Sponsored by:
The Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture, University of Wales, Lampeter

The conference will take place in the elegant surroundings of the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, one of the most beautiful public buildings in Georgian Bath, http://www.brlsi.org/. Bath itself is a world heritage city, famous for its grand eighteenth century architecture, its historic centre and its Roman Baths.

The Roman Baths

In the natural hot springs from which the city of Bath takes its name, hot water at a temperature of 46 °C (114.8 °F) rises at the rate of 1,170,000 litres (257,364 gal) every day. As early as 836 BCE it was believed that the springs contained healing powers. The healing waters are also the source of its earlier name of Aquae Sulis. The first shrine at the site of the hot springs was built by the Celts, and was dedicated to the goddess Sulis whom the Romans identified with Minerva. The name Sulis stuck after the Roman invasion. The temple to Sulis-Minerva was constructed in 60-70 AD and the bathing complex was gradually built up over the next 300 years. After the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the first decade of the fifth century, they fell into disuse.

www.romanbaths.co.uk

 

Jane Austen's Bath

At the beginning of the nineteenth century the healing springs at Bath attracted the wealthy and the noble, who came to 'take the waters'. When Jane Austen made it her home in 1801, it was a thriving spa resort. Here she set two of her six published novels, Northanger Abbey and her final novel Persuasion. Here Cathering Moreland, the heroine of Northanger Abbey, attended a ball at the Assembly Rooms, known to Jane Austen's readers as the Upper Rooms. Here Jane herself freuqently described in her letters, her daily walk in Sydney Gardens. The popularity of Bath in this period led to a major expansion of the town and the abundance of Georgian sandstone buildings that are still in use today.

The Jane Austen Centre, Bath

Twenty-First Century Bath

In the twenty-first century the tradition of bathing in the hot springs continues on the original site in Thermae Bath Spa. As with the visitor in the ninth century BCE, healing is one of the attractions as the bather is offered treatments 'designed to ease the body and soothe the mind'. Today a short walk through Bath can bring the visitor from the ninth century BCE, through the Roman occupation, the Georgian era to the present day. The visitor can visit the original Roman Baths, take a guided walk through Jane Austen's Bath and take tea or hot water from the springs in the Georgian Pump Room and experience the healing springs that have made Bath the World Heritage Site it is today.

Tours in and Around Bath

Find information about walking, bus and boat tours of Bath, as well as excursions outside Bath, at http://visitbath.co.uk/site/things-to-do/tours-and-sightseeing

Other Attractions

No.1 Royal Crescent is a magnificently restored Georgian town house that creates a wonderfully vital picture of life in Georgian Bath.

 

Pultney Bridge together with the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, is one of the world's most beautiful bridges. Like the Ponte Vecchio it is one of a handful of historic bridges in the world with shops built into it.

 

Claverton Pumping Station. Built by John Rennie in 1813 this amazing pump uses the power of the River Avon to lift water up 48ft into the Kennet and Avon Canal above.

 

Attractions Near Bath

Stanton Drew Stone Circle. Scattered across a field roamed by sheep, visitors can wander the field, picnic on the stones, and draw their own conclusions on why the ancient standing stones of Stanton Drew were placed there.

 

Avebury Stone Circle Originally erected 4,500 years ago, Avebury is the largest stone circle in Europe. many of the stones were re-erected in the 1930s by Alexander Keiller. The circle and henge encircle part of the village.

 

Berkeley Castle Explore this centuries-old castle and see what life was like in days gone by. Included in the castle grounds is a tranquil walled garden and Butterfly House.

 

Clifton Suspension Bridge Enjoy an entertaining free guided tour of Bristol’s most famous landmark and take in the incredible views.