Christmas – for me – has come early. That very nice lady – called Alison Herbert – who has taken over at Bath BID – an organisation that promotes and helps develop commercial businesses in the city – has told me the Victorian Carousel IS coming back this year.
Followers of Bath Newseum will know how – each year – as the Christmas Market ‘chalets’ go up l look – forlornly – for the old-fashioned and colourful ‘gallopers’ – a fairground ride popular with youngsters which was dropped – in favour of a food and drink chalet – a few years ago.
While not all established traders welcome the annual market of festive sheds – which occupies the Abbey Courtyard, York Street and Bath Street from November 23rd to December 10th each year – this Christmas trading is going to see a joint operation between Visit Bath and Bath BID to promote and extend what is on offer – for visitors and locals alike. Just for a change – part of it is going to have a Dickensian theme.
That extension is going to see the Victorian Carousel replacing the food and drink chalet outside the Roman Baths shop from December 14th to the 30th.
Bath Newseum took Allison into Northumberland Place one of the lanes being promoted – for a chat.
Apart from the Dickension festivities in The Corridor and Northumberland Place – complete with music and even a flurry of snow – there are other events to look forward to.
Bath Ice Rink in Victoria Park is going to be bigger this year and Walcot Street is staging a lantern procession – following on from the Holburne Museum’s economic decision to stop organising one along Great Pulteney Street.
Check out the BathBID website at bathbid.co.uk and Visit Bath via visitbath.co.uk/christmas
Incidentally, Victorian novelist Charles Dickens was no stranger to Bath. From his days as a young journalist to his friendship with local resident and poet Walter Savage Landor. Mr Pickwick was inspired by a city coachman and Little Nell by a local shop worker. Both the Saracen’s Head and the York Hotel can claim Dickens slept under their roofs.
If you want to give us (ie AKEMAN PRESS) another plug – there’s a Dickens walk in our excellent book Literary Walks in Bath!
Kirsten J
PS glad the carousel will be back.