The Garden of Eaden: ROMAN ENGLAND: The Kings Bath

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The Kings Bath is the name given to a private bathing area situated within the Roman baths complex in the city of Bath, Great Britain. From the Roman period to the present day, this ancient building has been the very heart and soul of Bath as within it rises the hot mineral spa water that has given the city its name.

In the 1^st Century AD , the Romans built a stone-walled reservoir to contain the spring and supply water to the adjacent baths. No-one swam in the spring itself as it was regarded as a sacred site, but worshippers threw into the water offerings to the patron deity Sulis Minerva. The sacred spring was covered by a rectangular vaulted building between the temple and baths.

By the 6^th Century, the temple and baths had fallen into disuse and the reservoir ceiling had into the spring. However, the spring waters continued to flow inside the ruined building and it is believed that the nearby Saxon monastery still used the site for bathing.

In the 12^th century, the Kings bath - named after Henry I, was built within the remains of the Roman building. It was used as a curative bath and was fed directly from the hot spring below. In its day, the kings bath was actually within the precinct of the medieval monastery.

After the dissolution of the monastery in 1539, the Kings bath eventually came into the hands of the City Corporation. In the 16^th Century the Queens Bath was constructed on the south side.

Throughout the 17^th Century, Baths popularity as a spa town increased. The brass rings visible in the walls are engraved with testimonials from grateful bathers who were cured by these ancient waters.

The far reaching history of these baths can still be seen to this day. The rectangular form of the existing building reflects the original Roman footprint. In fact, parts of the supporting walls below the balustrade are the roman walls built for the original bathing complex. Furthermore some of the medieval bathing niches are still visible on the far side of the bath.

In 1704-6 the first Pump Room was built on the north side of the Kings Bath. Spar water for drinking was pumped up to it from the spring below. The present, larger building was erected in 1790-95, partly covering the north side of the Kings bath. The statue of Prince Bladud, legendry founder of bath, is still seen today.