... xv 98, 50
Birde, Prior... 53, 115, 146
Bladud, story of > ae OF
Blue Coat School ... 131
Botanic Garden... ... 120, 245
Bradford Clay... 230
Bridge, Old... 49
» Pulteney 260
Bronzes, Roman 14
Camps and Earthworks—
Brerewick ... ... 9
Hampton 8, 200, 204-7
Maesknoll ... ... wa 20
Northstoke ... 0.0 1. we 8
Solsbury ie are ey 204
‘Stantonbury... ww. 10
Carboniferous Limestone |. dz
Catherine's, Saint . w. «182
Charlcombe ve 183
Chapman, Hy. 69, 141
Churches—
Abbey ... 35, 136
St. Mary’s .. 43
St. Mary de Stalies 54
St. Michael's 43
Char'es I. 64
Civil Wars 59
Claverton .. 198
Climate 178
Coal Measures. 213

Coins 4
Colles, Humphrey
Colleges—
Bath... ..,
Prior Park ...
Wesleyan
Congiomen ate .,
Cross Bath

PAGE.
aot 5: 1g, IOr
«= §3

135
134
I34
wos, (217.
148, 155-8

Deorham or Dyrham, B. of...2, 152

Discoveries of Roman Remains
Eadgar, Coronation of ...

East Gate :
Edward III., IV.
Elizabeth, Queen~ hed
Englishcombe ia
Exeter Book
Feckenham, Abbot
Flora of Bath .
Forinsecum

Forum, Roman

Frederick, Prince of Wales a

Freemen of the City
Fuller’s Earth ...
Funeral Monuments

Gainsborough ...

Gisa, Bishop
Glastonbury...
Gordon Riots ...
Gournay, Sir Thomas de
Gout, treatment of..
Grammar School

Graves, Rev. nai ie

Grenville, Sir B.
Gunpowder Plot

Harington, Captain
Harington, Dr.
Harington, Sir John
Hartley, Dr. ...
Health Resort, Bath asa
Henrietta Maria, Queen
Herschels, The f
Hetling House
Hoare, Wm. ... ...
Holburne Bequest ...
Holloway, Prior
Hospitals—

Bellott’s

Mineral Water

Royal United

St. Catherine's

St. John's

te 54 9
St. Mary Magdalen’ s..

18

- 53
245, etc.
++ 46, 47, 51

7
102

53>
133, 201

102,
65,

108,

oo

264 Index.
PAGE. PAGE.
Hyde, Sir N. veo: « 66 ] Pitt, Earlof Chatham ... ... 83
Inscribed Stones aes we «IQ Population + 17, 48, 77
Inscription on King’s Bath .... 162 | Presentment of J Wries we ee 47
Insecta... eae 286 Pretender, birth of... 2... 2.200 71
Institution, Literary... ... 118 ee Park se. ve vee ve 135
Jocelyn, Bishop ... .. 1. 43 pagel meee aka be
John, King... ... .. + 44 | Pump RoomHotel |... |... 8
Kelston 2.0 0. ee ue vee 187
Kemble, Rev. C. diy neti es Ae Queen's Bath ... 159, 161
King, Bishop Oliver ... ... 140 ace Seen ison ae 4
King Edward’s'School... 53, 129 aleigh, Sir W. ... wu 56
King’ sBath . 154, 157 | Rauzzini ... .. _ 10g
Keuper Marls... ... 0... 218 peprecee tone in Parliament 46
Langridge wee 189 Renin treatment of ... 4
Lansdown, Battle of (1. 61, 197 | Roads, Ancient ae 173
Lawrence, Sir T. ... ... ... 105 | Roman Baths . . ae Gee
Lead, Pigs of . 6,16 | Rosenbers. Go| ie ee
Leland (description ‘of Baths) 155 | Ruber erg, Gi. eee 2A ae ae
Lepidoptera ... . 256 aepaeie ode | Ga | 194
Liss aa oe 223, 224 Saxon Baths ... ... 2. ... 153
Library, Abbey gay | School Board... 1. 1. 1. 97
i Tustitution. ONT ye4 », OfScience ... ... ... 120
» Tottenham ... ... 125 1 Royal... .. 133
Linleys, The ... .. 1. 1. 1OB Skin-diseases, treatment ‘of. 175
Literary Club... ... ... ... 126 Smith, MT oe ae ts 116, 225
Lifer! an yas toe ce on we | eos Mints 2X3, 247
SOMDUEY cac gan oes ued aol BOP
Markets ... oe ty ss @6T | Springs en see wee 233
Mayors of Bath... 45 . Hot 14
” Ot se ass an 347) 233
Mendip Hills, bsephen has ‘of 209, etc. | Stephen, King... ... 42
Mendip Mines... ... 6 | Swanswick 0 0. 191
Midford Sands axe ee wes “225 | Sydney Gardens 4. oy <x 260
es ae wait” “aoa! See? ane “125: Pai 192
illstone Grit . 21 a Bee en ees
Mineral Baths and Waters 147, 63 apne ng manne’. 2?
Mint at Bath ... 2. 0... > 33°] Turner De a ee ee
Monmouth, Duke of veces 70 | Tom: skulls i
Montague, ‘Bishop... IOI, 142 cee Bae eae ee z
Monumental Remains ... ... 13 ie pects Dt eh es Be NDS
Moore, Charles "rg, 2x9 Victoria Park... 1. 4. 2. 96
Municipal Charters "" 4s, 46, 74 he Roman... ...0 00. 12
Nash, Beau. ee 79 |g paella ary aan tO
Newton Seto too | Wade, Marshal 82, 142
39) 19 4
Neuralgia, treatment of... 175 blatant Toe ve tee 426, ee
, he sata ets ma I
ee rialones ay ae Walls, Borough Bae, ahs eas -
Palladian Bridge vee gee ae «260 | Wansdyke | 1, 8, 200, aed
Palmer, John... ... .- - 1g | Webster 0 1. 1. 78
Park, Victoria... ... .. .. 96 | Wesleyan College ee diva aes EQS
Peirce, Dr. S. vee ase nse 168 | Weston: sos 195
Pennant Sandstone... ... 214 Widcombe Church, ‘ete. 259, 260
Pitman, Isaac... ... ... \.. 128 | Wood, John ... be ena 4.

