diff options
Diffstat (limited to '13582-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 13582-0.txt | 1232 |
1 files changed, 1232 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/13582-0.txt b/13582-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..efbda93 --- /dev/null +++ b/13582-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1232 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13582 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 13582-h.htm or 13582-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/8/13582/13582-h/13582-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/8/13582/13582-h.zip) + + + + + +ON THE EXCAVATIONS OF THE ROMAN BATHS AT BATH. + +Re-printed from the _Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire +Archæological Society_, Vol. Viii., Part I. + + + + + + + +[Plate V: City of Bath. Plan of Roman Baths.] + + + + +Leland, on his visit to Bath in the year 1530, with tolerable fulness +describes the baths, and after completing his description of the +King's Bath goes on to say "Ther goith a sluse out of this Bath and +servid in Tymes past with Water derivid out of it 2 places in Bath +Priorie usid for Bathes: els voide; for in them be no springes;" and +further on he says "The water that goith from the Kinges Bath turnith +a Mylle and after goith into Avon above Bath-bridge." + +These two sentences have hitherto been difficult of explanation, but +the excavations, which it has been my good fortune to superintend, and +the discoveries I have made, have fully explained Leland's meaning, at +the same time that I have brought to light the great Roman Bath, which +I purpose describing in detail in this paper, writing only of previous +excavations and those I have conducted in connection with this work, +so far as their description may the more fully render my account +perfect of the Great Bath itself. I desire to confine my paper within +such limits as the space afforded me in this Journal necessarily +imposes. + +Some time during the last century the ruins of a mill wheel were found +to the south of the King's Bath. I have in my excavation discovered +the _mediæval_ sluice that led to this wheel. Leland speaks of "two +places in Bath Priorie used for Bathes els voide." + +In a map of Bath preserved in the Sloane Collection of the British +Museum, drawn by William Smith (_Rouge Dragon Pursuivant at Arms_) +a few years previous to 1568,[1] is an open bath immediately to the +south of the Transept of the Abbey called "the mild Bathe."[2] This, +or at any rate what I may consider was the "mild bath," I found in my +explorations beneath the soil at a situation in York Street, connected +with the Hot-water drains, the bath being still provided with a wooden +hatch, and of the dimensions of a good sized room.[3] The other place +mentioned by Leland was discovered in 1755, and this discovery led +the way to the excavations of a great bath (afterwards called Lucas's +Bath), when the eastern wall of the great Hall of the recently found +bath was first laid open, although from its position not having +been properly noted previous to its being covered up, its situation +remained unknown for nearly 130 years. + +[Footnote 1: Mr. Peach, in the preface to "the Historic Houses in +Bath," page 5, quotes 1572; but this is the date of the completion of +Mr. Smith's book, the drawings of which occupied many years.] + +[Footnote 2: Mr. Smith gives a list of "Wonders in England": 1st. "The +Baths at ye Citty of Bath are accompted one although yet they are not +so wonderfull seeing that ye Sulphur and Brimston in the earth is the +cause thereof but this may pass well enough for one."] + +[Footnote 3: Evidently the ruin of a portion of the Roman Thermæ, +repaired in the 12th or 13th century.] + +In Dr. Sutherland's "_Attempts to revive Ancient Medical Doctrines_," +(page 16), _et infra_, he says: "In the year of our Lord 1755[4] +the old Priory or Abbey house was pulled down. In clearing away the +foundations, stone coffins, bones of various animals, and other things +were found. This moved curiosity to search still deeper. Hot mineral +waters gushed forth and interrupted the work. The old Roman sewer +was at last found; the water was drained off. Foundations of regular +buildings were fairly traced." An illustration of these discoveries +is given in Gough's "Camden," and a plan of them was published by Dr. +Lucas and again by Dr. Sutherland (_Pl. V._) copied in 1822 by Dr. +Spry with discoveries to that date (_Pl. VI._), and by Mr. Phelps, +the latter re-published by the Rev. Preb. Scarth in his _Aquæ Solis_, +1864. I have, in part, myself and also when assisted by Mr. T. Irvine +(the architect, under Sir Gilbert Scott, of the restoration of the +Bath Abbey), examined the small portion of these discoveries that +are still left _in situ_. I quote Dr. Sutherland, 1763, p. 17, for +an account. "Assisted by Mr. Wood, architect," Dr. Lucas examined +the ruins as they then appeared. He gives the following description: +"Under the foundations of the Abbey house, full 10ft. deep, appear +traces of a bath, whose dimensions are 43ft. by 34ft. Within and +adjoining to the walls are the remains of twelve pilasters, each +measuring 3ft. 6in. on the front of the plinth by a projection of +2ft. 3in. These pilasters seem to have supported a roof.[5] This bath +stood north and south. To the northward of this room, parted only by +a slender wall with an opening of about 10in. in the middle, adjoined +a semi-circular bath, measuring from east to west 14ft. 4in., and +from the crown of the semi-circle to the partition wall that divides +it from the square bath 18ft. 10in. The roof of this seems to have +been sustained by four pilasters, one in each angle and two at the +springing of the circle. This bath seems to have undergone some +alterations, the base of the semi-circle is filled up to about the +height of 5ft., upon which two small pilasters were set on either +side from the area, between two separate flights of steps into the +semi-circular part which seems to be all that was reserved for a bath. +In this was placed a stone chair 18in. high and 16in. broad. The two +flights of steps were of different dimensions, those to the west were +3ft. 9in. broad, those to the east 4ft. 2in. Each flight consists of +steps 6in. thick, and seem to have been worn by use 3½in. out of the +square. These flights are divided by a stone partition on a level with +the floor. Along this division and along the west side of the area, a +rude channel of about 3in. in depth was cut in the stone. The floor +of this bath seems to be on a level with that of the square bath. +Eastward and westward from the area and stairs of this semi-circular +bath stood an elegant room on each side, sustained by four pilasters. +Separated by a wall stood the _Hypocausta Laconica_, or _Stoves_, to +the eastward. These consisted of two large rooms, each measuring 39ft. +by 22ft. Each had a double floor, one of which lay 1ft. 9in. lower +than the area round the square bath. On this lower floor stand rows +of pillars composed of square bricks of about 1¾in. thick and 9in. +square. These pillars sustain a second floor composed of tiles 2ft. +square and 2in. thick, over which are laid two layers of firm cement +mortar, each about 2in. thick, which compose the upper floor. + +[Plate VI: Facsimile of Dr. Sprys' plan published 1822 shewing +discoveries to that date.] + +[Footnote 4: Monday, August 18, 1755, Bath. A most valuable Work of +Antiquity has been lately discovered here. Under the foundation of +the Abbey House now taking down, in order to be rebuilt by the Duke +of Kingston, the workmen discovered the foundations of more ancient +buildings, and fell upon some cavities, which gradually led to further +discoveries. There are now fairly laid open, the foundations and +remains of very august Roman baths and sudatories, constructed upon +their elegant plans, with floors suspended upon square-brick pillars, +and surrounded with tubulated bricks, for the equal conveyance of +heat and vapour. Their dimensions are very large, but not yet fully +laid open, and some curious parts of their structure are not yet +explained.