Bath — Secrets of the Regency

Your journey begins in front of the Royal Crescent (Royal Crescent, Bath BA1 2LR), an arc of 30 Georgian houses built between 1767 and 1775 by John Wood the Younger. This structure, 152 meters long with its 20-meter radius semicircle, has been Grade I listed since 1953. Its central 1.2-hectare lawn has been open to the public since 2011. As Jane Austen, you observe the comings and goings, imagining the balls and intrigues that took place there, a prelude to the encounters described in 'Northanger Abbey' or 'Persuasion'.

Descending towards The Circus, a circular ensemble of 30 houses designed by John Wood the Elder and completed in 1768, you note its 36-meter outer diameter. This site, inspired by the Roman Colosseum and Stonehenge, incorporates Masonic symbols in each facade, with Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns. Also Grade I listed in 1953, The Circus forms a key architectural link between the works of the two John Woods, father and son, whose influence is palpable throughout Bath's Georgian architecture. You imagine conversations between the architects about the design of these edifices.

Your path then leads you to the Assembly Rooms, built in 1769-1771 by John Wood the Younger for high society balls. The grand ballroom, measuring 33.5m x 12.8m, could accommodate 500 people. These rooms, damaged by German bombing on April 25, 1942, and restored in 1963, were the setting for the balls described in Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey' (1818). You visualize the Regency élégantes parading under the chandeliers, seeking a suitable match or a scandal to spread.

Pulteney Bridge, built between 1770-1774 by Robert Adam, is your next stop. It is the last bridge-building in London still existing, 135 meters long with 12 arches, 3 of which cross the Avon. Its shops on both sides are reminiscent of Florence's Ponte Vecchio. Grade I listed in 1953, this bridge is an example of the architectural genius of the era. You imagine Beau Nash, the master of ceremonies, crossing this bridge, or King George III contemplating the waters of the Avon. The shopping street Milsom Street, developed in the 1760s-1770s, joins the bridge, testifying to the commercial and social activity of high society, as described in Jane Austen's 'Persuasion'.

Your exploration of Bath concludes by ascending Gay Street, built in tiers between 1730 and 1775. This street, attributed to John Wood father and son, connects Queen Square to the Royal Crescent with a 1:10 slope over 600 meters. At No 16, Sir William Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781, adding a scientific touch to this Georgian heritage. By traversing these streets and visiting sites like Sydney Gardens, Bath's oldest public park opened in 1795 where Jane Austen walked, or the Guildhall, built in 1775 by Thomas Baldwin, you have journeyed through Bath's history. This thematic circuit has offered an interactive tour of Grade I listed buildings architecture and the Jane Austen heritage site, providing a deep understanding of this emblematic city in southwest England.