BATH, btith (Celt. ('acr-badon, city of baths, AS. Lathan, Bath um, short for cct thorn &Hunt bathum 'at the hot baths'; the Roman Aqua? Solis, 'baths of the sun'). The chief city of Somersetsbire, England, beautifully situated in a wooded valley, inclosed on the north and east by is high range of hills, on the Avon (which is crossed by numerous bridges), 20 miles from its mouth, and 106 miles west by south of London (Map: England, D 5). The houses are built of white freestone—'Bath 00lite'—worked in the neighboring quarries. The city has a finer ap pearance than any other in England, the variety of levels giving commanding sites for its fine and regular streets, crescents, and public buildings. The boauty and sheltered character of its situ ation, the mildness of its climate, and especially the curative efficacy of its hot ehalybeate springs, have long rendered Bath a favorite fashionable resort. The springs, which are four in number, were known to the Romans, who built baths on the spot in the First Century, and of which ex tensive remains were discovered in 1775. The temperature of the springs varies from 116° to 120° F.; they rise near the river bank, in the centre of the city, and discharge more than half a million gallons of water daily. The water is most useful in bilious, nervous, and scrofulous complaints, palsy, rheumatism, gout, and eu taneous diseases. Bath has many handsome public buildings, first among them being the Pump-Room, inclosing some of the springs; the Guildhall, containing in addition to the munici pal offices, technical schools, an art gallery and reference library; and the Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, containing several fine scientific collections and a library of over 20,000 volumes. The Abbey Church is a cruciform
building in the Perpendicular style, dating from the Sixteenth Centbry. It has a central tower 162 feet high, and on account of the number and size of its windows has been called the 'Lantern of England.' Ihere are several fine parks, in cluding the Victoria Park of about 50 acres, containing a botanical garden, handsome assem bly rooms, and an excellent theatre. The city obtains an excellent water-supply from springs in the surrounding hills. It is well lighted by electricity, which the corporation supplies. It also maintains public baths and markets. Bath is amply supplied with educational facilities. In addition to the technical school maintained by the corporation, there is a grammar school founded by Edward VI., Bath College, a school for officers' daughters, and Wesleyan College. Its charitable institutions include numerous hos pitals and an eye and ear infirmary. Its three railway lines, and the Kennet and Avon Canal connecting the city with the Thames River, fur nish excellent means of communication. It is a parliamentary borough, and sends two members to Parliament. Bath was a royal residence in Anglo-Saxon times. Richard I. and Edward III. granted it many privileges. In the Eighteenth Century Richard Nash (q.v.) made it the most fashionable resort in England. Population, in 1891, 51,900; in 1901, 49,800. Consult: "Mu nicipal Roman Baths at Bath," in Municipal Journal, Vol. VIII. (London, 1899) ; Bath Com mittee, Handbook to Bath (Bath, 1900) ; Per kins, The Abbey Churches of Bath, Malmesbury, etc. (London, 1901).