--(_Gentleman's Magazine_.)] + +[Footnote 5: In the library of the Society of Antiquaries is a drawing +of this bath with an imaginary restoration.] + +"To the northward, separated by a wall of 3ft. 11in., stood the other +_Hypocaustum_, with a door of communication. The floor of this is +about 18in. higher than the other. These two rooms are set round with +square-brick tubes of different lengths, from 16in. to 20in. in length +and 6¾in. wide. These flues have two lateral openings of about 2in. +square, 5in. asunder. These open into the vacuum between the two +floors and rise through the walls. The north wall of the last stove +was filled with tubes of a lesser size, placed horizontally and +perpendicularly. The stones and bricks between the pillars bear +evident marks of fire, while the flues are strongly charged with soot, +which plainly points out their uses. + +"Heat was communicated to these flues by means of _Praefurnia_. In +the middle of the northern wall of the second stove, the ruins of one +of these furnaces appear. It consists of strong walls of about 16ft. +square, with an opening in the centre of about 3ft. wide, which +terminates conically in the north wall of the stove 2 ft. wide where +part of the broken arch bears evident marks of fire. About the mouth +of the furnace there were scattered pieces of burnt wood, charcoal, +&c., evident proofs of their use. + +"On each side of the furnace, adjoining to the wall of the +northernmost stove, is a semi-circular chamber of about 10ft. 4in. +by 9ft. 6in. Their floors are nearly 2ft. 6in. lower than that of the +next stove into which they both open. The pavements are tesselated +with variegated rows of pebbles and red bricks. To the northward of +these there appear ruins of two other square chambers of more ordinary +work." Thus far Lucas. + +Dr. Sutherland goes on to say, "Since the time of his (Lucas's) +publication the ground has been further cleared away. There now +appears another semi-circular bath to the southward, of the same +dimensions exactly with the first. What he calls the Great Bath, with +its semi-circular _Hypocausta Laconica_, &c., forms only one wing +of a spacious regular building. From a survey of these, our ruins, +we may, with some certainty, determine the nature of these _Balnea +pensilia_.... The Eastern Vapour Baths are now demolishing in order +to make way for more modern improvements. Whenever the rubbish that +covers the eastern wing of the Roman ruins comes to be removed similar +_Balnea pensilia_ will doubtless be found. + +"From each corner of the westernmost side of Lucas's Bath, a base of +68ft., there issues a wall of stone and mortar. These walls I have +traced 6ft. or 8ft. westward under that causeway that leads from the +Churchyard to the Abbey Green. When, as we may suppose, they have run +a length proportionable to the width, they compose a bath which may +indeed be called _Great_, 96ft. by 68ft. + +[Plate VII: A Ground Plan of the Antient Roman Bath lately discovered +in the City of Bath, Somersetshire, with a Section of the Eastern +Wing.] + +"Adjoining to the inside walls of this central bath, there are bases +of pilasters, as in Lucas's. Between the wall and the bath there +is a corridor paved with hard blue stone 8in. thick.[6] From the +westernmost side of Lucas's bath a subterranean passage has been +traced 24ft., at the end of which was found a leaden cistern, raised +about 3ft. above the pavement, constantly overflowing with hot water. +From this a channel is visible in the pavement, in a line of direction +eastward, conveying the water to Lucas's Bath.... Assisted by Mr. +Palmer, an ingenious builder, I have ventured to exhibit a complete +ground plot of the Roman Baths,[7] a discovery of no less curiosity +than instruction.... This ground plot is exhibited in the plate +annexed (_Pl. V._) as far as the earth is cleared away. The remainder +is supposed and drawen out in dotted lines. The plate exhibits also an +elevation of the section of the wing discovered, with references."[8] + +[Footnote 6: A correspondent in the _Bath Chronicle, purporting to be +Richard Mann_, the builder employed under me to excavate the greater +portion of the discoveries, but whose services were dispensed with, +quotes the above as follows: "Adjoining to the inner walls of the +central bath there are bases of Pilasters, as in Lucas's between the +walls and the bath. There is a corridor paved with hard blue stone +eight inches thick." The full-stop being placed at the word "bath," +instead of before the word "between," gives to the quotation a totally +different meaning from that conveyed by Dr. Sutherland.] + +[Footnote 7: _Fac-simile Pl. V._] + +[Footnote 8: In the plate the reference describes the bath to be +90ft., but in the text of Sutherland the dimensions are given as 96ft. +which agrees with the scale on the plan.] + +Dr. Sutherland published the plan of the bath with this description +having "_drawen_ out in dotted lines" the supposed arrangement of the +baths. To make the account of these discoveries of 1755 complete, +I must explain that the _Hypocausta Laconica_, or stoves, to the +eastward, which he described as each measuring 39ft. by 22ft., were, +I believe, the _tepidarium_ and the _caldarium_. The two semi-circular +recesses, or small rooms, to the north, I should consider were each +a _sudatorium_ if the floors had not been 2ft. 6in. lower than the +adjoining apartment. In the centre was the stove by which the system +was heated (the _praefurnium_). To the north of these, Dr. Sutherland +figures, in dotted lines, three chambers omitted in my plan. Although +I believe he had some authority for giving them, I am somewhat at a +loss to assign a use to these rooms. They might be stoves, as, if +the Romans desired to have a bath artificially heated, this would be +the correct position for the brazen vessels, described somewhat +unintelligibly by Vitruvius, as three in number. If this was the case, +each semi-circular recess just described was a _calda lavatio, balneum +or labrum_. [A similar _labrum_, but of smaller scale, was discovered +at Box, near Bath, last year, and I have discovered on the property of +Mr. Charles I. Elton, F.S.A., M.P. (author of "Origins of History") +a similar one.] The floor being 2ft. 6in. lower than the adjoining +apartment points to this belief. These, I have little doubt, were +those artificially heated baths, and were cased either with lead, +stone, marble, or small white tesseræ, as at Box. To the south of +the _tepidarium_, Dr. Sutherland gives a precisely similar suggested +plan as that to the north, but here again I have not copied him, +believing he had not sufficient data. In all probability here was an +_apodyterium_ (which might or might not be heated with a _hypocaust_) +where the bathers deposited their clothes. Dr. Sutherland thought that +to the east of the discoveries which he described there would be found +probably at some future day "similar _Balnea pensilia_."[9] In opening +the Roman drains I found a branch one at this place, which induces +me to think that a large cold or swimming bath occupied the eastern +wing, the _baptisterium_ or _frigida lavatio_. Still farther eastward +are fragments of Roman buildings which I have seen only in a very +fragmentary way, as no excavations of any extent have been made. I +believe the apartments necessary to complete the system of the modern +Turkish bath, or rather the ancient bath, with the requisite waiting +rooms and corridors, stood there. + +[Footnote 9: These baths and adjoining rooms occupied the block +between Church Street and York Street, including Kingston Buildings.] + +After these discoveries of the middle of the last century but very +partial excavations were made in proximity to the baths, and those +that were made were never sunk to a depth sufficient to reach the +ruins. The flood of hot water had no drain to carry it off, and was +maintained at such a height in the soil that whenever a sinking was +made, it was impossible without pumping machinery to sufficiently +overcome it. To my discovery of the Roman drain, or rather to +Mr. Irvine's, and the excavating, opening, and reconstructing it +which followed (under my superintendence, at the charges of the +Corporation), enabling me to drain off the hot water from the soil, I +owe the ability to reveal what had been hidden since the destruction +of the city of Bath in the year A.D. 577.