Story of Bath: Et Rus in Urbe Est

Why not join us as we continue our Story of Bath series of monthly Monday morning tours? This is a great opportunity to meet new people and get some exercise.

Eighteenth century Georgian elegance was not solely for the crescents, terraces and squares of Bath city centre. The Georgian’s were keen to experience ‘Rus in Urbe’, the rural in the urban, and they actively sought to bring the countryside into the city. Our walk today is within the City of Bath, but it really is much more like a walk in the country!

During our stroll around Widcombe Hill and through Lyncombe Vale we will see how Georgian architecture developed when it was not so tightly confined within a street plan. This is the late eighteenth century world of large country houses and fine villas.

As we move into the nineteenth century we will see how changing social attitudes began to hide houses away behind fences and hedges. The privacy of suburbia was upon us and Victoriana was approaching.

There are places on this walk where we will walk along woodland paths and we will have to remind ourselves just how close we are to the city centre. There are fields of sheep within a five minute walk of Bath Spa railway station!

Our two mile promenade will introduce us to a whole other side to the Georgian elegance of Bath.

This walk does include a modest hill, which we will take steadily with a pause part way up.

As is our way a set of historical research notes will be emailed out after the walk to help you hold on to what you have picked up from this walk in search of Rus in Urbe.

A Walk in the Past is a friendly group where regulars and newcomers are always welcome. Our aim is to combine a good walk with pleasant company in historic landscapes.