Roman soldiers will be setting up camp outside Bath’s Royal Crescent as part of this year’s World Heritage Day celebrations, which will take place on Sunday 22 April 2018, 11am-3pm in Royal Victoria Park.
Visitors will be able to enjoy Roman military re-enactments by The Ermine Street Guard and explore their camp throughout the day. There will be special demonstrations of Roman weaponry and manoeuvres at 11.30am and 2pm.
Councillor Paul Myers (Conservative Midsomer Norton Redfield), Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration, said: “Having a Roman re-enactment in front of the Georgian Royal Crescent provides a perfect link between the two historical eras that put Bath on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This should be a fun day out for people of all ages, and a great opportunity to celebrate and discover more about our city’s amazing heritage.”
No.1 Royal Crescent will be offering free entry to Bath and North East Somerset residents with a Discovery Card on the day. Costumed characters will welcome visitors and there will be a chance to handle original Georgian objects.
The Herschel Museum of Astronomy will have a stand at the event, where space enthusiasts of all ages will be able to view the sun through a solar telescope, take part in fun, space-themed activities, and even dress up as famous Georgian astronomers William and Caroline Herschel.
To appreciate one of Bath’s Georgian gems, visitors will be invited to explore the Assembly Rooms, which opened in 1771 to offer entertainment for fashionable visitors to the spa city. The rooms will be open free of charge from 10.30am to 5pm.
The Mayor of Bath’s Honorary Guides will be leading free walks around the Upper Town and shorter guided strolls along the Royal Crescent.
A short walking trail designed by a Bath Spa University Heritage Management student will also be piloted during the day. Copies of the trail will be available from the World Heritage stand.
As well as celebrating Bath’s past, World Heritage Day will look to the future, with a chance to hear the latest news from major heritage projects in the city.
Teams from the Archway Project, Bath Abbey Footprint and Cleveland Pools Trust will be at the event – in front of the Royal Crescent – with displays about their plans.
Elsewhere in the city, Sydney Gardens will host a special Community Day (2-5pm) with activities and stalls and a chance to find out about plans for the park’s development.
Admission to the World Heritage Day event is free. For full details please visit www.bathworldheritage.org.uk/events.
For your information:
The City of Bath was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. Bath is one of only two cities in Europe for which the entire urban area has World Heritage Status (the other is Venice).
The six reasons why Bath was designated as a World Heritage Site are: the Roman remains, the hot springs, the 18th-century architecture, the 18th-century town planning, the green setting of the city, and the social setting of the 18th-century spa resort.
