Roman Baths (Bath)
The Roman Baths | |
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General information | |
Town or city | Bath |
Country | England |
Coordinates | 51°22′51″N 2°21′34″W / 51.3809°N 2.3595°W |
Construction started | Baths – 1st century Building – 1894 |
Completed | 1897 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | John Brydon (museum building)[1] |
The Roman Baths are well-preserved thermae in the city of Bath, Somerset, England. A temple was constructed on the site between 60 and 70 AD in the first few decades of Roman Britain. Its presence led to the development of the small Roman urban settlement known as Aquae Sulis around the site. The Roman baths—designed for public bathing—were used until the end of Roman rule in Britain in the 5th century AD. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the original Roman baths were in ruins a century later. The area around the natural springs was redeveloped several times during the Early and Late Middle Ages.
The Roman Baths are preserved in four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House, and a museum which holds
Hot spring
The water is sourced from rainfall on the nearby Mendip Hills, which then percolates down through limestone aquifers to a depth of between 2,700 and 4,300 metres (8,900 and 14,100 ft). Geothermal energy raises the water temperature here to between 69 and 96 °C (156.2 and 204.8 °F). Under pressure, the heated water rises along fissures and faults in the limestone, until it bubbles up from the ground into the baths. This process is similar to an enhanced geothermal system, which also makes use of the high pressures and temperatures below the Earth's crust. Hot water at a temperature of 46 °C (114.8 °F) rises here at the rate of 1,170,000 litres (257,364 imp gal) every day,[3] from a geological fault (the Pennyquick fault). In 1982 a new spa water bore-hole was sunk, providing a clean and safe supply of spa water for drinking in the Pump Room.[4]
Water quality
Bath was charged with responsibility for the hot springs in a Royal Charter of 1591 granted by Elizabeth I. This duty has now passed to Bath and North East Somerset Council, who monitor pressure, temperature and flow rates. The thermal waters contain sodium, calcium, chloride and sulphate ions in high concentrations.[5]
The Roman Baths are no longer used for bathing. In October 1978, a young girl swimming in the restored Roman Bath with the Bath Dolphins, a local swimming club, contracted
History
Archaeological evidence indicates that the site of the baths may have been a centre of worship used by
Roman Britain
The name Sulis continued to be used after the
About 130 curse tablets have been found. Many of the curses are related to thefts of clothes whilst the victim was bathing.[19]
Post-Roman use
The baths have been modified on several occasions, including the 12th century, when John of Tours built a curative bath over the King's Spring reservoir, and the 16th century, when the city corporation built a new bath (Queen's Bath) to the south of the spring.[20] Anne of Denmark came to Bath twice for her health. The court physician Théodore de Mayerne bathed Anne of Denmark in the King's Bath on 19 May 1613.[21] She returned in August 1615.[22] Anne of Denmark was surprised by a flame caused by natural gas in King's Bath, and thereafter used the New Bath or Queen's Bath where a column with a crown and the inscription "Anna Regnum Sacrum" was added in her honour.[23]
The spring is now housed in 18th-century buildings, designed by architects
The visitor entrance is via an 1897 concert hall by J. M. Brydon. It is an eastward continuation of the Grand Pump Room, with a glass-domed centre and single-storey radiused corner.
Museum
The museum houses artefacts from the Roman period, including objects that were thrown into the Sacred Spring, presumably as offerings to the goddess. These include more than 12,000
The Bath Roman Temple stood on a podium more than two metres above the surrounding courtyard, approached by a flight of steps. On the approach there were four large, fluted
The great head itself has snakes entwined within its beard, wings above its ears, beetling brows and a heavy moustache.
In early 2010 various stones on the pediment were conserved and rearranged.
