BATH - STONEHENGE - HAMPTON COURT PALCE - LONDON
Masonic Jewels Tour - UK Day 16 - BATH TO LONDON
Food For Thought
The entrance to the side street, Bath Abbey, Bath Abbey carved door, one of the Jacob's ladder
There was a covered entrance over the side street, similar to the entrance way to the baths. The door of the Cathedral, for Bath Abbey is recognised as such, was intricately carved as was the stonework which was most ornate. There were carvings of Jacob's ladder on both end pillars, with angels climbing them.
As there were no queues to enter the Roman Baths when we returned, we were allowed in immediately on our return.
As there were no queues to enter the Roman Baths when we returned, we were allowed in immediately on our return.
The entrance led us to the 18th century gallery above the baths, We spent some time on this part of the complex as the TV documentary was still being filmed beside the baths on the lower level. The gallery proved most interesting with its Roman figures looking down on the pool below. This was a perfect summers day, and a lovely blue sky above was tracked by contrails of many planes flying in to and from Heathrow and other parts criss crossed the sky. We all had received sound guides, and this photograph of tour guide Andrew Taylor using one shows also how close the Abbey really is to the baths.
The balcony with Roman figures, the main pool with actress between pillars and the Abbey in the background
The wooden model of the Roman Bath house from both perspectives, and the floor plan
There was a wooden model on display, showing how the complex would have looked when it was built all those centuries ago, and a plan of the complex.
Sarcofogi and inscription
The tour party started early from the hotel on foot for our visit to the world famous Roman Baths. Stepping out from the hotel into we once again had a chance to look at the magnificent spire, of St.John's Roman Catholic church, the tallest spire in Bath, searching for a glimpse of the Peregrine Falcons that make it their home. We were not disappointed.
We walked down a narrow street past the famous Sally Lunns. Sally Lunn's is one of the oldest houses in Bath (c.1482) and serves the most famous local delicacy; the Original 'Sally Lunn' Bun. According to legend, Sally Lunn, a French refugee, arrived 1680 and established her bakery. Sally Lunn’s is much more than a world famous tea and eating house, as its kitchen museum shows the actual kitchen used by the legendary young Huguenot baker.
The centre of Bath is a traffic free precinct, onto which the front of the famous bath house opens on to. Unfortunately, this had been booked for an early morning photo shoot, so was opening a few minutes later than normal.
However, this allowed us to take a few minutes to walk towards Bath Abbey just behind the Bath house.
The centre of Bath is a traffic free precinct, onto which the front of the famous bath house opens on to. Unfortunately, this had been booked for an early morning photo shoot, so was opening a few minutes later than normal.
However, this allowed us to take a few minutes to walk towards Bath Abbey just behind the Bath house.
St. Johns Roman Catholic Church, A Peregrine falcon in residence, and the Sign on 6 South Parade
Peregrine falcons were first observed regularly at Bath in 2000. After three years of peregrine residence without any indication of successful breeding the Hawk and Owl Trust built a nest platform. It was installed on the spire of one of the peregrine’s favourite roost sites, St John’s RC Church in South Parade in 2005 and the birds first bred successfully the following season, in 2006. They have hatched young every season since.
As we made our way to the Roman Baths we passed the house, No 6 South Parade, where Sir Walter Scott stayed as a 4 year old, when recuperating from polio, which left him with a limp for the rest of his life. It was just a few doors along from our hotel and we had passed it without knowing the previous night on the Way to the Bath Lodge Buildings.
As we made our way to the Roman Baths we passed the house, No 6 South Parade, where Sir Walter Scott stayed as a 4 year old, when recuperating from polio, which left him with a limp for the rest of his life. It was just a few doors along from our hotel and we had passed it without knowing the previous night on the Way to the Bath Lodge Buildings.
Sally Lunns, Central Bath, the entrance to the Roman Baths
On the finishing of filming we were allowed down to the lower level, and we could look up across the pool at where we had entered, and even up at the dispersing vapour trails from the morning flights. The light on the water was beautiful as is shown with the reflections of the sky and the pillars in this shot along the pool to where the actress had stood..
