The laundry was - up until recently - the only use that the hot spring water which gushes through and out of the Great Bath was put to. For around two thousand years the hot water has been simply discharging itself into the river Avon through a stone drain built by the Romans. The fish enjoy it.
A few years ago they finally decided to stop wasting this natural resource by building an underfloor network to heat the nearby Bath Abbey. It is really nearby, so there is not much heat loss as it flows through the stainless steel pipe. After about a thousand years, Bath Abbey is finally quite comfortable at this time of year.
When you think of the thousands of photos which are taken of the Abbey every day by tourists, it is hard to understand how Historic England singled this one out as worthy of a special mention. They described it as 'striking'. Did they mean strikingly boring?
Those Christmas Markets always look like a row of garden sheds. The last and only time I was in Bath about 40 years ago there was nowhere using the hot spring water for treatments or anything as far as I was aware. I remember looking at some water that smelled like bad eggs and people slowly walked around staring at it but there was nowhere to actually enjoy any of it. Imagine if it had been in a spa town in Europe, it would have been used as Turkish baths, treatment rooms and all sorts. Is there anything like that now?
ReplyDeleteThe Royal Mineral Water hospital for rheumatic diseases was being used right up until a few years ago, but then our council decided they could make a bit of money by selling it off to a hotel group against the wishes of the people they were supposed to represent. They stole it, effectively.
DeleteThere is a modern spa facility which also is privately run and is extremely expensive. This was built over the public baths of mineral water which were very inexpensive to use.
You get the picture.
Underfloor heating is a brilliant idea there.
ReplyDeleteThey talked about it for about 100 years.
DeleteI was interested to read about Bath Abbey and heating from the hot spring water. Too bad regarding the council and the spa. Its always all about money.
ReplyDeleteThe Roman used underfloor heating from fires.
Yes, the Roman Baths have huge hypocaust systems.
DeleteWhy is it that these days natural facilities like natural spring water seem to be private and very expensive when they surely should be free and for the benefit of all.
ReplyDeleteNot just that, but Bath’s privately run spa was heavily financed with public money. Locals get a couple of quid off the hefty entrance fee. We are constantly being milked.
DeleteThe several thermal springs near me are spas owned by the medical centers.
ReplyDeleteThe spas here have been privately owned for about 300 years, but the mineral water hospital in the middle of town was taken over by the NHS in the late 1940s. It had been a treatment centre for over 250 years. The pools built in the 17th century for treatment using the hot springs were owned by the city, I think.
DeleteDon't you wonder about people in high positions getting a kick back for selling out to the hotel. Bath City Counsel certainly did not represent the wants and needs of the people of Bath. This happens a lot. Sadly.
ReplyDeleteThey would argue that they are acting in the interest of the public by improving the economy of the city in attracting outside investment, but improving people's lives is not always about money.
DeleteI like the Abbey…… our son sang there when he was about ten ! I like the photograph of your favourite tree …. it has a magical feel about it. XXXX
ReplyDeleteThe Abbey was completely remodelled in the 19th century. Even a lot of the 17th century features have gone. On the East side you can still see the stumps a few pillars dating back to the original building, when it was part of a monastery. The tree is said to be about 170 years old.
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