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Virtual Tour of Bath (the number on slide matches the number on map). 1. Standing outside the Tourist Information Centre.
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Virtual Tour of Bath(the number on slide matches the number on map)
1. Standing outside the Tourist Information Centre • City of Bath is famous for the hot springs – Romans took advantage of them, they worshipped Sulis godess of the springs and the city was named Aquae Sulis ‘the waters of sulis’. • Romans built the Temple of Sulis attached to the Roman Baths just a few yards away. Just in front of you is the Great Bath which is the most important of all the baths. • After the Romans the baths were forgotten and in the mid 18th Century became famous again.
1. Standing outside the Tourist Information Centre • On your right is Bath Abbey • Current Abbey founded 1499, it is known as the last great gothic church in England. • Huge church fantastic stained glass windows. Worth looking inside.
2. Abbey Church Yard • Stand with your back to the Abbey to the left is the Roman Baths. • Romans Bath huge complex – The Great Bath is fed by natural hot springs. It is lined with lead. • There is a temple here where Romans bought offerings to Sulis Minerva. The head of her statue was found in Stall Street in the 18th Century. • Many historical anecdotes about taking the Baths. • Also popular to drink the water. A pump room was built as a meeting place to drink the water.
3. Kings Bath on Stall Street opposite Bath Street • Bath is a world heritage site - On road in front of you is the World Heritage Site Symbol of Outstanding Universal Beauty. • Bath street is a colonaded street built in 18th Century. • Thermae Spa has been built as a modern day Spa. It has an open air pool on top of the roof fed by the natural springs. .
4. Corner of Hetling Court and Westgate Buildings • Walk on right hand side of Westgate Buildings bear right into Saw Close you will see the Theatre Royal in front of you.
5. Theatre Royal • Theatre Royal oldest working theatre in the country established in 1705. Several incarnations over the years. • Current building opened in 1863 after a fire. • Very popular today .
6. Queens Square • Plaza built by John Wood the elder between 1738 and 1735. • Terrace on western side of the square originally was built as 3 individual houses. 100 years after it was built, it was removed and rebuilt in ‘Greek Revival’ style as it is today. • Most impressive is the northern side built to resemble a palace. Built out of 7 individual houses. • John Wood lived a number 9 Queen Square centre of south side. House is reportedly haunted by a woman who hanged herself in the house. • Obelisk in the centre built to commemorate the visit by Frederick Prince of Wales in 1738. .
7. Royal Avenue • Walk along Royal Avenue • After a visit in the 19th Century by Queen Victoria, she allowed this road to be named after her. Leads to the Royal Crescent. • Mini Golf area on left. Head right pass between a fir tree and a giant urn. • At a junction of paths you get a fantastic view of the Royal Crescent. .
8. The Royal Crescent • Royal Crescent if built out of 30 houses. • 114 columns on the front of the façade. • Just the façade was built by John Wood the Younger in 1767. Individual builders built the houses behind the façade in whatever style they wanted so long as the façade remained the same. • No 1 Royal Crescent was built as an example. It is very untouched and is now a museum. • It is thought that the Crescent represents the moon and the Circus the moon. .
9. The Circus • The Circus was built by John Wood the Elder 1754 and finished by John Wood the Younger. • It consists of 33 houses with 3 evenly spaced entrances. • It is thought that The Circus represents Woods fascination with Drewids and Stonehenge. It is exactly the same diameter as the grass circle that surrounds Stonehenge. • The columns of the buildings represent the 3 classic orders of architecture - Doric on ground floor, Iconic with scrolls on 1st and Corinthian with acathanthus leaves on 2nd floor. .
10. The Assembly Rooms • Work of John Wood the Younger in 1799. • Place to drink dance and socialise. • Open to the public. • Also houses the Museum of Costume in the basement. .
11. Entrance to Bartlett Street • Look back along Alfred street at the back of the houses that make up the Circus a contrast to the façade. .
12. George Street and Milsom Street • Milsom Street originally built as a residential street. Now has many shops and restaurants. • Walk down Milsom Street to New Bond Street. .
13. New Bond Street Place • Walk along this narrow passage to Union Passage where it meets Westgate Street. • Cross the street through the archway to Abbey Churchyard. Pass to the right of the Abbey back to the tourist information centre. .