Is the Town this Clean *Because* Its Called Bath?

This is a place which feels just the right size, with just the right amount of history. An important center, but not with the overwhelming sprawl, rubbish and overwhelming dining options of the London metropolis. Definitely more my speed if I was to be here long term.

Roman Baths

I had a great time working my way through the Roman Baths. Although size-wise the complex paled in comparison to a lot of the ruins I was able to visit in and around Rome, I was so appreciative of the meticulous documentation and explanations that were offered here. I think the sheer amount of ruins and artifacts in Rome means that they don’t treat them with as much gravity, but that was not the case in Bath at all. I legitimately felt like I understood the function, history, and significance of every room by the time I wandered out. Of course I am the architecture geek, but I don’t think I was alone in my surprise at how engaging the entire exhibit was.

Bath Abbey

The pleasant surprise of the day was the Abbey which rose up over the center of town and overlooked the Roman Baths. Constructed in 1499, it was a fairly humble example of gothic construction techniques, but I was impressed with the stained glass windows, which told Old Testament stories on the West Window and depicted scenes from the life of Jesus on the East side. The best component of the church was the fan vaults which decorated the ceiling. I don’t remember seeing examples like them before, and I spent quite a while admiring them from below. A fun detail was mentioned in the pamphlet: the West End of the church required ceiling repair in the 1890s, so the fan vaults were actually copies of the originals above the altar. If you look closely in the photos, you can see that the copies weren’t handled as elegantly as the originals: the seams at the stone joints are clearly visible.

Bonus points to Bath for the best bookshop we’ve encountered thus far, Topping & Company, built into an interesting religious structure with a classical fascia.

[now playing: Another Town, Another Train – Abba]