I found myself amongst another gathering of the ‘great and the good’ (and the interesting) within Bath Guildhall’s glittering Banqueting Room last night.
This time to celebrate the official launch of a new map of Bath.
Before you scratch your head in wonderment – and puzzle over what’s exciting about yet another fold-out of the city streets – let me tell you it’s got to be the most historically comprehensive map of Bath l have ever seen – and what detail to enjoy!
The map shows all the major Roman, Medieval and later buildings and places of historical interest in our unique city which has been twice-listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
This publication — by the Historic Towns Trust (www.historictownstrust) — is the latest in a series of maps covering historic towns in England, Scotland, and Wales.
It was created in collaboration with the History of Bath Research Group and is available online and in all good bookshops now.
I managed to speak to the group’s chair, Dr Michael Rowe – grabbing a corner for a quick chat amidst the noisy gathering.
The 1:2500 map reveals the richly layered history of the city from Roman times to the start of the 20th century.
It covers the historic core of the city, the whole of the Georgian development to Lansdown in the north and Bathwick in the east, and the 19th-century developments south of the River Avon.
The reverse of the map outlines Bath’s development and important themes and events in its history, with brief accounts of major buildings and features keyed to the map.
It also includes a detailed reconstruction of Bath c. 1641, based on a contemporary survey and the rich archive of property documents held by the corporation.
It is illustrated with numerous paintings and prints from the collections of the Victoria Art Gallery.
The Bath map is number 17 in the Historic Towns Trust’s Town and City Historical Maps series. The cartography is by Giles Darkes. Available in all good bookshops and online retailers now.
You can support the Trust by buying direct from the Historic Towns Trust website. ISBN: 978-1-8380719-6-7 RRP: £11.99
The History of Bath Research Group was founded in 1986 to bring together historians actively engaged in research in the Bath area. Over the years, many members have published and given talks on different aspects of local history, including studies in the journal of Bath History.
The group also welcomes those who simply wish to learn more about Bath’s history.
You can support their work, attend regular talks and visits, or follow them through their website: https:// historyofbath.org
The Historic Towns Trust is an educational charity working to map the urban histories of Great Britain in partnership with local historians and communities. Their maps and atlases give an insight into how towns and cities developed and why they appear as they do today.
To find out more, visit: https://historictownstrust.uk
Brilliant. I bought it and spent hours over it as soon as it arrived. I thought I knew everything about Bath history…well, I do now! Only trouble is finding a big enough space to spread it out.