In 2001 [for our 35th Wedding Anniversary] my hubby and I went on a 13-day Globus British Heritage tour of England, Scotland and Wales. On the fourth day of that tour we had a two hour stop in Bath to see the Roman Baths. In my journal I wrote that our Globus tour guide said Bath and Stratford were the two most visited cities in England with the exception of London. Obviously, two hours wasn't enough time to see much more than the Roman Baths, and the city was very crowded with tourists that day.
A return visit to Bath was on this trip's itinerary where we'd have more time to see the city that was founded in the 1st century AD by the Romans. Round trip London/Bath train tickets were booked through Golden Tours as well as a day pass for the Hop-on Hop-off bus. We had to be at London's Paddington Station at 8:30 a.m. to take the 9:00 a.m. Great Western Railway train to Bath. But first we had to take the tube at Gloucester Station to get to Paddington Station. It was a bit unnerving because it was the first time using the tube during this visit and I didn't want to mess up and end up in a different part of London and miss our train. Fortunately all went well and we got to Paddington Station with time to spare. Once on the train it was a 1 hr. 29 minute ride to Bath.
~ Gloucester Road Underground Tube Station ~
~ Large and busting Paddington Station ~
The Great Western Railway Train pulled in 15 minutes before departure time.
~ Our pre-assigned seats were in Coach J, seats 55 & 56 ~
~ Bath Train Station ~
It was a bright sunny day as we walked from the train station to the center of the city where the first thing on the agenda was visiting the Georgian Pump Room for their "Morning Bakery", which was a delicious Bath Bun and Pot of English Breakfast Tea. This menu offering was served until 11:30 a.m. so we didn't have a lot of time to spare, but we did stop for a couple of photos on the way.
~ A Butterfly floral display ~
The City of Bath is a World Heritage Site.
Abbey Churchyard [court-like]. Entrance to the Roman Baths and Pump Room are in the background.
The historic Georgian Pump Room, located in the Abbey Churchyard, adjoining the Roman Baths, dates back to 1795 and was built to accommodate the demand for drinking the spa waters and socializing. The water was pumped into the room from the bath's hot springs, hence its name. In Georgian times the recommendation was to drink three glasses at 6:00 a.m. on an empty stomach for medicinal and curative purposes. Today the Pump Room is a lovely tearoom/restaurant, but the fountain is still there and guests can taste the water. Like everything else in Bath, the Pump Room is built of Bath stone. This was intentionally done so the city would all look alike.
Jane Austen was familiar with the Pump Room and used it as the setting in her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
As you can see in the photos, the restaurant and city were bustling with tourists the day we were there - just like our 2001 visit.
A resident pianist played softly while guests dined. Music has been provided in the Pump Room since the original building opened in 1706. The current building opened in 1795.
~ Warm, toasted Bath Bun with Cinnamon Butter. Yum! ~
Below is the marble vase and fountain in the Pump Room where guests can taste the water from the hot springs. I declined because it is said to have a mineral taste.
The Pump Room looks down onto the old Roman Baths [photo below]. A self-guided audio tour was part of our 2001 Globus Tour, so we passed on seeing it again this trip.
The Romans built the baths when they ruled England. They came there to worship the goddess Sulis Minerva and bathe in the natural thermal springs for healing. During the Georgian Era the English also used them. Over 2,000 years old, these first spas still flow with hot water today even though they are no longer used.
When we left the Pump Room we got on the Hop-on, Hop-off tour bus parked on the side of Bath Abbey. Unfortunately we didn't have time to tour the Abbey on either of our visits. Clear skies gave way to clouds, but it never rained while we were there.
We decided to take the full 50-minute Bath tour before hopping off at stop #8, Queen's Square, the location of the Jane Austen centre.
~ Jane Austen Centre Guide ~
Jane Austen's parents were married in Bath in 1764. She began writing Northanger Abbey [originally titled Susan] in 1798 and likely finished it it during her six weeks stay at 13 Queen's Square in Bath in 1799. Her brother, Edward, had invited her [along with her mother and sister] to accompany him there where he planned to take the waters to help his ill-health. At that time, Bath was the most famous resort town in England.
Jane's father retired and moved to Bath with his wife and daughters in 1801. The family lived in four different locations in Bath from 1801 to 1806 before relocating to Southampton.
The Jane Austen Center at 40 Gay Street is very similar to the house at 25 Gay Street where Jane lived following her father's death in 1805.
Quote of Jane's: "I really believe I shall always be talking of Bath... I do like it so very much."
To be continued...
An interesting day!
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