The view across the pool from the lower level, towards the east end and a view down the pool
The overflow from the spring, two shots of the old foundations and the circular cold pool
There were many chambers on show including the overflow from the original hot water source, coming out of a wall through a small tunnel and running over an orange stained weir. There were the remnants of the stone foundations of the original buildings, and an almost complete circular bathing pool which gave an idea of the quality of craftsmanship that the Romans were capable of.
The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman Bath. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century.
The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman Bath. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century.
Stonehenge
Drawings and Plans of Stonehenge showing its geometry and link with the Equinox
What was Stonehenge? Mike Parker Pearson of the Stonehenge Riverside Project noted that Stonehenge appears to have been associated with burial from the earliest period of its existence. It is a notable fact that the sun rises immediately over the summit of the " Hele Stone," in a line with the axis of Stonehenge on the Summer Solstice. There is evidence that about 4,000 people used to celebrate the Winter and Summer solstice at the site in those ancient times..
Artist's view of Stonehenge in use, and a bird's eye vie photograph
STONEHENGE CONSISTS OF
(a) A circular earthwork, 300 feet in diameter.
(b) An avenue bounded by earthworks approaching it on the north-east.
(c) One large unworked Sarsen Stone, called the "Hele Stone" or "Friar's Heel."
(d) A recumbent slab within the earthwork called the "Slaughtering Stone."
(e) Two small unhewn Sarsens lying north-west and south-east of the Circle of Stones.
(f) A ring of hewn Sarsen stones with "imposts " or lintels mortised to them. The lintels are fitted together with toggle joints. Sixteen out of the original thirty uprights of these "Trilithons" are now standing.
The diameter of this circle is about 108 feet, or that of the dome of St. Paul's.
(g) A ring of less perfectly hewn "Foreign Stones" which have been conveyed to the spot from Pembrokeshire.
These numbered between thirty and forty. Only seven are standing to-day, nine are over-thrown.
(h) Five great Trilithons, arranged in a horse-shoe, with the opening to the north-east. These Trilithons rise gradually in height towards the south-west. The largest group of stones fell A.D. 1620. Those next to the great Trilithon on the north-west, fell on January 3rd, 1797.
To-day only two of the Inner Trilithons are standing. One upright of the great Trilithon (raised and made secure in 1901) is erect.
(i) A horseshoe of less perfectly hewn Foreign Stones. Originally there were fifteen or more of these monoliths averaging eight feet high.
(j) A simple recumbent slab of micaceous sandstone called the "Altar Stone."
(a) A circular earthwork, 300 feet in diameter.
(b) An avenue bounded by earthworks approaching it on the north-east.
(c) One large unworked Sarsen Stone, called the "Hele Stone" or "Friar's Heel."
(d) A recumbent slab within the earthwork called the "Slaughtering Stone."
(e) Two small unhewn Sarsens lying north-west and south-east of the Circle of Stones.
(f) A ring of hewn Sarsen stones with "imposts " or lintels mortised to them. The lintels are fitted together with toggle joints. Sixteen out of the original thirty uprights of these "Trilithons" are now standing.
The diameter of this circle is about 108 feet, or that of the dome of St. Paul's.
(g) A ring of less perfectly hewn "Foreign Stones" which have been conveyed to the spot from Pembrokeshire.
These numbered between thirty and forty. Only seven are standing to-day, nine are over-thrown.
(h) Five great Trilithons, arranged in a horse-shoe, with the opening to the north-east. These Trilithons rise gradually in height towards the south-west. The largest group of stones fell A.D. 1620. Those next to the great Trilithon on the north-west, fell on January 3rd, 1797.
To-day only two of the Inner Trilithons are standing. One upright of the great Trilithon (raised and made secure in 1901) is erect.
(i) A horseshoe of less perfectly hewn Foreign Stones. Originally there were fifteen or more of these monoliths averaging eight feet high.
