Probably the smallest explore ever but thought some of u may find this interesting.
This small Roman bath lays just a few miles from me well tucked away on a private estate and is quite a secret place.
So much so that the vast majority of locals dont even know of its existence. Strange then that they restored this in 2000 ... for no one to benefit from!
I dont believe this has been covered before either so hgere goes!
The site being interesting for it incorporates a holy well called St Peter’s Spring, indeed it is this rather than the bath house which is marked Of which John Taylor wrote about in (1895).
St Peter’s petrifying spring. The head of the water at this spring furnishes the drinking fountain and the adjacent bath.
This is the actual spring now which looks slightly less than appetising
The bath is within a small building now falling to decay. The only door opens directly into the bathroom, the only apartment. The bath occupies the centre; there is a marginal path of about two feet all round. Along the two sides are several niches in the walls serving as seats. The roof is absolutely gone; formerly it was glazed. Steps at the head lead to the bottom of the bath, The floor is of brick. Two posts with iron staples stand in the water. Until recently chains were attached, placed there for the convenience of the bathers.
Verses engraved around the bath included Campani’s Huius nympha loci reading which translates to
Nymph of this place, sacred guardian of the fountain,
I sleep while the water babbles sweetly,
Beware of breaking my slumber as you approach the marble basin,
Either you drink or you bathe in silence.
The age of the spring is difficult to ascertain. Certainly topographer Morton (1712) knew of it.
The Nymph still in place at the pool end.
The herringbone brick floor of the pool can be seen here.
Thanks For Looking!
This small Roman bath lays just a few miles from me well tucked away on a private estate and is quite a secret place.
So much so that the vast majority of locals dont even know of its existence. Strange then that they restored this in 2000 ... for no one to benefit from!
I dont believe this has been covered before either so hgere goes!
The site being interesting for it incorporates a holy well called St Peter’s Spring, indeed it is this rather than the bath house which is marked Of which John Taylor wrote about in (1895).
St Peter’s petrifying spring. The head of the water at this spring furnishes the drinking fountain and the adjacent bath.
This is the actual spring now which looks slightly less than appetising
The bath is within a small building now falling to decay. The only door opens directly into the bathroom, the only apartment. The bath occupies the centre; there is a marginal path of about two feet all round. Along the two sides are several niches in the walls serving as seats. The roof is absolutely gone; formerly it was glazed. Steps at the head lead to the bottom of the bath, The floor is of brick. Two posts with iron staples stand in the water. Until recently chains were attached, placed there for the convenience of the bathers.
Verses engraved around the bath included Campani’s Huius nympha loci reading which translates to
Nymph of this place, sacred guardian of the fountain,
I sleep while the water babbles sweetly,
Beware of breaking my slumber as you approach the marble basin,
Either you drink or you bathe in silence.
The age of the spring is difficult to ascertain. Certainly topographer Morton (1712) knew of it.
The Nymph still in place at the pool end.
The herringbone brick floor of the pool can be seen here.
Thanks For Looking!