[10] The stopping up and +destruction of the drain prevented the water from flowing away, so +that the buildings of the baths were filled with water of a height +until it reached the level of the adjoining land, covering, as a +guardian, the lead and other valuables. Soil then gravitated into the +ruins and thus further assisted in preserving the antiquities, so that +they were altogether hidden from the people who re-built the ruined +city of Bath, and from those who in successive generations succeeded +them. The subterranean "passage traced 24ft." from the western side +of Lucas's bath, "at the end of which was found a leaden cistern," +was not in any way Roman work, but mediæval, and was formed some time +after the construction of the Abbey house, as an aqueduct for the hot +water with which the soil was saturated. This construction is the +only evidence of an early discovery of this eastward wing of the bath, +indeed the only evidence of mediæval work of any kind in connection +with the baths, except the enclosure of the various springs or wells. +The King's Bath, the Cross, and the Lepers' Bath were simply the wells +or cisterns of the springs which were bathed in to the damage of the +purity of the water, without dressing-rooms of any kind. + +[Footnote 10: "But the old municipal independence seems to have +been passing away. The record of the battle in the chronicle of +the conquerors connects the three cities (Bath, Gloucester, and +Cirencester) with three Kings; and from the Celtic names of these +Kings, Conmael, Condidan, or Kyndylan, and Farinmael, we may infer +that the Roman town party, which had once been strong enough to +raise Aurelius to the throne of Britain, was now driven to bow to the +supremacy of native chieftains. It was the forces of these Kings that +met Ceawlin at Deorham, a village which lies northward of Bath, on a +chain of hill overlooking the Severn valley, and whose defeat threw +open the country of the three towns to the West Saxon army."--_Green's +"Making of England,"_ p. 128.] + +This concludes the particulars of the important discoveries which we +possess of the last century, which were then correctly believed to be +only portions of still greater baths.[11] In 1799 (or, as I believe, +in 1809, the more correct date) a portion of what has proved to be the +north-west semi-circular _exedra_ of the Great Bath was found, and six +to nine years later a part of the south-west rectangular _exedra_ of +the same bath. The discovery of 1799 (or rather 1809) is shown on the +Rev. Prebendary Scarth's map as being the northern apse of a bath on +the western end of the great bath, as suggested by Dr. Sutherland's +plan and was to correspond with Lucas's Bath. The semi-circular +_exedra_ discovered subsequently to a deed dated Sept. 1808 (therefore +in that year or subsequently) is also figured by the Rev. Prebendary +Scarth, as on the south end of the same western bath and a piece of a +rectangular _exedra_ as the eastern wall of this western bath and the +boundary between it and the Great Bath. + +[Footnote 11: As there have appeared in local papers considerable +discussions as to these baths, I quote from one of the letters the +following as being remarkably clear and explanatory:-- + +"In 1755, Dr. Lucas discovered a Roman bath, east of, and immediately +adjoining, the Great Bath, which is now attracting so much attention. +Lucas's Bath stood north and south--an important fact to bear in mind, +as the great Roman Bath stands east and west--and measured 43ft. by +34ft. But this was not all. 'To the north of this room,' he says, +'parted only by a slender wall, adjoined a semi-circular bath, +measuring from east to west, 14ft. 4in.' After the publication of +Lucas's 'Essay on Waters,' the ground was further cleared away, +and there appeared another semi-circular bath to the south, of the +same dimensions as that to the north. The extreme length of Lucas's +bath--including the N. and S. Baths, exclusive of the central +semi-circular recesses--would be, roughly speaking 69ft.; and this +fact should be carefully borne in mind, as we shall see presently to +what use it was turned. Dr. Lucas's discoveries were pushed one stage +further by Dr. Sutherland, who in his work entitled 'Attempts to +revive Ancient Medical Doctrines' (1763) clearly indicates (_Pl. V._) +that he was on the track of another bath, the Great Roman Bath, in +fact, with which we are now so familiar. His words are as follows: +'From each, corner of the westernmost side of Lucas's Bath, a base +of 68ft., there issues a wall of stone and mortar. These walls I have +traced six or eight feet westward under that causeway, which leads +from the Churchyard to the Abbey Green. When, as we may suppose, +they have run a length proportionable to their width, they compose +a bath which may indeed be called great, 96ft. by 68ft.... From the +westernmost side of Lucas's Bath a subterraneous passage has been +traced 24ft., at the end of which was found a leaden cistern, raised +about 3ft. above the pavement, constantly overflowing with hot water. +From this a channel is visible in the pavement, in a line of direction +eastward, conveying the water to Lucas's Bath' (pp. 20-21). Thus then +in 1763 (1) the north and south walls of the great Roman Bath had been +traced 6ft. or 8ft. west of Lucas's Bath. (2) Furthermore, starting +from the centre of the west side of Lucas's Bath, a line had been +traced to the east steps of the great Roman Bath. These are plain +historical facts, open to everyone who will look into the plans of our +baths, as given by Sutherland in 1763, and by Prebendary Scarth in +his 'Aquæ Solis' in 1864. But our City Architect has been charged with +suppressing these facts for his own glorification. Now, Sir, I think +no unprejudiced man, who has heard Major Davis's addresses and read +his books, can justly bring this charge. If I mistake not, he fairly +stated the case in 1880, both in his address before the Society of +Antiquaries, and in his lecture at the Bath Literary Institution. +He has most certainly concealed nothing in his published works 'The +Bathes of Bathe's Ayde' and 'Guide to the Roman Baths.' In the former +work he says (p. 81), 'Dr. Sutherland indicates a large bath westward +of that which had been discovered in his time, in fact there can be +little doubt that the steps at the eastward end of a great bath had +then been found;' in the latter, whilst alluding to the published +plans of Sutherland, he says (p. 10), 'These plans indicate a large +bath westward of that discovered in 1754 (? 1755), in fact the +eastward steps of a bath had then been found.' Here then is a full and +candid admission of all the facts known about the great Roman Bath in +the middle of the last century; and this anyone can see by reference +to the map in Prebendary Scarth's 'Aquæ Solis'--the diagram (copied +from Spry) there being almost similar to Sutherland's conjectural +plan of the baths, except that the section of Lucas's Bath, correctly +represented in Sutherland's map is figured upside-down by Spry and +Scarth. It is quite clear what Sutherland knew of the great Roman +Bath; it is equally clear that when he proceeded, on the strength of +his very limited observations, to draw a conjectural plan of the whole +bath, he fell into absolute errors, such as, commonly enough, spring +out of hasty generalisations based on scanty data. Thus, he gives +the dimensions of the enclosure of the great bath as 96ft. by 68ft.; +whereas, as a matter of fact, they are 111ft. by 68ft. How is this +discrepancy to be explained? 'A Citizen' in your last weekly issue, +says 'The alleged discrepancies in the measurements, which Mr. Davis +has used to prove his case, are but the differentiations of the +external measurements with the sinuous subterranean windings.' These +are indeed brave words, indulged in rather to diminish Major Davis +credit than to rescue Sutherland; but a truer explanation of the +real discrepancies stares any man in the face who will open Dr. +Sutherland's work. There is no occasion to be wise beyond what +is written: 'When, as we may suppose, they have run a length +proportionable to their width, they compose a bath, which may indeed +be called great, 96ft. by 68ft.' The fact is, Sutherland supposed that +the dimensions of the great Roman Bath would observe the same relative +proportions as Lucas's Bath. The room of Lucas's Bath, let it be +remembered, was 43ft. by 34ft., or rather 30ft. 6in. from the face of +the pilasters. In other words, the length was equal to the diagonal +of the square of the base. Then, having observed that the base of +the room of the great Roman Bath--formed by the length of Lucas's +Bath--was 68ft., Sutherland assumed that its length also would be +equal to the diagonal of the square of base, namely 96ft. This patent +error, assuming that the unknown would have a relative correspondence +with the known quantities, was the fruitful source of many more. (1) +The dimensions of the outer rectangular area formed by the room of the +great Roman Bath being false, the dimensions of the inner rectangular +area formed by the water surface of the bath were necessarily false +also. (2) Steps were observed at one end