Soaking in Bath

On a whirlwind UK tour in 2016, Cory took me to the city of Bath. Bath, England, is located in the southwest/south central of England. Not quite as far west as Cornwall, rather closer to the southeastern border of Wales, near the larger city of Bristol. Though smaller and less prominent than London or York, Bath is a city where thousands of years of history is arguably more accessible than in London.

Bath is located just 50 minutes from Stonehenge and in city center, one can travel from ancient Roman times through the Middle Ages and into the Victorian age. While we arrived during a typical rainy day in England, we were none the less impressed with the architecture and sense of time in the place.

We decided that we would go to the Roman baths first, for which the city was named. The baths were once a focal point for the Roman garrison stationed here some 2000 years ago or so. The baths were heated from a natural hot spring and were considered a religious site dedicated to the Romano-Celtic deity Sulis-Minerva.

From the Roman baths at certain angles, you can just see the Medieval Abbey poking out over the top of the Roman architecture. Walking around the Roman baths it was weird to smell the sulfur and contemplate how Romans and native Britons would have used the site. It was fun to see a Roman Soldier walking around the baths guarding the temple to Sulis-Minerva. You were even allowed to taste the natural hot spring water from a special fountain, note it tasted and smelt like rotten eggs.

Following the baths we wanted to visit the Bath Abbey. As we walked the streets around to the Abbey we came across the gentleman pictured at the top of this post. I just really like how he captured the moisture on the pavement in his painting on this drizzly day, I also like the composition of a picture within a picture. This man was incredibly talented. He was able to capture the beauty of the area entirely.

The Bath Abbey, itself has a long history, the site was used for religious purposes by Britons and Romans, Anglo-Saxon Kings built the Abbey, Vikings and Normans sacked the area and finally the rise of Protestantism and the Church of England. The sculpture work and Gothic architecture is breath taking. Just outside the Abbey is a wonderful tea room, by the name of Boston Tea Party, which as an American I found hilarious. Bath was a unique and interesting stop over in our UK trip, I highly recommend it.

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