The Survey of Bath and District
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The Survey of Bath and District The Magazine of the Survey of Old Bath and Its Associates No.12, November 1999 Editors: Mike Chapman Elizabeth Holland Left (Front Cover): The “cattle” fair in Ladymead, Walcot Street (see inside – Mike Chapman on Bath Fairs) Right (Back Cover); Walcot Street, Ladymead, Cornwell Buildings and London Street, c.1932. The black outlines show areas of investigation by Bath Archaeological Trust. __________ 0 Also included in this issue; • Roman Baths – Oh yes they are! Peter Davenport • Recollections of Widcombe Miriam & Ken Evans • Oldfield Park – a brief overview of its history Angela Marks NEWS FROM THE SURVEY Our booklet on the Guildhall has been completed and discussions have been held on raising money to allow for a wider selection of pictures than usual. The booklet, which draws on the research of a number of different people, concentrates chiefly on the Guildhall itself, rather than the topography of the area. The view below is taken from the roof of the Guildhall (photo: Mike Chapman). We are completing our study of the Bimbery area for the Spa Project team (out of the various spellings available, we have finally decided on “Bimbery”). We hope the Bimbery booklet, with maps, will be out by the A.G.M. next year. Mike and Marek are planning to report on Bimbery at the lunchtime lecture this November. We received a commission from Bath Archaeological Trust to study the area between the Corridor and Cheap Street and have been completing this project. Like the Bimbery study, this has been another step forward in the task of mapping the whole of the Old City through the ages. With Marek Lewcun, we have joined the Bath Industrial Heritage Centre in discussing a possible exhibition on Walcot. Friends will remember their exhibition last year to which we contributed material on the Southgate area, especially on the site of the Stothert and Pitt foundry. Mike has been appointed Editor of BIAS, the journal of the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society. He has also lately been supervising an historic building survey of Stanton Prior similar to that carried out at Newton St.Loe. He has completed the work he was commissioned to do on various databases. As he discovered that the post-medieval baths were not included in the Sites and Monuments Record (one of the databases), we produced a handy reference booklet, discussed later under Publications. Like our Guildhall booklet, this drew on the latest research by others as well as our own (the Survey began studying the baths in 1985, in preparation for our exhibitions in 1986). Chairman of the Survey: Mike Chapman, 51 Newton Road, Bath BA2 lRW. 01225 426948 Secretary-Treasurer: Elizabeth Holland, 16 Prior Park Buildings, Bath BA2 4NP, B&NE Somerset. 01225 313581 1 NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS At the A.G.M. in June once again held at the United Reformed Church Halls, Mark Beaton of Bath Archaeological Trust led an interesting discussion on the Bath Street Survey sponsored by the City Initiative Team, with the whole question of traffic in Bath. Peter Carey then spoke about conservation projects undertaken by his firm, Messrs.Donald Insall’s, with a wonderful display of slides, ending with the new proposals for the Cross Bath. (The Cross Bath was a little difficult to see at the public meeting at the R.L.S.I. The two overlapping ovals are actually placed north-south and not east-west as we reported.) An account of this meeting appears below. There are also accounts below of three walks held for the Friends - the Sawclose area on 27 May, Bathampton in July, and Walcot in September. All these walks were very well attended and voted a considerable success, and our thanks go to those who organised and led them, as well as to June and her team for once again organising the meetings of the Friends. Dr.John Wroughton has brought out a new book, An Unhappy Civil War, discussed under Publications. It was launched at the Empire on 1 October, in a joint presentation with Pegasus Retirement Homes. Friends will recall our evening at the Empire two or three years ago, which led to more of our number moving there. The beautiful room, speeches by the Mayor and John, excellent catering, and the reunion of many old friends made the launch a happy event. Denise Walker was involved in the flower decorations for the Abbey celebrations. Her beautiful arrangements gained a great deal of praise and were featured in the papers. An account by Denise appears below in City News. Professor Robert Alexander sends his regards, and he comments, as always, that he enjoys the magazine very much. Robert writes that at the moment his main project is arranging a medieval banquet at Point Park College with the aid of one of his classes - with medieval food, decorations and plays. He reports that the rest of the College seem somewhat amazed, but he feels that this banquet is needed. 