Bath's baths.

We has spotted that there was a free walking tour by the Mayor's guides every day, and they stressed that they didn't take tips either, so we were standing by at 1030 to join the throng. We were pleased to see that for the crowd of about 50 or 60 there were four guides. and for the next almost two and a half hours we had a very informative tour of the main points of Bath's History. I would recommend it to anybody. We had taken in the main places yesterday but it was good to here the history and stories today. Most folk who have been to Bath will have seen the Crescent and the Circus, and we had some photos of the Crescent yesterday. It is difficult to get a photo of the Circus due to the trees.

The carvings on the buildings of the Circus are all different and expertly done in the ubiquitous bath Stone.

This photo shows the Royal Crescent at the top with the green in front of it with the straight road leading down to the Circus with the trees in the middle. What do you think it looks like? We were told a key,and as the builders were John Wood junior and senior and as they were both Free Mason's it was suggested that this was a major masonic icon. Em, not sure but a good story.

After out walking tour we went back to the boat for lunch and to read the papers before our next outing. In lieu of children being present on Father's Day Helen had booked a package at the Roman Baths. The normal audio tour followed by an hour's guided tour followed by a three course dinner and coffee. It appeared to be quite expensive, but then everything seems to be here, but in fact it was a good deal we think. The audio tour was extensive and despite the crowds we comfortably got to see everything and it took us well over an hour. We were then met bu our guide Eugene. As there was nobody else booked on the tour we had a personal guide. He explained the context of everything we saw and explained the engineering of the system.

There are layers of history in the bath complex. In the photo above the original roman baths are at the bottom. This was a working facility and is where the Romans and the local elders socialised. Above that the overlooking terrace was about 1700's when the waters started to be taken, and then on top of that was the Victorian gentrification part. The source of the hot water for this complex comes from the hot spring that was the shrine for the first people of the area. The Romans incorporated their shrine and God in their own worship when they arrived so next door was a temple complex. Although it appeared busy Eugene explained to us that in Roman times there would have been the same number using the complex each day as were there today it was that popular and necessary.

The original Roman Baths were roofed in and had the usual bath system of hot, cold and and tepid pools along with the baths. You weren't allowed in the baths until you had been through the hot pools etc. After the Romans left England the Baths fell into disrepair and only parts of the system remained known about. This photo shows the Kings pool that was built for the sick people to use when the healing properties of the water became appreciated. It was provided free for the infirm people. The water level is back to the Roman one but the water line of the King's Bath can be seen by the staining on the walls. There is much more to learn about the baths but It would take for ever. Eugene showed us an area not open to the public that showed the huge extent of the complex that isn't open to the public. He also showed us where the table where the money was taken as shown by the hollows in the stone floor and even where it had been moved to when the hollow became too deep. He gave us lots of fascinating detail that really added to the audio tour. We went over the road to the Roman Bath Kitchen and had a lovely meal. All in all a real treat for Father's Day, and as I say it felt like worth all we paid.

Bath Abbey west entrance. We were told that the bishop builder signed his work. It can be seen on the left column. There is a Bishop's Mitre above an olive tree with a crown beneath. He was Bishop Oliver King! He was moved to build the place due to a vision of angels climbing to and from heaven and these can also be seen either side of the big window.

This must be a Victorian teetotalers monument as it is a fountain with 'Water is Best' on it. Needless to say we skipped a pub tonight!

Georgian Great Pulteney Street looking back to the bridge. Both sides are different but there is a symetry about it all  none the less. The pavements are wide for promenading on too. Right behind us is the Holburne Museum that looks straight down the road.

Above can be seen Pulteney Weir and the back of the Guild Hall will a colonnaded walk beneath the road.

This is the weir and Pulteney Bridge. Pulteney Bridge is only one of four or five bridges that have shops on it. Eugene told us that as the centre of the city filled speculators bought land on the east bank and built the bridge for access to it. Nobody seemed to be taking up the options to build so when they surveyed the reason why that found that people felt that crossing the river felt like leaving the hub of the city and going down market. To solve this they built shops on the bridge so you really can't see that you are crossing the river! It must have worked as all the properties were sold.

Today we seemed to have got to grips with the city and acclimatised to the crowds etc. The whole place is unified through the use of the Bath stone. However to me, a dour northern, it does make the place seem a bit of a film set. I like things a little more like real life. A bit like thinking Birmingham is all like Brindley Place without having done the locks and the weed hatch visits to get there! Well worth coming though.