(j) A simple recumbent slab of micaceous sandstone called the "Altar Stone."
While walking around the henge one could not but wonder on the effort to make this stone circle. The fact that some of the stones were brought from Wales being just one of the marvels of this monument. There were even some stones cut fairly square as the lintels show, and the thought that there were some stone squarers around 4000 to 5000 years ago was gratifying. In fact the descriptions given in Wikipedia to the building methods shows how accomplished the builders were -
“The stones were dressed and fashioned with mortise and tenon joints before 30 were erected as a 33 metres (108 ft) diameter circle of standing stones, with a ring of 30 lintel stones resting on top. The lintels were fitted to one another using another woodworking method, the tongue and groove joint. Each standing stone was around 4.1 metres (13 ft) high, 2.1 metres (6 ft 11 in) wide and weighed around 25 tons. Each had clearly been worked with the final visual effect in mind; the orthostats widen slightly towards the top in order that their perspective remains constant when viewed from the ground, while the lintel stones curve slightly to continue the circular appearance of the earlier monument. The inward-facing surfaces of the stones are smoother and more finely worked than the outer surfaces. The average thickness of the stones is 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in) and the average distance between them is 1 metre (3 ft 3 in).”
“Within this circle stood five trilithons of dressed sarsen stone arranged in a horseshoe shape 13.7 metres (45 ft) across with its open end facing north east. These huge stones, ten uprights and five lintels, weigh up to 50 tons each. They were linked using complex jointing.”
“The stones were dressed and fashioned with mortise and tenon joints before 30 were erected as a 33 metres (108 ft) diameter circle of standing stones, with a ring of 30 lintel stones resting on top. The lintels were fitted to one another using another woodworking method, the tongue and groove joint. Each standing stone was around 4.1 metres (13 ft) high, 2.1 metres (6 ft 11 in) wide and weighed around 25 tons. Each had clearly been worked with the final visual effect in mind; the orthostats widen slightly towards the top in order that their perspective remains constant when viewed from the ground, while the lintel stones curve slightly to continue the circular appearance of the earlier monument. The inward-facing surfaces of the stones are smoother and more finely worked than the outer surfaces. The average thickness of the stones is 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in) and the average distance between them is 1 metre (3 ft 3 in).”
“Within this circle stood five trilithons of dressed sarsen stone arranged in a horseshoe shape 13.7 metres (45 ft) across with its open end facing north east. These huge stones, ten uprights and five lintels, weigh up to 50 tons each. They were linked using complex jointing.”
Views of Stonehenge from the public footpath
Then it was off to London on board the bus. We went by Windsor and even managed to get a view of Windsor Castle down the long avenue in Windsor Park. .
Windsor Castle
Few However, as one visits these old and ancient sites one is inclined to forget that people, so similar to ourselves, used them for their daily life, and also in death. The display of stone sarcofogi that had been excavated while preserving the roman baths had an inscription, an english translation is etched in stone above from the original. It reads -
To the spirits of the departed Gaius Calpurnius Receptus priest
of the Goddess Sulis lived 75 years Calpurnia Trifosa his
freedwoman wife had this set up. Juius Vitalis armourer of the
twentieth legion Valeria Victrix of 9 years service Aged 29 a BelgI
Tribesman with funeral at the cost of the guild of armourers He lies
Here. Lucius Vitellius Tancinus Son of Mantaius A tribesman
of Caurium in spain Trooper of Cavalry regiment of Vettones
Roman citizen aged 46 of 26 years' service Lies buried here - To the
Spirits of the departed Mercatilla Freedwooman and Foster-daughter
of Manius Lived 1 year 6 months 12 days. To the spirits of the departed
To Successa Petronia Lived 3 years 4 Months 9 days Vettus
Romulus and Victoria Sabina set this up to their dearest daughter
Leaving Bath, with thoughts of those people of 1500 or so years before, we travelled further back in time, two to three times further back, to Stonehenge.
