Designated
by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Bath presents some of the finest
architectural sights in Europe. Although the Roman Baths are perhaps
the single main draw for visitors, it is the city itself, 'Georgian
Bath' that normally leaves the fondest of memories.
Georgian Bath started in the 18th Century when England had a succession
of Kings called George. The initial impetus came from visits in 1688,
1692, 1702 and 1703 by Princess/Queen Anne who visited Bath to take
the waters. The frequency of her visits led to even greater aristocratic
patronage. |
One
of Bath's Original Bathing Houses |
The
cream of English society attracted people like Beau Nash, an opportunist
and card shark. At that time Bath was a cramped city, crammed within
its city walls. Beau Nash saw an opportunity by taking on the unpaid
job of master of ceremonies.
He would meet new arrivals to the city and judge whether they were
suitable to join the select "Company' of 500 to 600 people at
the centre of Bath society, match ladies with appropriate dancing
partners at each ball, pay the musicians at such events, broker marriages,
escort unaccompanied wives and regulate gambling (by restraining compulsive
gamblers or warning players against risky games or cardsharks). |
Enter
Ralph Allen, a local who had made a fortune organising the postal
service into something that we might recognise today.
Ralph Allen had invested in some local limestone quarries, the honey
coloured stone that characterises Bath's buildings today.
With this limestone an elegant new Bath was built, much of it on the
green field sites just outside the city walls together with elegant
parks and avenues which the rich could promenade and flaunt their
riches. |
North
Side Of Queen Square
Typical Palladian Architecture |
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Ralph
Allen's partner in this property development was John Wood the Elder,
an English architect who was responsible for most of the landmark
buildings we admire today. John Wood's son, John Wood the Younger
carried on after his father died and proved just as accomplished.
The building style used was called Palladian architecture, a European
style of architecture from Italy. The picture above of Queen Square
depicts what looks like a single grand building - in fact this is
many individual buildings with a common frontage made to give the
effect of a grand building - the Palladian style.
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Grand
buildings fit for the cream of society were built in this style, big
enough to accommodate the aristocracy and their entourage.
The Circus and the Royal Crescent were two of the choice residential
buildings which if rented would signify you had made it in society.
Today, though private, you can visit one building in the Royal Crescent
furnished as if in the Georgian Era.
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The
Circus |
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Other
infrastructure was built, parks to promenade in with bandstands
for music to entertain. Down by the river, a broad pavement in which
to promenade and show off your fashions. Assembly rooms where as
their name entails were where you would assemble and network during
afternoon tea and dancing. The first theatre arrived.
All this, you can get a real sense of today.
This was the age of Jane Austen who lived in Bath for some time.
A couple of her books are set in Bath and today the Jane Austen
museum is worthwhile.
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We
only have touched upon the history and provided an outline of what
Georgian Bath is all about.
We would recommend you take a free
walking tour of Georgian Bath with one of the Mayor's volunteer
guides.
Although free, these tours are very high quality taken by people proud
to show their city to visitors. The whole history of Georgian Bath
will unfold in a two hour plus walking tour covering all that is worth
seeing in Bath.
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Walking
Tour |
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