Bath
A town in Somerset, England, built around hot springs that the Romans called Aquae Sulis. By the late 1600s its baths drew visitors who came to bathe in and drink the waters for their health.
Today: Bath, Somerset, England, United Kingdom
A year in a sentence: entries from the Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, entries for 802–1154, in the edition of John Earle (Oxford, 1865) · entries for 802–1154; the Peterborough copy written about 1121–1155
Her wæs Eadgar eþeling gehalgod to cyninge on Pentecoste mæsse dæi on v id' Mai. þe xiii geare þe he to rice feng. æt Hatabaðum. and he wæs þa ana wana xxx wintra. and sona æfter þam se cyng ge leadde ealle his scip here to Lægeceastre. and þær him comon ongean vi cyningas. and ealle wið trywsodon ꝥ hi woldon efen wyrhton beon on sæ and on lande.
In this year Prince Edgar was consecrated king at Bath on Whitsunday, May 11, in the thirteenth year after he came to the throne. He was then just short of thirty years old. Soon after that the king led his whole fleet to Chester, and six kings came there to meet him. They all promised that they would be his allies on sea and on land.
Taking the waters at Bath
Celia Fiennes, on the baths at Bath, from the journal of her travels written up about 1702 (first printed 1888) · an undated visit before 1702, perhaps on one of her early journeys; written up about 1702; first printed 1888
The wayes to the bath are all difficult, the town lyes Low in a bottom and its steep ascents all wayes out of the town. The houses are indifferent, the streetes of a good size well pitched. There are severall good houses built for Lodgings that are new and adorned, and good furniture, the baths in my opinion makes the town unpleasant, the aire so low, encompassed with high hills and woods. There is 5 baths the hot bath the most hot springs — its but small and built all round, which makes it ye hotter — out of it runns the water into a bath called the Le pours.
The ways to Bath are all difficult. The town lies low in a hollow, and there are steep climbs on all the ways out of the town. The houses are ordinary; the streets are of a good size and well paved. There are several good houses built for lodgings that are new and decorated, with good furniture. The baths, in my opinion, make the town unpleasant, the air is so low, surrounded by high hills and woods. There are five baths. The Hot Bath has the hottest springs. It is only small and built all around, which makes it the hotter. Out of it runs the water into a bath called the Lepers' Bath.