Preservation
The late 19th century carvings of
In 2009 a grant of £90,000 was made to Bath and North East Somerset Council to contribute towards the cost of re-developing displays and improving access to the Roman Baths,[42] by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport/Wolfson Fund, which was established to promote improvements in Museums and Galleries in England.[43] Subsequent grants have funded further work on the exhibition design and layout by London-based specialist firm, Event Communications.[44][45]
Gallery
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Spring overflow
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Gorgon head
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Frigidarium (cold pool)
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Caldarium. The room uses Roman hypocausts; a floor would have been supported by these structures, where hot air would circulate beneath and heat the room.
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Model of Roman Bath andRoman Templeof Sulis Minerva as they would have looked at their greatest extent in 4th century AD
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Hippocamp mosaic
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The 'Sacred Pool'
See also
References
- ^ Historic England. "Roman Baths Museum (1394021)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ "ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions". www.alva.org.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ "Sacred Spring". Roman Baths Museum Web Site. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ "Hot Water". Roman Baths Museum Web Site. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ "Bath Hot Springs — Protection and Water Monitoring". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "History of Bath's Spa". Bath Tourism. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ISBN 9780275987398. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- PMID 7793928.
- ^ Tindall, Laurence. "Roman Baths King Bladud 1982". Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ a b "The Roman Baths". Somerset Tourist Guide. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ISBN 0-14-044170-0.
- ISBN 0-19-820265-2.
- ^ "City of Bath World Heritage Site Management Plan". Bath and North East Somerset. Archived from the original on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "The History of Plumbing — Roman and English Legacy". Plumbing World. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ a b "The Roman Baths". TimeTravel Britain. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "The Roman Baths". BirminghamUk.com. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ISBN 0-340-20116-9.
- ^ Bayley, Stephen (September 2007). "Is Bath Britain's most backward city?". The Observer. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ Roger Tomlin (1988), Tabellae Sulis: Roman inscribed tablets of tin and lead from the sacred spring at Bath, Oxford.
- ^ a b "City of Bath World Heritage Site Management Plan — Appendix 3". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 4 August 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ Joseph Browne,Theo. Turquet Mayernii Opera medica: Formulae Annae & Mariae (London, 1703), p. 20
- ^ William Shaw & G. Dyfnallt Owen, HMC 77 Viscount De L'Isle Penshurst, vol. 5 (London, 1961), p. 307.
- ^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), pp. 640, 643.
- ^ "William Smith — A brief survey of his work in the Bath". Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ Historic England. "Concert Hall (442115)". Images of England. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
- ^ Historic England. "Grand Pump Room (442115)". Images of England. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
- ^ Historic England. "North Colonnade at Grand Pump Room (442111)". Images of England. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009.
- ^ Historic England. "South Colonnade at Grand Pump Room (442112)". Images of England. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009.
- ^ Historic England. "Museum & Queen's Bath including "Bridge" spanning York Street to City Laundry (442116)". Images of England. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009.
- ^ "Objects from the spring". Roman Baths Museum Web Site. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ "Minerva's Head". Roman Baths Museum Web Site. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- S2CID 162695154.
- ^ "New addition to Gorgon's head". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 4 December 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "The Gorgon's head". Roman Baths Museum Web Site. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ S2CID 191391802.
- ^ "Key objects of the collection". Roman Baths Museum Web Site. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ "Bath Roman Baths repairs by Minerva". Minerva Stone Conservation. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
- ^ "Planning permission granted for Archway Project at the Roman Baths". The Roman Baths. 14 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ "Roman Baths learning centre planning permission granted". BBC News. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ "Conserving the monument". Roman Baths Museum Web Site. Archived from the original on 7 October 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ "Temple precinct work complete". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ Morris, Steven (10 September 2010). "Bath cleansing brings Romans back to life". Guardian. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "DCMS Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund A Public Private Partnership (2002 to 2010)" (PDF). The Wolfson Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "High Life and Low Life in Roman Britain". Event Communications. 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ "Interview with Event Communications – East Baths Project". TheRomanBaths. 2017. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Conservation work within the baths.
- BBC 360 degree panorama
- 360 degree virtual Panomorphic Tour of the museum.
- History of Bath's Spa.