BATH NEWSEUM

We want to see Wood in the trees!

John Wood the Elder didn’t live to see his unique ‘Circus’ completed. He died in 1754 shortly after witnessing the laying of the foundation stone of the first of three blocks of a total of 33 terraced houses. Together with his son – John Wood the Younger – he left behind some of the city’s […]

by Richard Wyatt

Support for new dining quarter.

Getting rid of cars could help make Kingsmead Square a new dining quarter. That’s according to a Bath business leader who has welcomed news that this popular hub of independent shops and eateries could become pedestrian-friendly. Bath and North Somerset Council has announced that it intends to continue working on proposals to restrict car movements through Kingsmead […]

by Richard Wyatt

Taking steps to secure a Walcot architectural wonder.

There’s one little piece of Bath’s Georgian heritage that literally leaves me breathless. It’s the passageway known as Walcot Steps – a pedestrian stone staircase that links the city’s artisan quarter with the 18th century extravagance that is The Paragon – sitting loftily above. ‘Picturesque’ and ‘charming’ are two adjectives used to describe this well-used […]

by Richard Wyatt

Bikes, buses and Braeburns.

Scaffolding in the High Street is not helping the cycle parking situation with a safety barrier knocking several parking rings out of action. Meanwhile, l leave you to judge the truth of the words on the back of a scooter parked on one hoop outside the Guildhall. Meanwhile it looks as if B&NES/First Bus are […]

by Richard Wyatt

Remember the Profumo Affair?

The figure of Justice on the roof of Bath’s Guildhall is a bit of a clue to a former use of at least part of the 18th century building – which originally housed a courtroom with ancillary offices. Just for a while parts of that former judicial set-up are reverting to their original role to […]

by Richard Wyatt

Roadside safety campaign at Newbridge

Despite the high winds – artist Alison Harper has just finished installing the 69 Red Wheels which were in Larkhall and Victoria Park in a new Hot Spot at Charmouth Road in Newbridge. Writing to tell me this, John Taylor says: “Newbridge Primary School is at the end of Charmouth Road with 400 children, but […]

by Richard Wyatt

Widcombe subway reopens

Widcombe’s well-used subway which connects with Bath city centre has reopened in time for the city’s half marathon this weekend. Claverton Street subway, which runs directly underneath the busy A36 has undergone extensive refurbishment by Bath & North East Somerset Council. It’s the first significant overhaul of the subway since it opened in the 1960s. […]

by Richard Wyatt

Now it’s Northumberland Place suffering structural damage.

More High Street woe for local traders. While those in The Corridor await insurance company estimates to find someone to fix the hole in their roof – a section of plaster in the entrance way to Northumberland Place has come down forcing a no-entry situation to that shopping lane. Northumberland Place can be accessed from […]

by Richard Wyatt

Bath kids speak up for life on planet Earth.

They cheered the cyclists and booed the four wheel drivers – though it could be argued many of them were regularly dropped off at school in one. The day after B&NES declared a ‘climate emergency’ for the local authority, many youngsters were ‘on strike’ and had left school to gather outside Bath’s Guildhall to protest […]

by Richard Wyatt

Bath joins Climate Change action

Seems quite appropriate on this storm-tossed day that hundreds of young people will be missing school and gathering in Bath – later this morning – in support of an international day of action called “Strike for the Climate.” It all starts outside the Guildhall around 11 am – followed later by a march through Southgate […]