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BATH

Following our brief adventure at Stonehenge we drove to Bath to spend the night. We found a reasonably-priced Travelodge in the heart of the city then took in a nice evening meal.

The next morning we walked toward the Roman Baths but stopped first at the Bath Abbey. Founded in 1499, it features an awesome set of stained glass windows, ceilings, tombs, and pipe organ.


The north face of the Abbey was being repaired, but the view from the Roman baths upper tier offered an unobstructed view of the cathedral.
The choir sits facing one another, separating them are the last remains of many buried in the floor. Note the stone tiles: each is a tombstone. Beyond the choir is the high altar and above it is the great East window with 56 scenes from the life of Christ.

  

The stained glass windows were incredible. The windows at the East and West ends were probably the most fantastic windows I've ever seen.

 

Besides a place to worship, these were places to bury the dead. James Montagu, Bishop of Bath and Wells was a generous benefactor to the Abbey. His enshrined tomb is pictured above left. Above right is a typical wall showing the multitudes of those buried here.

This ceiling dates from the 16th century. Spectacular!


We were fortunate to hear the organist rehearsing on the huge pipe organ. Our camera is kind of like a Swiss army knife -- it contains a microphone -- so I captured his playing. Listen!

We tried to climb up to the organ loft, but it was off limits. I was curious to hear how chopsticks would sound.

Next we crossed the small plaza to the ancient Roman baths. The bath water that day was green and sort of stinky. I guess you had to get used to it.

 


Overlooking the public bath area is a grand walkway, with about a dozen roman statues.

Can you spot Daryl being statuesque?