The Roman Baths are probably the most impressive public building from Roman Britain. They played an important social function. As well as bathing they were a place to meet and socialise.
As well as the actual baths and hot spring, they also included a temple to Sulis Minerva and a tholos, a small round temple surrounded by an open colonnade of pillars, and the only one known in Britain.
Rain falling on the Mendip Hills percolates down through the limestone to a depth of 2700-4300m. Geothermal energy raises the temperature of the water to 69-96˚. Under pressure the hot water rises up through cracks in the limestone forming hot springs. These hot springs have long been known to have medicinal properties.
There is a legend that Bladud, a C9th BC prince had contracted leprosy. He had been banished from court and became a swineherd. He noticed that when his pigs wallowed in a steaming swamp they were cleared of all their warts and sore spots. Bladud also wallowed in the swamp and was cured of his leprosy.
In the 1st century BC, the Dobunni ruled the area and dedicated the healing springs to the goddess Sulis. The Romans arrived and identified Sulis with the Roman goddess Minerva. A temple was built on the site between 60-70AD. Hot spring water was channelled into a lead-lined chamber, the Sacred Spring, which formed a reservoir for the baths as well as a settling tank to prevent sediment blocking up the pipes feeding the network of other baths.
An overflow drain was built to take away excess water.
Over the years, a full-scale bath complex grew around it, complete with plunge pools and exercise hall. Originally bathing was mixed, but later bathing was segregated with women and children using the east baths and men using the west baths.
The Baths were covered by a series of domed vaults constructed of hollow bricks to reduce weight and also improve insulation.
The Roman Baths in Bath are unusual for their size and complexity, as they had a curative function as well as just hygiene. As well as the Sacred Spring, there is a large communal bath, the great bath, with alcoves for people to sit and relax, along with separate east and west baths, all fed from the water from the sacred spring.
With the introduction of Christianity into Britain in the C2nd AD, the temple fell into disrepair and was covered over. The baths continued to be used until the end of the Roman era in the C5th when they fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up and flooding. They were gradually covered by later buildings.
The hot springs were still known for their curative properties and people continued to visit Bath hoping they would cure them of their ailments. The King's Bath was built over the site of the Sacred Spring in the C12th century with the Queen's Bath added in the C16th, after visits by Anne of Denmark, wife of James I
In the C18th ‘taking the waters’ became fashionable and a Pump Room was built next to the baths. Three glasses of water were drunk for their medicinal benefits before bathing.
The Roman Baths were ‘rediscovered’ in the late C19th after a leak was discovered in the King’s Bath. Digging through its bottom revealed the Roman Sacred Spring below it, still with its water filled reservoir. Surrounding buildings were bought and demolished to reveal the extent of the Roman Baths beneath them.
They reopened to visitors in 1883
A competition was held to launch the rediscovered baths. This included a colonnaded walk above the great bath, complete with statues of Roman emperors and an impressive facade which now houses the ticket office and museum built over the remains of the Roman temple and tholos which contains artefacts found during excavations.
The baths continued to be used until closed in 1976 after concerns about the safety of the water. The green colour is due to the growth of algae in the warm waters.
Cont...
As well as the actual baths and hot spring, they also included a temple to Sulis Minerva and a tholos, a small round temple surrounded by an open colonnade of pillars, and the only one known in Britain.
Rain falling on the Mendip Hills percolates down through the limestone to a depth of 2700-4300m. Geothermal energy raises the temperature of the water to 69-96˚. Under pressure the hot water rises up through cracks in the limestone forming hot springs. These hot springs have long been known to have medicinal properties.
There is a legend that Bladud, a C9th BC prince had contracted leprosy. He had been banished from court and became a swineherd. He noticed that when his pigs wallowed in a steaming swamp they were cleared of all their warts and sore spots. Bladud also wallowed in the swamp and was cured of his leprosy.
In the 1st century BC, the Dobunni ruled the area and dedicated the healing springs to the goddess Sulis. The Romans arrived and identified Sulis with the Roman goddess Minerva. A temple was built on the site between 60-70AD. Hot spring water was channelled into a lead-lined chamber, the Sacred Spring, which formed a reservoir for the baths as well as a settling tank to prevent sediment blocking up the pipes feeding the network of other baths.
An overflow drain was built to take away excess water.
Over the years, a full-scale bath complex grew around it, complete with plunge pools and exercise hall. Originally bathing was mixed, but later bathing was segregated with women and children using the east baths and men using the west baths.
The Baths were covered by a series of domed vaults constructed of hollow bricks to reduce weight and also improve insulation.
The Roman Baths in Bath are unusual for their size and complexity, as they had a curative function as well as just hygiene. As well as the Sacred Spring, there is a large communal bath, the great bath, with alcoves for people to sit and relax, along with separate east and west baths, all fed from the water from the sacred spring.
With the introduction of Christianity into Britain in the C2nd AD, the temple fell into disrepair and was covered over. The baths continued to be used until the end of the Roman era in the C5th when they fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up and flooding. They were gradually covered by later buildings.
The hot springs were still known for their curative properties and people continued to visit Bath hoping they would cure them of their ailments. The King's Bath was built over the site of the Sacred Spring in the C12th century with the Queen's Bath added in the C16th, after visits by Anne of Denmark, wife of James I
In the C18th ‘taking the waters’ became fashionable and a Pump Room was built next to the baths. Three glasses of water were drunk for their medicinal benefits before bathing.
The Roman Baths were ‘rediscovered’ in the late C19th after a leak was discovered in the King’s Bath. Digging through its bottom revealed the Roman Sacred Spring below it, still with its water filled reservoir. Surrounding buildings were bought and demolished to reveal the extent of the Roman Baths beneath them.
They reopened to visitors in 1883
A competition was held to launch the rediscovered baths. This included a colonnaded walk above the great bath, complete with statues of Roman emperors and an impressive facade which now houses the ticket office and museum built over the remains of the Roman temple and tholos which contains artefacts found during excavations.
The baths continued to be used until closed in 1976 after concerns about the safety of the water. The green colour is due to the growth of algae in the warm waters.
Cont...