only of the water surface of +Lucas's Bath; therefore it was inferred that steps would be found at +one end only of the water surface of the great bath, the eastern end +as figured in the maps of 1763 and 1864, whereas we now know that +steps run all round. (3) The _exedrae_ at the back of the _schola_ +having no existence in Lucas's Bath, were omitted from the conjectural +plan of the great Roman Bath. (4) Lucas's Bath being a plain hall +without piers, Sutherland assumed the same form for the hall of the +great Roman Bath, and altogether omitted the arcades that divide +it into three aisles. (5) Not to dwell on other errors built on the +baseless fabric of conjecture, it is evident that Sutherland imagined +a system of baths existed west of the great Roman Bath similar in +all respects to that known to exist east of the great Roman Bath. +But here, again, theory has been upset by facts. And now is a fitting +opportunity to draw attention to what has been actually discovered +west of the great Roman Bath, namely, the octagon Roman Well, which +I should be disposed to consider Major Davis's greatest discovery, +though I observe that hostile critics take no notice of this, possibly +because it is beyond the region of dispute. If any one, able to point +what he reads, still believes that the great Roman Bath was ever +practically opened up in the last century I would refer him to Mr. +Moore's able and suggestive paper, entitled 'Organisms from the +recently discovered Roman Baths in Bath,' read to the members of the +Bath Microscopical Society, in May, 1883. Once more I insist that we +must clearly separate what Sutherland knew from what he conjectured. +Indeed, Sutherland himself fairly draws the distinctions. On page 21 +he says, 'This ground plot is exhibited in the plate annexed, as far +as the earth is cleared away. The remainder is supposed, and drawn +out in dotted lines.' These dotted lines represent a vast _terra +incognita_ covering, practically, the whole of the ground recently +opened up. That the existence of the great Roman Bath has been +transferred from the region of conjecture to the region of fact we owe +entirely to the enthusiasm and unwearied zeal of Major Davis, and no +fair mind can deny him the credit of being the practical discoverer of +the great Roman Bath. More credit than this he has never claimed; less +than this only the churlish and envious will grudge him."] + +All these fragments I have lately proved to be portions of the great +Roman Bath (_Plates VII. and VIII._), and being within instead of +without that building. The Rev. Prebendary Scarth omits altogether to +figure the southern rectangular _exedra_, found at the same time as +the last named discovery. He also omits the discoveries made in 1809 +(?) beneath the houses at the north-western end of York Street. In +1790 very valuable discoveries were made in digging the foundation of +the present Pump Room. Many writers have treated of them and expressed +opinions as to the character of the work and the meaning of the +design, and Mr. Scharf, in _Archæologia_, Vol. XXXVI., has done ample +justice to these most interesting vestiges: They have been described +by Pownall, Lysons, Warner, Collins, Scharf, Tite, and Scarth, +as being portions of a Temple of the usual type, dedicated to Sul +Minerva. Whitaker, in a review of Warner's History of Bath, printed +in the _Anti-Jacobin_, Vol. X., 1801, differs from all these writers, +although believing the remains to be a portion of a temple, and +thought they were a part of a building of the form of "_a rotunda_," +as the Pantheon. "The _Pantheon_ of Minerva _Medica_, an agnomen very +similar in allusiveness to our prænomen _of Sulinis_, for Minerva is +noticed expressly by Ruius and Victor in their short notes concerning +the structures of Rome, as then standing in the Esquiline quarter. The +form of a Pantheon is made out by the multiplicity of niches,... and +such, we believe, was our own Temple of Minerva at Bath." It would +occupy too much space were I to attempt to add to this paper my views +of this discovery, but I may briefly say, that I am satisfied that +they were not the remains of a Temple, but a portion of the central +Portico and grand Vestibule of the Baths. I have not gone fully into +the reasons that induced Whitaker to believe that the discoveries +showed that the building was a Rotunda, but it is curious that he +should have thought they had a similarity to the Pantheon at Rome, +which antiquaries since his time have proved was not 'built for a +temple, but that it was an entrance hall or vestibule of the Baths of +Agrippa, although it is doubtful if the Rotunda was built at the same +time as the Portico, which was, without doubt, erected B.C. 27. + +The grand Roman enclosure of the Hot well (_Pl. VII[12]_) (which I +have lately discovered and excavated, beneath the King's Bath, on the +south of this principal Portico) is again utilised, and forms a tank +for the mineral water, from which are fed the baths and fountains +with water, pure as it rises from "depths unknown," and secured from +any possibility of contamination in its passage, through the newly +discovered water ducts and drains of the Romans. + +[Footnote 12: Pl. VII. gives a correct plan of former discoveries +as far as I have been able to ascertain, and these I have made up to +April 19th, 1884.] + +In 1871, whilst making some necessary excavation to remedy a leak from +the King's Bath that apparently ran beneath Abbey Passage, I found +that the hot water, that was reached through layers of mud, Roman +tiles, building materials, and mixed soil, was one and the same with +the hot water of the Kingston Bath that then occupied the site of the +Bath called Lucas's Bath, discovered in 1755; and the levels were +the same. I pumped out this water with powerful pumps, emptying by so +doing the Kingston Baths. This enabled me to sink to a depth of 20ft., +passing in so doing a flight of four steps at the point (A) on the +plan (_Pl. VIII._), to the bottom of a bath which was coated with +lead.[13] Being compelled by the then owner of the Kingston Baths +to discontinue pumping, I was obliged to abandon my work; and having +little hope that I should ever be allowed to recommence it, I removed +a portion of the lead, which proved to be a thickness of about 30lbs. +to the foot, placed on a layer of brick concrete 2in. to 2¼in. thick, +and this again on a layer of freestone 12in., or rather a Roman foot +11-5/8in. in thickness, which was again bedded on rough stonework, +the depth of which I could not ascertain. Fortunately I did not again +fill in the soil, but arched it in, building walls of masonry to keep +it in position. The Corporation having obtained possession of the hot +water supplying the Kingston Baths, I should rather say, the right to +the water that leaked from the King's Springs, I again drained off +the water, maintaining it at a low level by a laborious excavation +and re-construction of the Roman drain which was conducted at great +expense for two or three years. This drain I followed several hundred +feet until it reached the great well previously mentioned, making +various and important discoveries; but, as I have already read a paper +on this subject before the Society of Antiquaries of London, which +will shortly be in the press, I will not repeat it here, but avail +myself of the space allotted me in the Transactions of this Society +for an account of the Great Bath, which I have, in great part, laid +bare, soliciting a pardon if the account is somewhat tedious. + +[Footnote 13: The water, on ceasing pumping, rose to a height above +the lead of 7ft. 6in.] + +The bath, placed in a great hall 110ft. 4½in. long by 68ft. 5in. wide, +is about 6ft. 8in. deep. The bottom, 73ft. 2in. by 29ft. 6in.[14] is +formed as described in the last page.