To the spirits of the departed Gaius Calpurnius Receptus priest
of the Goddess Sulis lived 75 years Calpurnia Trifosa his
freedwoman wife had this set up. Juius Vitalis armourer of the
twentieth legion Valeria Victrix of 9 years service Aged 29 a BelgI
Tribesman with funeral at the cost of the guild of armourers He lies
Here. Lucius Vitellius Tancinus Son of Mantaius A tribesman
of Caurium in spain Trooper of Cavalry regiment of Vettones
Roman citizen aged 46 of 26 years' service Lies buried here - To the
Spirits of the departed Mercatilla Freedwooman and Foster-daughter
of Manius Lived 1 year 6 months 12 days. To the spirits of the departed
To Successa Petronia Lived 3 years 4 Months 9 days Vettus
Romulus and Victoria Sabina set this up to their dearest daughter
Leaving Bath, with thoughts of those people of 1500 or so years before, we travelled further back in time, two to three times further back, to Stonehenge.
Hampton Court is the huge and sprawling palace of many British monarchs including Henry VIII. We approached it from the west.
Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215, King John and a painting of the signing
The drive to Hampton Court went past Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215 by King John. It is perhaps the most important document in history.
The west end of Hampton Court Palace walking in from the car park
The west front of the palace was begun by Cardinal Wolsey (ca. 1475-1530) and completed by Henry VIII in the 16th century. We entered into the first courtyard. This again was built by Cardibal Wolsey, and had the lodgings for his guests around it. We chose to enter the building by way of the kitchen complex.
The West end and main public entrance, a sketch of the palace complex
Remnants of the original Roman Bath House
As well as the various rooms there were displays of remnants of the stone carvings of the original baths laid out, and these included the ancient gable end, and most of a mosaic floor that had been saved.
The first shrine at the site of the hot springs was built by Celts, and was dedicated to the goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva. The name Sulis continued to be used after the Roman invasion, leading to the town's Roman name of Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis"). The temple was constructed in 60-70 AD and the bathing complex was gradually built up over the next 300 years. During the Roman occupation of Britain, during the time of Emperor Claudius, engineers drove oak piles to provide a stable foundation into the mud and surrounded the spring with an irregular stone chamber lined with lead. In the 2nd century it was enclosed within a wooden barrel-vaulted building, and included the caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm bath), and frigidarium (cold bath). After the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the first decade of the 5th century, these fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up, and flooding. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle suggests the original Roman baths were destroyed in the 6th century.
The baths have been modified on several occasions, including the 12th century when John of Tours built a curative bath over the King's Spring reservoir and the 16th century when the city corporation built a new bath, the Queen's Bath, to the south of the Spring. The spring is now housed in 18th-century buildings, designed by architects John Wood, the Elder and John Wood, the Younger, father and son.
The first shrine at the site of the hot springs was built by Celts, and was dedicated to the goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva. The name Sulis continued to be used after the Roman invasion, leading to the town's Roman name of Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis"). The temple was constructed in 60-70 AD and the bathing complex was gradually built up over the next 300 years. During the Roman occupation of Britain, during the time of Emperor Claudius, engineers drove oak piles to provide a stable foundation into the mud and surrounded the spring with an irregular stone chamber lined with lead. In the 2nd century it was enclosed within a wooden barrel-vaulted building, and included the caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm bath), and frigidarium (cold bath). After the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the first decade of the 5th century, these fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up, and flooding. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle suggests the original Roman baths were destroyed in the 6th century.
The baths have been modified on several occasions, including the 12th century when John of Tours built a curative bath over the King's Spring reservoir and the 16th century when the city corporation built a new bath, the Queen's Bath, to the south of the Spring. The spring is now housed in 18th-century buildings, designed by architects John Wood, the Elder and John Wood, the Younger, father and son.
Stonehenge is a most impressive sight in any century, it is hard to believe the majority of it was built and used nearly 5000 years ago. However, research points to the site being important around 8,000 BC..
