Bath
“I really believe I shall always be talking of Bath, when I am at home again—I do like it so very much…. Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?”
We’re off to visit Bath, but first, a quick diversion. On Tuesday we had to get some groceries so we drove to Shaftesbury with the added purpose of visiting the site of the Hovis bread company’s Boy on the Bike TV commercial from 1973. (In 2019, Hovis had the commercial remastered and you can watch that version here.) Sir Ridley Scott launched his directing career with the commercial before going on to direct Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and The Martian. He also produced countless other movies and TV series. Here’s an iconic image from the commercial.
“‘twas like taking bread to the top of the world.”
Ironically, Amanda is holding a sourdough round from Reeve the Baker. Shhh, don’t tell Hovis! 🤫
The cobbled Gold Hill runs beside the buttressed walls (on the right) of the precinct, which are the grounds surrounding ancient Shaftesbury Abbey, built by King Alfred the Great, presumably in the 1360s. As Pam would say, “There’s old ‘stuff’ everywhere!”
Such a day—is it really winter?!
At the bottom of the famous Gold Hill. And now, on to Bath!
Bath
It hardly seems possible that Will arrived in London nearly a month ago. We’ve seen so much and had so much fun together it’s hard to think about saying goodbye! 😩 To make the very most of our time we spent Wednesday exploring the incomparable city of Bath.
Once the site of one of the great religious spas of the ancient world; the people of Roman Britain came to the site to worship the goddess Sulis Minerva and bath in the waters of the natural thermal springs, which still flow with hot water today.
The Roman Baths exhibit allows you to explore the Roman Baths complex, walk on the original Roman pavements, and see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva.
Not only is the 2,000-year-old complex amazing to visit, but the nearby Bath Abbey adds a dramatic backdrop. Will is standing on the terrace above the Great Bath.
Piping hot water travels from over a mile underground and pours out of three springs to fill the baths.
Will standing in front of the Great Bath with Bath Abbey in the background.
Roman photo-bombers! 😂
March 2018
“The” step in 2009
“The” step in 2023
“The” step in 2018
“The” step in 2023
Located above the Roman Baths, today’s Pump Room stands on the site of a smaller building built in 1706. Aristocrats came here to “take the waters”—believing in the curative powers of drinking water from the hot springs.
As visitor numbers grew, a larger Grand Pump Room was built in the early 1790s. It soon became the destination for high society to meet and enjoy lavish entertainment. Jane Austen mentioned the waters in her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, and they are specifically shown in the movie The Duchess with Keira Knightley.
Bottoms up!
After visiting the Roman Baths, we stopped to visit a few perennial favorites such as Sally Lunn’s.
Back in 2009.
Revisiting our B&B room at 3 Abbey Green from 2015 (see below). It appears the room is no longer a B&B.
During the autumn and winter of 1816-1817, one of the most iconic Gothic novels of all time was being crafted here in Bath. Author Mary Shelley was living at 5 Abbey Churchyard (the building to the right) as she wrote much of Frankenstein, the story of a gifted scientist and the monster he brings to life.
Two cool dudes on the North Parade Bridge over the River Avon with the Pulteney Weir and Pulteney Bridge in the background.
A bit closer to the weir and bridge.
The Pulteney Weir
The Royal Crescent
Of course Will had to visit one of his favorite stores.
We ended the evening with a few hours at Thermae Bath Spa. The hot springs in Bath, from which the City derives its name, deliver over 220,000 gallons of hot, mineral-rich water every day. Therma Spa uses that water to fill it’s rooftop pool and indoor Minerva Bath.
They don’t allow creeper pedos to take cameras inside, so all I can offer are images found on Uncle Bryn’s Whisky With Water.
The water fell as rain around 10,000 years ago and then sank over a mile below the earth’s surface. Here it is heated by high temperature rocks to an estimated 156º F before rising back up through one of the three springs in the center of the City—namely via the Cross Spring, the Hetling Spring, and the King’s Spring. Once they reach the surface, the spring waters are on average 113º F. The waters then cool down to the optimum bathing temperature of approximately 93º F.