"APIETON MEN ‘YTAQP.

HOT MINERAL SPRINGS OF BATH.

The BATHS were

OUNDED by the Romans in the first
century, and, uninterruptedly con-
tinued on one site to the present time,
through successive changes of peoples,
opinions, fashion, neglect, reduction,
and enlargement.

The Establishments of the Baths are unrivalled for
scientific appliances of water and vapour as well as for
luxurious appointment.

The Mineral water is most liberally given in large Reclin-
ing Baths, which are more ample than it is believed can be
found elsewhere, whilst what are called “deep” Baths are a
speciality, each containing more than 800 gallons of water.

The Aix les Bains douches are each provided with a
powerful pressure and volume of water from two douche
pipes which are readily regulated as to temperature, and
provided with thermometers and pressure guages. ‘There is
also an additional douche (a feather douche) of the most
delicate construction, and a graduated shower. There are
various Sitz Baths, Sprays, Lave, Needle Baths, and internal
injections of every authorised variety :—Hot-plates and
douche for Lumbago and other complaints :—Dry and moist
heated rooms with atomised spray. Vapour as given off
from the Spring is applied locally to the arms, legs, etc., or
to the whole body, combined with atomised water or with-
out, as also with a graduated shower. Artificial preparations,
or natural mineral foreign waters, may be combined with the
Hot Mineral water or vapour.

An Inhalation Room is fitted with Mineral Water, in which
-vapour is produced by a spray, with the addition of direct
vapour; either of these methods of vapour may be applied
singly or combined or medicated. A Humage Room ad-
joins, where every known method is adopted for douching
the nose, eye, ear, or throat with or without steam, with
every combination of natural Mineral water or medical agents
ithat may be prescribed. There are three large Swimming
Baths of Tepid water, with separate dressing-rooms attached.
‘The King’s Bath is a large open bath into which the Mineral
‘water flows direct from the Spring, and is utilised at varying
and graduated degrees of temperature; this bath although
“of considerable size is not a swimming bath.

Attached to all the various Establishments are Cooling-
‘rooms, with a Smoking-room to the New Baths only.

In the Pump Room a fountain continuously flows with
Hot Mineral Water for Drinkers. The various systems of
Massage are administered in the Baths, as also “ packing”
the patient, with dry rubbing, if required.

A Tariff of fees for the Baths is placed in the Ticket-office ;
a small fee is paid, in addition to the charge for a bath, for
attendance ; this latter is an honorarium paid the servants in
addition to the weekly wages they receive from the Corpora-
tion.

The waters are most valuable in all cases of Rheumatism
and Gout; Psoriasis, Eczema, and many other skin affections.
‘The numerous testimonials afford sufficient evidence of the
therapeutic value of the water.

Readers are referred to the published testimonials and to
the many medical works on the Bath Mineral Water.

The Bathing Establishments are the King’s and Queen’s
Bath, the Royal Baths, the Cross Bath, and the New Baths
adjoining the Grand Pump Room Hotel.

All the Establishments are the property of the Corporation
.of the City of Bath, and are under the control of the Hot
Mineral Baths Committee. The Manager, Mr. Johnston,
-will afford every information to those who may require it.

Number of Bathers in the year ending March, 1888,
86,551 ; receipts, 45,707.

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