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Bath (City of England)

a city of England, in Somersetshire, on the Avon, which is navigable for barges from Bristol; is beautifully placed among the hills, and the houses are built of freestone, obtained from the neighborhood. The Abbey Church ranks as one of the finest specimens of perpendicular Gothic architecture. Bath is remarkable for its medicinal waters, the four principal springs yielding no less than 184,000 gallons of water a day.

Bath was founded by the Romans, and called by them Aquæ Solis (waters of the sun). Among the Roman remains discovered here have been some fine baths. The height of its prosperity was reached, however, in the 18th century, when Beau Nash was leader of the fashion and master of its ceremonies. Jointly with Wells it is the head of a diocese, and returns two members to the House of Commons. Pop. of municipal borough (1917) 58,799.