It seems like ages ago when we were last in Bath, which was four months ago. I've still for some posts from our visit which I will be posting from time to time, to bring some variety as all I am able to post at the moment is about our daily walks during lockdown because of Covid 19.
The Royal Crescent in Bath is a 150m long row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent. Designed by architect John Wood, the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774, it is amongst the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the UK and is a Grade I listed building. Although some changes have been made to the various interiors over the years, the Georgian stone façade remains much as it was when it was first built.
Each original purchaser bought a length of the façade, and then employed their own architect to build a house behind the face to their own specifications: hence what can appear to be several houses is occasionally just one.
The crescent has 114 Ionic columns on the first floor with an entablature in a Palladian style above. It was the first crescent of terraced houses to be built and an example of 'rus in urbe' (the country in the city) with its views over the parkland opposite.
Of the Crescent's 30 townhouses, 10 are still full-size townhouses; 18 have been split into flats of various sizes, one is the No.1 Royal Crescent museum and the large central house at number 16 is the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa which is pictured above.
In front of the Royal Crescent is a haha, a ditch on which the inner side is vertical and faced with stone, with the outer face sloped and turfed, making an effective and invisible partition between the lower and upper lawns. The ha-a is designed so as not to interrupt the view from Royal Victoria Park, and to be invisible until seen from close by.
The walk down to the park was pleasant
We walked along the Royal Avenue
an obelisk behind us
and arrived at the gates, which is the official entrance to the park and eventually, to the Crescent.
Thank you, indeed. Glad you like my posts. All the best, Eirene
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