2 The wine-glasses donated in memory of Tony Symons proved very useful at the A.G.M. They are available for hire by the Friends for their own gatherings, to be collected and returned by the hirers. Please contact Hazel Symons on 464528. Philip Jackson has been composing a study of the 19th century in Britain, based on a prized possession of his, an old newspaper celebrating the dawn of the 20th century. He will be giving a talk on the subject to the Family History Society on 22 November at the Church Hall, Bathwick St.Mary. At the Christmas party at the Keynsham and Saltford Local History Society he will be speaking about Christmas 1901, from the same paper. A new member is Malcolm Hitchcock of Prior Park Buildings, who has lately become a Mayor’s Guide. Malcolm is interested in the water supply of Bath, and the way in which water was conveyed to the individual houses. He will be glad to hear from any others who share this concern. Mike and Elizabeth met Robin Lambert in the Record Office the other day, on a short visit from Paris. Robin is expected to have an article in Bath History in the year 2000. Mrs.Dora Wedge has removed to Newbridge Towers, Newbridge Hill. She still follows our work with interest. **************** IN MEMORIAM Bron Kellaway We regret to announce the death of Bron Kellaway, wife of Dr.Geoffrey Kellaway, Consultant Geologist to B&NES and formerly to Bath. Mrs.Kellaway died at their home in Lewes, Sussex, in September. They were to have celebrated their Diamond Wedding in December. Mrs.Kellaway took a great interest in Dr.Kellaway’s work and would accompany him on visits to Bath, where she would follow keenly all that was being done in connection with the Spa waters. Besides bringing up a family, she followed her own career in the field of education. In 1948 she became Head Teacher of Mile Oak Secondary Modern Girls School, where she encouraged wider opportunities for the girls in her charge. In 1963 she became Principal Lecturer at Seaford College of Education. From 1979-1990 she was Personal Tutor in Education at the University of Sussex, and also served on the University Education Board. Bron leaves two daughters and three grandchildren. Besides her wide range of interests, her lovely personality ensures that she is very much missed by everyone who knew her. __________________ 3 Harbutt’s Mill and the George Inn beside the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bathampton, c.1890 (BRL). 27 May: A WALK AROUND THE SAWCLOSE AREA Studies commissioned by Bath Archaeological Trust and researched by Mike Chapman and Elizabeth Holland of the Survey of Old Bath, Marek Lewcun of Bath Archaeological Trust and Kirsty Rodwell, architectural historian, were the subject of a walk around the Sawdose on Thursday evening, 27 May 1999. Ruth Haskins, the Chairman, welcomed the speakers who gave nearly 30 members a fascinating and detailed description of this small area from Roman times to the present day. Starting by the Garrick’s Head, on the site of the city wall, Mike described the present car park area as it was in the Middle Ages, with its timber yards and saw pits, and with later on a Pound nearby, the derelict remnants of its Victorian successor being still visible behind rusty ornamental gates. In 1615 development around this “open” area began when a piece of land was given to Biggs, the city paviour. Gradually, various developments grew up, including a coach house and stables, and later the Georgian buildings of St. John’s Court. The Corporation installed a 4 weighbridge (in the centre of the present car park) and the “space” became important as a delivery area using surrounding buildings for storage, and by the late 18th century as the city coal market. The area became a car park in the 1930s. A property on the south side, once owned by John Parsons a “common carrier”, was acquired in the 1880s by a Variety Theatre Company who ran a very successful music hall under the name “Bath Pavilion”, later remodelled as “The Lyric Theatre”. Chaplin is said to have performed there before leaving for America. Nearby was a soap/candle manufacturer and the present garage was a cheese store. In past years Bridewell Lane has been known by a variety of names, the most intriguing being “Plumtreos Twichene”, the latter being an old word for “alleyway”. In 1632 a house (Bridewell) was erected for “setting the poor to work” but was demolished in 1722 when Killigrew built the Blue Coat school for 50 boys and 50 girls.