Thursday, June 25, 1953 9.00 a.m. Left Bristol by special coaches for Bath.

10.00 a.m. Arrived at Bath Guildhall and visited BATH ABBEY.

The building of this abbey started in 1499 in the reign of the Tudor King Henry VII. It has been described as the last great church in the English Perpendicular style. Of particular note is the interior fan vault roof.

11.15 a.m. Visited the Pump Room, Roman Baths,Guildhall and Banqueting Room.

The Great Bath, 70ft long, was part of the complex at the heart of Roman Bath. Nearby the builders raised a temple dedicated to Sulis-Minerva - the Celtic god and their own goddess of healing. Water still enters the bath by Roman plumbing from King's Bath.

The main spring at Bath produces 250,000 gallons of water each day at a temperature of 46.5°c (116°F). The Romans built a reservoir around the spring to create a head of water to feed their baths complex. Now known as King's Bath, it is overlooked by the Pump Room, and its overflow (right) can be seen in the museum. King's Bath was sacred, and the museum has a fascinating collection of objects dropped into it by pious Romans. They include more than 12,000 coins, four of them of gold, metal cups, and a fine bronze brooch.

12.45 p.m. Arrived at the City of Bath Boys' School where lunch was served by courtesy of the Headmaster, Mr. L. H. Scott, M.A.

1.45 p.m. Returned to the City for a conducted tour to places of historical and architectural interest.

4.00 p.m. Tea in the Pump Room Restaurant.

A statue of Beau Nash (1674-1762), centre top of picture, surveys the Pump Room built some 30 years after his death. Today, visitors may take tea or coffee and a Sally Lunn bun as in olden days, or sample the spa water from the elegant pump fountain.

5.00 p.m. Left Bath for Bristol, visiting Prior Park College enroute.

Take a Roman Baths Tour

Next Day