A Photo Album of Bath, England.
Taken on a visit in July, 2001
by author Dakota Balmore
All photos were taken by the author and can be freely downloaded and distributed for the enjoyment of all Jane Austen fans.
The Jane Austen Centre at No. 40 Gay Street.
This is a house similar to the one Jane Austen
lived in for a few months following her father's death.
It was just up Gay Street at No. 25.
Inside the Jane Austen Center. This display depicts
male dress of the very early 1800s. On the table is
strewn writing implements and paper.
On first entering Bath, Jane Austen wrote:
"The first view of Bath in fine weather does not
answer my expectations; I think I see more distinctly
in the rain. The sun was got behind everything, and the
appearance of the place from the top of Kingsdown
was all vapour, shadow, smoke, and confusion."
Inside the Jane Austen Center. This display depicts
typical early 1800s female dress of the Regency Period.
This is a typical street in downtown Bath.
The buildings illustrate well the Georgian style
architecture popular in the Regency Period.
Catherine Morland of Northanger Abbey describes Bath:
"Here are a variety of amusements, a variety of
things to be seen and done all day long, which I
can know nothing of there...I really believe I shall
always be talking of Bath--I do like it so very much...
Oh, who can ever be tired of Bath."
Bath is the location of Britain's first circular street.
The Circus, the first one, was constructed between
1754 and 1768. Started by John Wood, it was finished by his
son, John Wood the Younger. The diameter of The Circus
matched that of Stonehenge, the inspiration behind
the curved architecture.
Bath Abbey, originally the site of a monestary
built in 676 from the crumbling stones of old
Roman buildings, the Abbey itself was erected in
1617. The statue carved above the entrance is of
King Henry VII. On either side of the door are
carved statues of St. Peter and St. Paul,
to whom the abbey is dedicated.
Henry Tilney tries to disillusion Catherine Morland
of Northanger Abbey:
"Bath, compared with London, has little variety, and so
everybody finds out every year. For six weeks I allow
Bath is pleasant enough; but beyond that, it is the
most tiresome place in the world. You would be told so by
many people of all descriptions, who come regularly every
winter, lengthen their six weeks into ten or twelve, and
go away at last because they can afford to stay no longer."
This is the area around Bath Abbey. It is spacious and open.
The pump room, Roman baths, and museum are but yards away
from the abbey.
On Paragon Street, Jane stayed with her aunt and uncle,
the Leigh Perrots, at No 1. She came to visit them
and complained about the terrible view of the other
houses from the front windows. Out the back windows
Jane was more pleased by the view of a garden.
In Persuasion Anne Elliot may have expressed Jane's
true feelings of Bath:
"Anne disliked Bath, and did not think it agreed with her."
Again, she..."dreaded the possible heats of September,
in all the white glare of Bath." (all the buidings
when new were white and Jane complained that all the
glare hurt her eyes)
As a girl, Jane had written: "When first we came, all the
umbrellas were up, but now the pavements are getting very
white again." (17th May, 1799)
Mary Musgrove makes a similar remark: "What dreadful weather
we have had! It may not be felt in Bath, with your nice pavements;
but in the country it is of some consequence."
The ballroom of the Assembly Rooms. It often would
entertain over 1,000 guests at a time. Designed by
John Wood the Younger, they opened in 1771. The
chandeliers are said to be the finest in the world.
Completed in 1774 by Robert Adams, the Pulteney Bridge
over the Avon River was the mastermind of developer
William Pulteney who desired access to the grazing land
of Bathwick. Pulteney wanted to build a new suburb, but
finances dried up at the outbreak of war with France.
Admiral Croft in Persuasion said that Bath
suited him very well:
"We are always meeting with some old friend or other;
the streets full of them every morning; sure to have
plenty of chat."
Isabella Thorpe of Northanger Abbey felt differently:
"Do you know I get so immoderately sick of Bath, your
brother and I were agreeing this morning that, though it is
vastly well to be here for a few weeks, we would not live
here for millions."
This is an area called the Recreation Ground. It is
just across the Avon River east of Bath Abbey and
just south of the Pulteney Bridge.
Hit the back button to return
from whence you came: either Pemberley or
Life on Regency Street.
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