[15] + +[Footnote 14: The dimensions must not be taken to be quite correct in +all cases, as there are discrepancies and inaccuracies in the building +that prevent measurements being always reliable.] + +[Footnote 15: This bath is drawn to a large scale in Pl. VIII.] + +The lead in sheets (of about 10ft. by 5ft. square) was turned up at +the edges and _burnt_, not soldered together, but these joints are in +many cases now imperfect. This well secured bottom, or floor, appears +to have been placed in position, rather to keep the hot water from +ascending into the bath from the springs beneath than to make the +bath water-tight. Enclosing the bath all round the four sides are six +steps, the sixth landing the bather on the _Schola_, or platform. The +riser of the bottom steps varies in depth from 15in. to 11in., with a +tread of 14in., the next riser is 14in. with a tread of 11in., as also +is the next step and the one following. The step above has a rise of +12in., and a tread of 14in. This step was scarcely covered with water, +but it is evident the water flowed over it when bathers agitated it. +The riser or the step above, 10in. to 12in., completes the flight and +helped to keep the water within proper bounds, giving a total depth of +6ft. 8in. to the bath, and from 5ft. 9in. to 5ft. 11in. for the water. +These steps are quite devoid of lead (except, in places, the riser +of the lower step and at the north-west corner), and it is not clear +whether they had at any time such a covering, although I am inclined +to think so, as it evidently went beneath the piers and under the +central pedestal. At the bottom step, in the north-east corner, was a +bronze sluice. The frame of this sluice, with an opening of 13in. by +12in., I found in position when I excavated my way up the drain, but +I was obliged to remove it in order to force my way into the bath. It +has not been replaced, but is preserved in the Pump Room, and weighs +more than 1 cwt. 2 qrs. An overflow was provided, immediately above +the hatchway, by a grating 15in. wide that was doubtless of bronze +also, but it had been removed, the stud-holes in the stones alone +remaining.[16] The extreme surface of the water measured 82ft. 10in. +by 40ft. 11in. and was a parallelogram, except that the north-western +angle was cut off by the steps being carried obliquely in three tiers +from the bottom a length of 7ft. at an angle of 39° with the western +end. Resting on the platform, formed by these three steps, is a +quarter circle pedestal,[17] on which stands a large stone 6ft. 8in. +long and 9in. thick, over-hanging its base, and presenting a concave +line towards the bath with an _ovolo_ section in its thickness. This +stone spans a large channel 2ft. 3in. wide, within which is fitted a +very thick lead pipe, gradually narrowed _horizontally_ and turned +up under the _ovolo_ concave stone. Through this aperture the mineral +water was thrown into the bath in a sort of spray, so that it might be +cooled in its passage. A deposit from the water is incrusted over the +stone and pipe several inches in thickness, until the petrification +entirely stopped the flow of water, which was then compelled to flow +_over_ instead of under the stone.[18] The water was conducted a +distance of 38ft. in the thickness of the lower pavement (which I +shall presently describe) of the _Schola_, the stone being removed a +width of 2ft., the bed being concreted. On this was laid a lead pipe +which filled the whole orifice, but, unfortunately, a length of 25ft. +of it has been removed. This conduit takes a diagonal direction, and +leads direct to the north-west angle of the hall, turning beneath a +large doorway in the western wall, when it again resumes its original +direction (the pipe, where perfect, is 1ft. 9in. by 7in. deep), as far +as the outer surface of the wall of the octagon well. At this point +the wall of the well is not original work, and the pipe is cut off. +I have no doubt that it was at one time carried up vertically until +it reached the level of the surface of the water of the well, which +was about 2ft. 6in. higher at the least, thus giving a sufficient +elevation to the "spray" into the bath. Another bronze hatchway, which +must have been here, has been stolen in mediaeval times, its having +been less than 2ft. below the bottom of the King's Bath making it +accessible, whilst the 25ft. length of the lead pipe beneath the +_schola_ must have been stolen much earlier, and in all probability on +the destruction of the baths in the sixth century. In addition to the +arrangement for the supply of mineral water to the baths, which must +have been capable of affording a flow of water, very nearly, if not +exceeding, the yield of the spring, there was also another, which I +have every reason to think was for the delivery of cold water, and +conveyed in a lead tubular pipe of 2¼in. in diameter. A length of +25ft. 6in. of this pipe, in its original position, has been found and +laid bare. It is made with a roll along the top, and burnt, as was +usual before the invention of "drawn pipes." This pipe is particularly +interesting as there are also in it two soldered joints at intervals +of 9ft. in the method of making which we have clearly not improved +on the work of our Roman predecessors. This pipe starts from the same +point in the north-west angle of the hall as the other supply, and is +sunk in the lower pavement of the _schola_, which (wanting the pipe) +is continued to the centre of the north side of the bath, where +stands a stone pedestal 3ft. 3in. long, 1ft. 6in. wide, and 2ft. 6in. +high. This pedestal has small vertical rails, or balusters, at the +angles and on the shorter sides, and that towards the bath has some +appearance of having once had a tablet of either bronze or marble +inserted in it. At the top is a circular hole 3½in. in diameter, +through which the pipe previously mentioned must have passed. The +upper portion of this pedestal is sculptured, and much mutilated, and +appears to me to be the drapery covering the feet of a figure that has +perished. It is true that the work bears some resemblance to a small +recumbent figure; but if so it is not worthy of the name of sculpture, +as it is in the worst taste, and altogether out of keeping with the +architecture or the other sculpture we have found.[19] There are +several grooves in the _schola_ for branches of this pipe: 1st. The +continuation of it to the northern semi-circular bath of 1755. 2nd. +From the first soldered joint to baths on the north of the Great Bath. +3rd. Along the western end of the latter to baths on the south, and +along the _schola_ to the south circular bath of Lucas's. Beneath the +mutilated sculpture is a second pedestal, or plinth, perfectly plain, +with the upper surface sunk to a level corresponding with a similar +indentation on the third step. Within this must have stood a marble on +bronze sarcophagus, the base of which was 6ft. 9in. long by 2ft. 5in. +wide. The water flowing through the aperture previously described +would run into the sarcophagus (I use the word in its modern sense) +and from it into the bath. This water was not poured in sufficient +volume to perceptibly cool the bath, but was provided for the +thirst of the bathers. In the modern baths of Bath there is no such +provision. + +[Footnote 16: The construction of the steps to the baths deserves +remark (some of the stones being 10ft. long). The depth of the riser +to the steps that were beneath the water is unusually deep, and the +treads narrow. This is compensated by the increased buoyancy of a +human body when immersed, or partially immersed, in water. The steps +have, on the contrary, a shallower rise and a wider tread when they +approach the top. The next notable point is the formation of the tread +of the upper flooded step. This is grooved by a somewhat circular +sinking, from 4 to 5in. wide, immediately against the riser of the +topmost step. Everyone frequenting a public bath must have noticed the +dashing of the water against the wall or upper step, and the nuisance +created from the breaking of the water against it. The grooving would +remedy, I believe, this annoyance, as the little waves of water would +be made to take a curved form before reaching the step; consequently +the water would fall back into the bath instead of dashing over the +surrounding platform. And in the ends of every upper step but one, and +on the steps lower down, have been square sockets, cut in the stone +and filled up again with pieces of stone. These mark the position of +balusters to a hand-rail for the use of bathers that were removed some +time previous to the abandonment of the baths, and the stones were +inserted. These hand-rails were doubtless of bronze, and therefore of +value.] + +[Footnote 17: A statue of some size doubtless stood on this pedestal.] + +[Footnote 18: This deposit must, from the thickness, have taken +several years to form, and the fact of its being of precisely the +same character as the present deposit from the mineral spring is an +evidence of the unchanging nature of the water.] + +[Footnote 19: With reference to the sculpture, one piece, of debased +character, has been found--a Minerva with a breast-plate, helmet, and +shield in _alto relievo_ within a niche.] + +The hall enclosing the bath I have already spoken of as 110ft. 4½in. +long by 68ft. 5in. wide. It has been completely thrown open since +this paper was read at the British and Gloucestershire Archæological +Society, in 1884. These excavations are open to the sky, excepting on +the east end (over which Abbey Street, at a height of 23ft. is carried +on a viaduct, which I have erected).