Bath Spa - Healing Water Town
A Favourite and Famous Southern English Mineral Waters Town
Nov 24, 2007
Bath radiates a genteel splendour that evolved due to its natural hot mineral springs. It became the in-place for the well-to-dos of the 17th and 18h century and the city grew affluent and famous across Europe for its healing spring waters that were used to create a series of public baths.
Royalty and nobles swarmed from Europe at first for the healing qualities of Bath’s mineral-spring spas and later for the prestige of the city. As the public became more demanding, smaller and more intimate bathing pools were added.
These days an air of worn decadence abounds in the city, with pretty curved terraces of honey-coloured stone buildings and dilapidated Roman bathhouses.
The History of Bath
Archaeological evidence shows a human presence around Bath, which would have been steaming and boggy, at least 8,000 years BC. According to the local legends the City of Bath was founded in 863 BC by Prince Bladud who, after bathing in the hot muddy swamp waters, was cured of a leprous condition.
The last of its famous baths was closed in 1978 for health reasons, but that hasn’t stopped the city being a favourite spot to visit. Travellers, as they have for hundreds of years, still make their way to Bath, and now after nearly two decades, taking the waters in Bath is a reality once again.
Even though the non-spa period didn’t put a halt to visitors, the tradition and hot springs upon which Bath was built ensures a blooming future as the city now celebrates its first anniversary of being spa-town again.
Some of the 18th century bathhouses along with new spa buildings were opened in 2006. Millennium project funding enabled the city to restore one of its most valuable natural resources for public enjoyment.
Spa Hotels in Bath
The Thermae Bath Spa consists of four hot spring baths – the 18th century Hot Bath and Cross Bath and two modern baths in a new building of stone and glass.
The mineral waters that feed these baths come from the Hetling, Cross and King springs, which between them can provide around 1 million litres of water a day with a temperature of 45 degrees centigrade.
Further spa projects are in the pipeline with the listed Gainsborough building near the Thermae Spa being transformed into a luxury hotel, using the thermal mineral waters that Bath is famous for. The hotel has a proposed opening date for 2009.
While in Bath why not take a peek at the American Quilt Museum or check out Luxury UK Travel.
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