The Tudor Kitchens and enormous fire for spit roasting food
The first room we visited was the Kitchen preparation room with actors showing off period dress and the type of fare that would have been available in those days. In the Kitchen proper they were spit roasting two turkeys on a huge fire. These huge fires had huge double chimneys. .
Moving on past a well stocked wine cellar we took a quick look at the cafe in the old dining hall, and then entered the Royal part of the castle.
The Palace is huge covering 2.4 hectares, and there are many tours available to specific parts of the Palace, but owing to time we contented ourselves to walk through some of the public rooms which were huge, and in some cases empty of furniture. We left visiting the apartments of King Henry VIII, King William III or Queen Anne which were accessible by splendidly adorned staircases to a future date.
The Palace is huge covering 2.4 hectares, and there are many tours available to specific parts of the Palace, but owing to time we contented ourselves to walk through some of the public rooms which were huge, and in some cases empty of furniture. We left visiting the apartments of King Henry VIII, King William III or Queen Anne which were accessible by splendidly adorned staircases to a future date.
The Wine cellar, the food hall (cafe) and the door from the servants quarters to the main part of the palace
Moving on past a well stocked wine cellar we took a quick look at the cafe in the old dining hall, and then entered the Royal part of the castle.
The Palace is huge covering 2.4 hectares, and there are many tours available to specific parts of the Palace, but owing to time we contented ourselves to walk through some of the public rooms which were huge, and in some cases empty of furniture. We left visiting the apartments of King Henry VIII, King William III or Queen Anne which were accessible by splendidly adorned staircases to a future date.
The Fountain court was built by Sir Christopher Wren for William III and Mary II. The state apartments surround this with their double height windows above the arched cloisters. The South end of Wren's iconic building looks out over the magnificent gardens to the River Thames. This was the main thoroughfare to the city of London in those olden times.
The Fountain Courtyard and State Apartments, in Sir Christopher Wren's East end of the Palace
The gardens which cover over 24 hectares are truly magnificent with the marvellous topiary. The avenues to the East were impressive, the central one looking to the statue at its eastern end and the Long Water beyond, and then that splendid view back to the East facade of Sir Christopher Wren's Eastern wing of the Palace. This was built for King William III and Queen Mary II begun in 1689 but not finished until about 1718.
Looking East to the Long Water, the statue at the West end of Long Water, and the view back to the palace
The South Garden, and the two little gardens beside this
The South Garden led down to the River Thames, and was well laid out and contained more delicate plants. It was sheltered and apparently a favourite retreat for their majesties. Further around there were three small formal gardens sheltered by box hedges and beautifully manicured flower beds.
In Tudor times Henry VII's Great Orchard occupied the land to the North of the palace. Hampton Court's famous maze is the only remaining part of this, the rest having been planted out in tall clipped evergreens, and undersown with bulbs, which provide a wonderful spectacle in spring.
The area known as the Tiltyard was originally for tournaments, but is now The Rose and Herbaceous gardens. At the North East on the great avenue lies the Royal Tennis Court.
In Tudor times Henry VII's Great Orchard occupied the land to the North of the palace. Hampton Court's famous maze is the only remaining part of this, the rest having been planted out in tall clipped evergreens, and undersown with bulbs, which provide a wonderful spectacle in spring.
The area known as the Tiltyard was originally for tournaments, but is now The Rose and Herbaceous gardens. At the North East on the great avenue lies the Royal Tennis Court.
A royal staircase, the queens room, and reception room
Returning through the palace most of us had no time to investigate the Royal rooms.
The clock tower, the clock and the chimneys and gable ends
Returning to the entrance through the Palace one can do little but wonder at the Clock Tower with its astronomical clock made before Galileo and Copernicus so the Sun revolves around the Earth. This proved most interesting, as does the huge variety of tall chimney pots that abound on the roof line all over the Palace. The main form of heating being open fires which would be tended by countless servants.
A colour drawing from the air of Hampton Court Palace from the south over the River Thames