B&B IN BEAUTIFUL BATH, ENGLAND - PART 2

By Brian and Mo
UK Correspondents
Copyright Brian Wilson

The Circus and the Royal Crescent ...

These are two of Bath’s many beautiful buildings. From the center of Bath walk into The Circus; designed by the architect John Wood, the Elder, who never lived to see his plans put into effect as he died less than three months after the first stone was laid. The whole Circus was completed circa 1766.

The Circus includes three classical Orders, (Greek Doric, Roman/Composite and Corinthian) one above the other, in the elegant curved facades. The Doric frieze is decorated with alternating pictorial emblems, including serpents, nautical symbols, devices representing the arts and sciences, and masonic symbols. The parapet is adorned with stone acorn finials.

In 1800 The Circus residents enclosed the central open space as a garden, now home to a group of old plane trees.

The front

Between 1758 and 1774 number 17 The Circus was home to Thomas Gainsborough and used as his portrait studio. But we must remember that Georgian Bath was a property entrepreneur’s dream – buildings were put up with an eye on a quick sale – everything was designed for show. So if you walk from the Circus towards The Royal Crescent you’ll notice that whilst the front of the buildings were made out of the best stone and festooned with beautiful carvings, the rear of the houses are made out of any old stone – everything was for show – your friends only looked at the front of the house

The back!

Now walk along Brock Street that leads form The Circus to The Royal Crescent – have a meal at one of our favourite restaurants –The Circus Café – and you will find yourself at one end of The Royal Crescent. Take a look at the wide expanse of one of Bath’s gems.

To be continued ....