The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-25
ROMAN BATHS RESTORED.
Remodeling of Ancient Structure 8
Uncovered Mt Bath, England.


From the Philadelphia Record.
The old Roman baths at Bath, Eng
land, have been recently restored and
reopened for public use, and an effort
is being made to re-establlsh the an
cient fame Of that town as a health
resort. These baths are said to have
been built A. d. go. Three large Ro-
man villas have also been found in the
Bath Valley. These, and q few frag-
ments Of paving, altars and tombs, are
the only record of the Apuae Sulis
which was finally destroyed and de-
serted in 571 II we except the Roman
baths. These Roman baths were the
chief object in the ancient city, and 1t
is assumed that, on the sacking of the
place by the SaXons columns and en-
tablatures were ruthlessly destroyed.
Conduits which carried off the super
iluous hot water were choked up, and
that the ceaseless yelling up of the
mineral water continuing, the area of
the baths was flooded. The valuable
mineral deposit of the spring of many
centuries covered the floors to a depth,
in some places, of fifteen feet, buS.it is
to this deposit that is owed the pres
ervation of the ancient work. Where
that deposit and the mineral flood did
not exist the baths became the quarry
out of which the builders, Saxon and
Norman. procured the material for the
monastery, the city walls, and the bish-
ops palace which covered a Jortion
of the site; indeed, stones can he trac-
ed in the Abbey church, rebuilt 1900
and subsequently.
The Roman baths were discovered in
1854, but what was found was in part
destroyed and covered up. Previous to
1871, from time TO time, fragmentary
| discoveries We're made, but in that
| year fortunate discovery was made
which led, about six years later, to the
corporation purchasing property which
enabled excavations and discoveries to
| be made. This work was continued
until the year 1856, recommended in
| 1890, and from that time, with an in
terval of n year, till June. 1898
In making these restoration5 every
effort was made to treat the magnifi-
cent Roman bath in manner which
should be free from the charge of van
dalism and yet utilize the space avail
| able to the utmost extent. In the new
concert room the idea has been to pro-
vide ample accommodation for the
| ever increasing number Of visitors TO
Bath, the daily concerts having hith-
erto been given in the historic pump
room. The latter will henceforth be
devoted exclusively to the water drink
ers. The scheme as now completed 49,
with the exception of the position on
plan and the interior Of the promen-
ade. very different from that origin
ally designed by it's architect. OF the
I H. Il n
that the Roman bath should be rooted
over: now it is open to the Sky. Also
it was at first proposed that the new
subsidiary rooms might be on two or
more floors; now they are all on one
level with the promenade. But these
pCints are so important that to carry
them out the whole design had to
be revised and redrawn. In the result
it must be fully admitted that in this
case certainly second thoughts have
proved to be the best, and as conse-
ouence the architectural composition
has gained both dignity and interest.
Externally the general design of the
building is founded on the architecture
of the west front of the old Pump
room. On rusticated basement, the
height of the subsidiary rooms, the
|
high above the general level. The north
front, toward the Abbey church-yard
is adorned by six Cornthian columns,
carrying a pedment which forms the
| gable of the room. lE the. center OF
this front is now the main entrance
| Leading directly into the north corri-
dor, with windows on each side Above
this. between the columns, is the CEN
trail three-light window of the prom
enade, flanked on each side by inches
FOR statues. the pediment over being
filled by an enriched and carved cir
cular opening for ventilation. The low
buildings are continued on each side
so that the central block stands quite
clear of the old Pump room, the dome
being a well-markad feature in the
general view. The north, or principal
front, is enriched by some excellent
carving in the capitals of the columns
the frieze between them, and the pedi-
ment--the work of Mr.. Aumonier, Lon
don, who did all the carving, both in
stone and wood. The aim of the ar
chitect has been to produce a simple
and dignifed building, depending fol
its effect on the harmony of its proper
ton, the refinement of it's detail, and
its agreement with the architecture OF
the old Pump Room.