[20] The platform, or _schola_, +surrounding the bath (measuring the original surface of the upper +floor) is 13ft. 9in. wide on the four sides. This platform was formed +by a layer of large freestone 9in. to 10in. thick, laid on the level +of the top step but one, on a solid bed of concrete. Above this was +another layer of concrete, and possibly on this, when the baths were +first erected, a mosaic of tesseræ; but that, if it ever was there, +has all disappeared, and its place has been supplied with paving, +mostly of freestone also, of inferior thickness to the lower paving. +Very little of this remains, and what there is is much fractured and +worn; indeed not only is this paving much worn, but the lower paving +also where the traffic was the greatest. I have given in the plan +(_Pl. VIII._) almost every detail of these floors, and shall speak +of them again further on. The general appearance of the place is +symmetrical, but there are remarkable variations and inaccuracies +that point to the fact that the juxta-position of this bath with +other buildings, of which we have at present no knowledge, must have +rendered these variations necessary, ultimately interfering with the +completion, architecturally, of the building. + +[Footnote 20: The house over the bath having been purchased by +the Corporation, the Antiquities Committee (of which Mr. Murch was +chairman) with a liberal subscription from the Society of Antiquaries, +the Duke of Cleveland, and many noblemen and gentlemen of Bath and the +neighbourhood, bore the expense of the removal of the soil from the +bath and the general opening out of the rains, the arches beneath the +Poor Law Office and the Viaduct supporting Abbey Street.] + +On either side, north and south, are three recesses, or _exedrae_, +two of which are circular and one (the centre) rectangular. The south +rectangular one is 17ft. wide by 7ft. deep; the north one is nearly +a foot wider, and one foot less in depth. Greater variations exist +in the circular recesses; for, commencing in the western one, on the +south side, the width is 17ft. 3in., and the depth 7ft. 6in.; the +eastern one is 14ft. 3in. wide, and 6ft. 9in. deep; the _exedrae +vis-a-vis_ on the north is 17ft. 3in. wide, and 8ft. 4in. deep; the +remaining one, to the west, is 17ft. wide, and 7ft. deep. I give these +dimensions irrespective entirely of the pilasters which are attached +to the walls on either side the reveil of the recesses, and in the +rectangular recesses in the enclosing angles also. Piers are now +standing on the margin of the bath, dividing the north and south +sides each into seven bays. These piers are built with solid block +freestone, but as there are continuous vertical joints on either side +of the central division of each pier, it is clear that an alteration +was made in the design either previous to its entire completion or +subsequently. + +I will endeavour to describe the bath as originally designed. Along +the margin of the bath, north and south, stood six piers, equally +divided (about 14ft. apart), as far as the length of the bath, but +allowing a lesser distance from the attached pilaster at either end. +These piers are cut out of a block (in plan, 2ft. 10½in. from east to +west by 2ft. 8in. from north to south), so as to form a pilaster of +three inches projection on either face. As the original pilasters on +the north and south walls do not correspond with these piers, I am led +to conclude that the _schola_ and _exedrae_, north and south, were +not vaulted at first, and were the only portion of the hall that was +roofed, and that the roof was only of timber, supported by an arcade, +the arches not exceeding 17ft. in height, and that the eaves of the +roof of about 22ft. in height dipped towards the bath. This was a +very usual arrangement in the _Atrium_ of a Roman house with the +_impluvium_ in the centre. A _crypto porticus_ would thus be formed +on the two longer sides of the bath, but the _schola_ on the east +and west ends was open to the sky. Practical experience, either on +the completion of this plan, or previously to its entire execution, +led to its abandonment. At any rate a roof over the whole was found +essential to the comforts of the bathers. The piers were accordingly +strengthened. Pilasters were erected, projecting 2ft. 9m. into the +bath, with smaller pilasters on the other side projecting on the +_schola_, 1ft. 4in. by 1ft. 11in. wide; and _vis-a-vis_ to these +pilasters corresponding ones were affixed to the side walls. +Unfortunately this brought into prominence the irregularity of the +size and position of the _exedrae_, and the pilasters were affixed +correctly with reference to the arcade, as was absolutely necessary, +but more or less trespassing on the width of the opening of these +recesses, and notched into the original pilasters. + +None of the piers, or pilasters, at present exist to a height +exceeding 6ft. to 7ft. The base is a rude form of the Attic base; +and we have found several fragments of the capital, or impost, of the +smaller pilasters, from, which the arches sprang, but I have not been +so fortunate as to recognise any of the larger capitals, and but few +fragments of the cornices, and but one piece that I can identify as +the frieze 1ft. 6in. deep by 2ft. 4in. long, on which are 5 incised +letters 6¼in. long S SIL. The _schola_ was then arched in north and +south, and the bath spanned by an arch. The vaulting that spanned the +side arcades, and the centre (where the abutment was not sufficient +for arches formed in the ordinary way of tiles or stone), were built +of brick boxes, open at the sides, and wedge-shaped, 1ft. long, 4¾in. +thick, and 7¾in. wide at the wider end, set in the usual mortar, a +greater or less number of rings of these boxes being used according to +the span. These arches were made out by an extra quantity of concrete +on the under side for decoration, and on the upper in the case of the +great arch, so as to form a roof, the well-known roll and flat Italian +tiles being embedded in the mortar. Many and large fragments of +this roof were found lying on the deposit that had partially filled +the ruins previous to the fall of the roof, and are still carefully +preserved. A large fragment, 18ft. long by about 3ft. wide, and 1ft. +9in. thick, that has slipped down, as it were, from the western end, +in the position in which it was discovered, was formed of solid tiles, +with an arch of tiles 1ft. 8in. long,[21] the roof having sufficient +abutment on this side for a solid construction.[22] This arch gives +the form of the window that lighted the bath on the western end. + +[Footnote 21: The arches in the adjoining apartment west of this were +built of a sort of a tufa.] + +[Footnote 22: On the falling of the roof one of the piers was thrust +out of the perpendicular, the upper half toppling over, and the lower +would have again returned to its original position had a stone not +fallen into the vertical joint, catching the pilaster as a wedge. +The pier is still fixed out of the perpendicular by the stone in the +joint.] + +The vaulting of the side aisles, or rather that over the _schola_, +was arched from pier to pier longitudinally and transversely, the +quadrangular spaces being in all probability simply groined; but +a fragment of box tiles found almost leads one to think that these +spaces were vaulted by a domical vault, springing either from +pendentives in the angles of the vaults, more common in later work, +or from a slight cornice on a level with the apex of the arches. The +vault, if there was one, over the semi-circular _exedrae_ must have +been hemispherical. From the number of roofing tiles of local stone, +shaped into hexagons, found, I think these arcades were roofed in +with them, placed overlapping each other, giving a very good effect. +Similar tiles were dug up at Wroxeter, and I have found slates of the +same shape in the Roman villa I have been excavating for Mr. Chas. I. +Elton, F.S.A., M.P., at Whitestaunton Manor. The form of these slates +deserves copying; a roof covered by them is far lighter than that of +rectangular slabs and more picturesque. The walls on the sides towards +the hall, and externally, so far as I have been able to ascertain, are +covered with the usual red plaster, shewing that they were internal +walls; but from