THE
MAYOR OF BATH'S CORPS OF HONORARY GUIDES
|
THE
MAYOR OF BATH'S CORPS OF HONORARY GUIDES |
|
About Bath It
was during the Roman occupation of Britain during the 1st Century AD
that Bath first became both a
recognised health spa, based
upon utilising
the natural hot spring waters, and a centre of worship (albeit pagan for the
first few hundred years). During the 8th Century, the first of three
Christian churches on the site of today’s Abbey Church was constructed. Then,
in 1088, King William II appointed John of Tours as Bishop of Somerset, who
decided to base his See in Bath. This led not only to the construction of a
mighty cathedral on the site of the original Saxon church but also the building
of a new spa facility, which provided healing waters right through to the
present day. In 1499, King Henry VII appointed Oliver King as Bishop of Bath and
Wells, who was responsible for the original construction of
todays smaller but beautiful
Abbey Church on the same site. Although King Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the
Monasteries resulted in the end of the role of Benedictine monks in Bath -
stretching over the previous five hundred years – and the stripping of the
Abbey Church in 1539, the church was fortunately fully restored at the
initiative of Queen Elizabeth I, following a visit to Bath in 1574. The
ongoing influence of the spa and its healing waters resulted, during the first
half of the 18th Century, in the city of Bath becoming the centre of
English society and fashion, and then, by the end of the century, a renowned
centre for shopping. A number of personalities were associated with the rise of
Bath during the period, among them the architect John Wood, renowned for
initiating the construction of the beautiful and elegant Georgian city, and
Richard Nash, who was equally significant in transforming the social life of the
time in his capacity as Master of Ceremonies, notably ensuring that society
adhered to the same conventions of conversation, dress and
behaviour.
At the same time, the spa facilities remained second to none in the
country, notably for treatment of the sick, visited by all levels of society
including royalty. Social
behaviour
during the period was also increasingly expressed through consumption – with
Bath gradually being portrayed as a consumer’s paradise. Modern
Bath continues to benefit from the inheritance from the 18th Century
with its magnificent Georgian architecture, the ancient Roman Baths and the
modern spa facilities and the range of wonderful shops, notably in the renowned
Milsom Street, together with a wide choice of fine hotels and restaurants. The perfect place for an enjoyable visit! |
|
Webmaster Ken
Jefferies
Web hosting by FreeVirtualServers |