a piece of dentilled, or rather blocked, cornice, +which fits the curve of one of the _exedrae_, I believe the walls were +carried up on the north and south above the roofs of the adjoining +rooms and corridors of the baths, so that they formed a feature in the +elevation and afforded a broken skyline to the composition. The vault +over the centre rose considerably above these walls, a portion of the +centre of which may have been partially open for the emission of steam +and the admission of light. Some square blocks of lead, that were the +yotting of bars of metal, rather favour this idea, and suggest that +these metal bars were a portion of the machinery by which a brazen +shield (_clipeus_) was suspended, or secured, so that by raising +or lowering it the temperature of the hall might be regulated as +described by Vitruvius. In the excavations we found an _ante-fixa_ +that must have fallen from some portion of the roof. It appears to +be intended for a lion, but it is much broken. + +I have prepared a sketch section of the bath (which I hope +to communicate on a future occasion), transversely and a part +longitudinally, in order that a description may the more readily be +understood, adopting, in my restoration, the established rules of +proportion of Classical architecture, which may, more or less, have +been strictly adhered to when the baths were built; indeed, in the +best specimens of Roman work a licence was given to the architect +as to detail and proportion, that was refused him on the Classical +revival. The pilasters of these baths spring, as I have said before, +from an Attic base, of somewhat coarse proportions, 14in. high.[23] +The attached pilasters that supported the arcade that was carried +longitudinally along the bath are without a base; they must have been, +within a few inches, more or less, not lower than 10ft. in height, +including the impost moulding, of which there are fragments. The +arches springing from them would be about 14ft. wide. I have not +been able to find any fragments of the archivolt. The pilasters that +supported the arches which crossed the _schola_ have bases similar to +the larger pilasters. I can hardly speak positively of their elevation +or that of the arches, but I am inclined to think the height of the +impost moulding was raised, so that the arch, although a smaller span, +was the same in height as the longitudinal arches. + +[Footnote 23: The bases of the columns found, on the contrary, are +most carefully designed and of most delicate proportions, which appear +to justify the belief that the bases of the pilasters were never +completely _worked_, or that they were coated with plaster and +decorated as in the western bath, now being excavated.] + +The great pilasters, fronting the bath, stand on plain pedestals, +breaking forward into the water, on which rested the Attic base, the +shaft with Doric (?) capital rising 18ft. above. A complete cornice, +the architrave (which we have) and frieze, gave an additional height +of nearly 5ft. This cornice ran over the arcade horizontally, but +breaking forward the projection of the pilasters about 2ft. 7in. Over +this cornice, I conclude, were semi-circular openings, of the same +span as the arch beneath, with an architrave of 5 in. to 6 in. A +circular vault crossed the bath from pilaster to pilaster, groined +with the semi-circular arches just mentioned. Light may have been +admitted divisionally in the centre of this great vault, as I +previously mentioned, as well, as by the semi-circular arches in the +"_clear storey_." The extreme height from the floor of the _schola_ to +the under side of the vaulting may have been as much as 23ft., whilst +the height of the central vault above the floor of the bath could +not, I estimate, have been less than 48ft. 2in., exceeding by 5ft. +the height of the famous Ball Rooms of the Bath Assembly Rooms, and by +14ft. that of the Grand Pump Room. + +Many architectural fragments have been found during the excavations +of the Great Bath, several portions of columns 2ft. 6in. diameter +at base, and several sections of Corinthian foliage with the volute +of a capital, of unusually artistic and powerful work; some smaller +columns, a fluted shaft, and a Composite capital of debased character; +but the four most remarkable fragments are pieces carved on both sides +out of blocks about 1ft. 9in. thick, by 1ft. 6in. high. They are each +from 2ft. 6in. to 2ft. 9in. long, and are curved, the chord being +about 1-9/16in., in a length of 2ft. 6in. The first fragment is a +cornice, or impost, carved on both sides, in three tiers: the upper, +a _cima_ with a leaf; the middle division, a Greek fret, not quite +similar on each side the stone, and below is a running ornament. The +cornice does not project sufficiently to be the cornice of a building, +and, as it is decorated on either side, it could not have been +intended for a string-course, as none of the walls are so thin as +these stones, although I at first thought it might belong to one of +the semi-circular _exedrae_. The curve is struck with a shorter radius +than even the smallest recess. I think it is the capping of the back +of one of the semi-circular stone seats, called by the later Romans +a _stibadium_. If this formed the seat in the north-western recess, +there would be ample room behind it (3ft. 9in.) to pass by. The next +fragment must have been fixed beneath this or a similar capping, and +is also carved on each side; the convex side having an adaptation of +the well-known honeysuckle fairly drawn, whilst the convex side of it, +with the exception of a floriated panelled pilaster in the centre, is +the work of an accomplished sculptor. On the right of this pilaster, +slightly recessed to admit of relief, is the naked right thigh and +leg of a figure that must have stood 1ft. 6in. high. Although only +a fragment, this is a most charming piece of work, the action and +anatomy of the limb being perfect. On the left side is a similar +panel, a headless draped figure, with feet bare, holding a circular +shield which rests on the thigh, whilst the limb is bent as if +ascending a rock that is slightly indicated. On the third fragment the +honeysuckle pattern is on the concave side, whilst the sculpture is +on the convex, the arc of which corresponds with the last described. +On this there are two niches only, and the figures are much more +mutilated. The left figure has a flowing mantle, the only leg +remaining being bare from the thigh downwards; the foot and the head +are gone. The figure on the right is fully draped, the head is lost, +and the right hand much mutilated; a musical instrument, like a +guitar,[24] or rather a mandolin, rests against the left breast, held +in position by the left hand. The fourth fragment has the honeysuckle +on both sides, with the flower well carved on one of them. It is a +great pity that so little of this superb work is left, and that what +there is should be so mutilated.[25] + +[Footnote 24: Professor Middleton considers this a cornucopia.] + +[Footnote 25: A small drawing of these pieces I shall also on a future +occasion communicate.] + +This account of the Great Bath will, I hope, be sufficiently complete +if I describe the entrances and conclude with a few particulars of the +pavement (although many discoveries of considerable interest might be +made, I have no doubt, in the latter), omitting a detailed examination +as being tedious. + +I believe there were five entrances to this bath, two of which +remain. In the western wall, on the south, is one leading from other +apartments (a hypocaust, hall and bath), which I shall on a future +occasion describe. It is 4ft. 3in. wide. Double doors and hinges +have been inserted in this doorway, and the base and a portion of a +pilaster cut away most barbarously to receive them. On the north, +on the same wall, and fronting the northern _schola_, is a doorway +similar to the last, which has been walled up in Roman times, the wall +which closed it being covered with the red plaster that covers all +the work not being faced freestone. A third doorway, similar in every +respect, was at the eastern end of the northern _schola_, as I infer +from the lower paving being much worn in that direction. A fourth +doorway was in the eastern wall to the south, but not south enough +to face the southern _schola_, and a fifth was between these two. Of +these three doorways, the first of them is still hidden by soil, and +the second and third are obliterated with modern walling; a portion +of the architrave of one was found near, but their position is well +marked by the footmarks in the stone. + +[Plate VIII: Plan of Great Roman Bath, Bath. Discovered 1880-81 and +measured 1884, by Charles E. Davis, F.S.A.] + +I should not omit mentioning the mark of a wooden seat in the northern +rectangular recess, and the place of a wooden rail for clothes, that +was let into the pilaster at one end with the _slot_ in a pilaster at +the other. + +In my plan (_Pl. VIII._) I have endeavoured to show the massive lower +paving and the fragmentary upper pavement. Both are much worn; and, +where the upper pavement has disappeared against the upper step of the +bath, especially the step on the western _schola_, it has been worn +down on the inside to the depth of several inches. The lower pavement +through the south-western door is worn in holes, and across by the +angular fountain are similar wearings, marking "a short cut" into the +northern _schola_; and this is continued in a less degree to the other +doors,--save the north-western one, where the upper paving in part +exists, showing that this doorway was closed before the baths were +allowed to get so shamefully out of repair. This sadly dilapidated +pavement must have caused considerable inconvenience to the bathers, +and could only have been put up with by those too poor to incur the +expenses of repair; the baths therefore were continued to be used by +less prosperous citizens than those who provided them. Is not this a +strong argument that the Romans left behind them, when they abandoned +Britain (A.D. 420), a people almost as great lovers of the baths as +themselves, with, however, less ability to maintain them; and that +the residents of Aquæ Sulis daily frequented them during the 150 years +that succeeded until the city was overthrown by our more immediate +ancestors, who destroyed before abandoning it to desolation? + +The springs flooded the courts and corridors of the Thermæ until the +washings of the land filled them. Rushes, withies, and trees grew +beneath the shadow of its ruins. Bathancastra (Akemancastra) was +founded;[26] the memory of the baths was lost; its architectural +magnificence was the quarry of the builders, who little dreamt +that beneath the soil was buried the rich treasure which we in this +century, and those who have preceded us in the last, have had the +privilege of laying bare. + +[Footnote 26: "The foundation of a monastery by an under-King of the +Hwiccas [Osric, Nov. 6, A.D. 676,] within its walls, reveals to us +the springing up of a new life in another of the cities which had been +wrecked by Ceawlin's inroad, the city of Bath."--_Green's "Making of +England_," p. 356. + +Professor Earle throws some doubt on the authenticity of the record.] + +The Romans left behind them in Bath a Palace of Health and Luxury +unequalled except in Italy. + + * * * * * + +In making some excavations (1885) beneath the Cross Bath, the walls +of the Roman well were found, and at a considerable depth two altars, +which are placed for exhibition in the Great Bath. One of these is a +plain rectangular altar; the other is carved on three sides, having on +the front face two figures (Æsculapius offering a lamb to Hegiea), on +another side a serpent coiled round the trunk of a tree, and on the +third sculptured side a dog with a curly tail (see Professor Sayce and +Rev. Preb. Scarth). + + + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + +HOT MINERAL SPRINGS + +OF BATH, + +VESTED IN THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY. + + * * * * * + +FOUNDED by the Romans in the First Century. + +BATHERS DURING 1889, 104,597. + +Daily yield 507,600 gallons at 120° Fah. + + * * * * * + +These Waters are beneficial in all forms of Gout, Sub-acute, Chronic +and Muscular Rheumatism--Neuralgias, Sciatica, Lumbago, certain forms +of Paralysis, Nervous Debility, Diseases of Women, Disorders of the +Digestive System, Tropical Anoemia, Metallic Poisoning, Eczema, Lepra, +Psoriasis, and all the Scaly Diseases of the Skin. Some Surgical +Diseases of the Joints, general Weakness of Limbs after injury, and +Diseases of the Throat and Air Passages. + +Upwards of £40,000 have been lately expended by the Corporation of the +City to enlarge and perfect the various appliances, rendering them, +in the words of one of the greatest Hygienic Physicians of the day, +THE MOST PERFECT IN EUROPE. Thermal Vapour, Douche with Massage by +doucheurs and doucheuses from Continental Spas, Pulverised and Vapour +Douche, Spray, Dry and Moist Heat, and Shower, with luxurious Cooling +Rooms. + +BAND DAILY IN THE PUMP ROOM. + +LAST RETURN OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR BATH 17'9 PER 1000. + + * * * * * + +CHARGES FOR BATHS. + +NEW ROYAL BATHS, ADJOINING THE GRAND HOTEL. + + Prices. + First Class Deep Bath.. 2 6 + Ditto with Douche or Shower.. 3 0 + First Class Reclining Bath.. 2 0 + Ditto with Douche or Shower.. 2 6 + Dry Douche.. 2 0 + Attendant's Fee.. 0 3 + +First Class Reclining Bath with Massage (1 Doucher) 3s. 6d., +Attendant's Fee, 6d. + +Attached to these Baths is a + + * * * * * + +SWIMMING BATH, TEMP. 82 TO 84 FAHRT., + +Daily supplied with Fresh Mineral Water. + +For Ladies' use on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. + +With use of Private Room for 1 Person, 1s.; 2 Persons, 1s. 6d.; 3 +Persons, 2s. + +Public Room, 6d. Bathing Dresses, 2d. Attendant's Fee, 1d. + +This Bath is available for Gentlemen on Tuesdays, till 1 p.m., +Thursdays, Saturdays, and on Sunday Mornings up to 9.30 a.m., at 1s. +each Person. + + * * * * * + +THE ROYAL BATHS, BATH STREET. + + First Class Deep Bath. 2 0 + ditto ditto with Douche. 2 6 + Second Class Deep Bath. 1 6 + ditto ditto with Douche. 2 0 + Reclining Bath. 1 6 + ditto with Douche. 2 0 + Shower Bath 1 6 + +Attendant's Fees. 2d. & 3d. + + * * * * * + +TEPID SWIMMING BATH, FOR GENTLEMEN ONLY. + + With use of Private Room .. 0 9 + With use of Public Room .. 0 6 + +No Attendant's Fees. This Bath is closed on Thursdays at 1 p.m. + + * * * * * + +CROSS BATH, OPEN DAILY (FRIDAYS EXCEPTED), SUNDAY TILL 9 A.M. + + Open Public Bath 0 1 + Open Public Bath, with Towel 0 2 + +This Bath is available for Females on Thursdays, under the charge of a +female attendant. Fee, including bathing dress, 2d. + + * * * * * + +KING'S AND QUEEN'S BATHS, STALL STREET. + + Prices. + First Class Deep Bath 2 6 + Ditto with Douche or Shower 3 0 + First Class Reclining Bath 2 0 + Ditto with Douche, or Shower, or Lumbar Douche, or Douche Ascendante 2 6 + Ditto with Special Douche 3 0 + Needle Douche (or Douche en Cercle) 2 0 + Ditto with Deep Bath 3 6 + Vertebral Douche 1s. extra Moist and Dry Heat per hour 2 6 + Ditto with Deep Bath 3 6 + Attendant's Fee 0 3 + +First Class Reclining Bath with Massage (1 Doucher) 3s. Attendant's +Fee, 6d. + + +GROUND FLOOR. + + First Class Reclining Bath 1 6 + Ditto with Scottish Douche 2 6 + Reclining Bath with Massage 1 9 + Attendant's Fee 0 6 + Massage Bath 1 6 + Scottish Douche alone 1 0 + Attendant's Fee 0 3 + Second Class Reclining Baths 6d. & 1s. + King's Public Baths 6d. & 1s. + Attendant's Fee 0 1 + + +MASSAGE & VAPOUR BATHS, BOUILLON & PULVERISING ROOM. + + Special Medicated Baths 3 6 + Massage Douche Bath, Aix-les-Bains + system (2 doucheurs) 3 6 + Berthollet with Massage (1 doucheur) 3 0 + Massage, in Reclining Bath + and Douche (1 doucheur) 2 6 + Attendant's Fee 0 6 + Massage Douche Bath (Aix-les-Bains + system) 1 doucheur 2 6 + Berthollet-Natural Vapour Bath 2 6 + Bouillon Room, if taken alone 1 0 + Pulverization for the Nose, + Ears, Eyes, Face, or Throat 1 0 + Sitz Bath (special) 2 0 + Attendant's Fee 0 3 + +Portable Baths, at a temperature not exceeding 106°, Fahrt., can be +supplied at private residences, by arrangement. Also Mineral Water in +Bottles. + + * * * * * + +ARRANGEMENTS FOR DRINKING THE WATERS. + +The Grand Pump Room is open each Week-day from 8.30 a.m. till 6 p.m., +and on Sundays after the Morning service till 2 p.m. + +CHARGES-- + + Single Glass 2d. + + Per Book of 20 Coupons 1 6 + +One Coupon must be given up each time of Drinking the Water, at either +the Grand Pump Room or the Hetling Pump Room. + + Ticket for Drinking the Water for 12 Months, for One Person £1. + + For a Family £2. + +Tickets for Bathing must in all cases be obtained at the Ticket Office +adjoining the Grand Hotel, and all baths are booked by the clerk in +charge; and such baths must be paid for at the time of booking. + +All Fees to Attendants are included in the charge paid for Tickets. + +Any irregularities or incivility on the part of any of the Attendants +should at once be reported to the General Manager. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13582 *** |