Bath and North East Somerset District
Geography
Status:	Unitary district
Region:	South West England
Admin. See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one South West England is one of the Regions of England. It is the largest such region in terms of area and extends from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to  County:	Somerset
Area:   Total:	Ranked 137th 351.12 km²
Admin. Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. This is a list of Districts of England ordered by area. The areas given are calculated from the Output Areas created for Census 2001 and made available To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of  HQ:	Bath
ONS code:	00HA
Demographics
Population:   Total (2006 est. Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. The Office for National Statistics coding system is a hierarchical code used in the United Kingdom for tabulating Census and other statistical data In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology ):   Density:	Ranked 86th 175,600 500 / km²
Ethnicity:	95. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different The figures are mid-year estimates for 2007 from the Office for National Statistics. 0% White 1. 6% Chinese and other 1. 3% S. Asian 0. 9% Black British 1. 3% Mixed Race
Politics
Bath and North East Somerset Council http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/
Leadership:	Leader & Cabinet
Executive:	Conservative (council NOC)
MPs:	Don Foster (LD) Dan Norris (L)

Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a unitary authority that was created on 1 April 1996 following the abolition of the County of Avon. The pattern of local government in England is complex with the distribution of functions varying according to the local arrangements The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Within the context of Local councils of the United Kingdom the term No Overall Control (abbreviated to NOC refers to a situation in which no single party achieves Composition Graphical representation of the House of Commons This is a comparison of the party strengths in the British House of Commons The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the Dan Norris (born 28 January 1960 London) is the Labour Member of Parliament for Wansdyke in England. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The former County of Avon was a non-metropolitan county and ceremonial county in the west of England, named after the River Avon, which It is part of the Ceremonial county of Somerset. The ceremonial counties are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as the Counties for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county

Bath and North East Somerset covers an area of 220 square miles (570 km²), of which two thirds is green belt. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of In United Kingdom town planning, the Green belt is a policy for controlling urban growth It stretches from the outskirts of Bristol, south into the Mendip Hills and east to the southern Cotswold Hills and Wiltshire border. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London The Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of Limestone hills situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset See also Cotswold The Cotswolds is a range of Hills in west-central England, sometimes called the "Heart of England" Etymology The county formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century is named after the former county town of Wilton (itself named after the River Wylye The city of Bath is the principal settlement in the district, but BANES also covers Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and the Chew Valley. Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. Keynsham (ˈkeɪnʃm is a Town between Bristol and Bath in south-west England. Midsomer Norton is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. Radstock is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. The Chew Valley is an area in North Somerset, England named after the River Chew, which rises at Chewton Mendip, and joins the River Avon

The area has varied geography including river valleys and rolling hills. The history of human habitation is long but expanded massively during Roman times, and played significant roles in the Saxon era and English civil war. Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. Industry developed from a largely agricultural basis to include coal mining with the coming of canals and railways. Coal mining is the extraction or removal of Coal from the Earth by Mining. Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. Bath developed as a spa resort in Georgian times and remains a major cultural tourism centre having gained World Heritage City status. The arts Especially during the mid-18th century the period was marked by cultural vibrancy with the establishment of the British Museum in 1753 and the contributions A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

History

Although BANES was only created in 1996 the area it covers has been occupied for thousands of years. The age of the henge monument at Stanton Drew stone circles is unknown, but is believed to be from the Neolithic period,^[1] as is the chambered tomb known as Stoney Littleton Long Barrow. Archaeologists use the term henge monument to describe a site where a Henge is combined with other features such as Stone circles Standing stones The Stanton Drew stone circles are at just outside the village of Stanton Drew, Somerset. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos For the New York prison see The Tombs. A Tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. The Stoney Littleton Long Barrow (also known as Bath Tumulus and the Wellow Tumulus) is a Neolithic chambered Tomb with multiple burial chambers ^[2] Solsbury Hill has an Iron Age hill fort. This article is about the hill called Solsbury near the city of Bath. This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. A hill fort is a fortified refuge or defended settlement

The Great Bath at the Roman Baths. For Roman baths in general see Thermae. The Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath The entire structure above the level of the pillar bases is a later reconstruction.

The archaeological evidence shows that the site of the Roman Baths' main spring was treated as a shrine by the Celts,^[3] and was dedicated to the goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva; however, the name Sulis continued to be used after the Roman invasion, leading to Bath's Roman name of Aquae Sulis (literally, "the waters of Sulis"). For Roman baths in general see Thermae. The Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts In localised Celtic polytheism practiced in Britain Sul or Sulis was the deification of the thermal spring-water of Bath Somerset, where she was worshipped Roman mythology, or more appropriately Latin mythology, refers to the mythological beliefs of the Italic people inhabiting the region of Latium and its The MInisterial NEtwoRk for Valorising Activities in digitisation, or MINERVA, is a European Union organization concerned with the digitisation of cultural and A partial list of Roman place names in Great Britain. This list includes only names documented from Roman times For the Roman Baths complex at Aquae Sulis see Roman Baths (Bath.

Excavations carried out before the flooding of Chew Valley Lake also uncovered Roman remains, indicating agricultural and industrial activity from the second half of the first century until the third century AD. Location Chew Valley Lake in the Chew Valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, surrounded by meadows and woods and close to the villages of Chew The finds included a moderately large villa at Chew Park,^[4] where wooden writing tablets (the first in the UK) with ink writing were found. A Roman villa is a Villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. There is also evidence from the Pagans Hill Roman Temple at Chew Stoke,^{[5] [6]} and a villa at Keynsham. The Pagans Hill Roman Temple was a Romano-British -style temple excavated on Pagans Hill at Chew Stoke in the English county of Chew Stoke is a small village and Civil parish in the Chew Valley, in Somerset, England about south of Bristol. Keynsham (ˈkeɪnʃm is a Town between Bristol and Bath in south-west England.

The Saxon advance from the east seems to have been halted by battles between the British and Saxons, for example; at the siege of Badon Mons Badonicus (which may mave been in the Bath region eg at Solsbury Hill),^[7] or Bathampton Down. In the Battle of Mons Badonicus ( English Mount Badon, Welsh Mynydd Baddon) Romano-British Celts defeated This article is about the hill called Solsbury near the city of Bath. Bathampton Down, is an early Medieval earthwork just east of Bath in Somerset, England. ^[8] This area became the border between the Romano-British Celts and the West Saxons following the Battle of Deorham in 577 AD. Romano-British culture is that of the Romanized Britons under the Roman Empire and later the Western Roman Empire, and of those exposed to Roman culture in the years Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south The Battle of Deorham was fought in southwestern Britain in 577, between the Saxons of Wessex and the Britons to their west ^[9] The Western Wandsdyke was probably built during the 5th or 6th century. Wansdyke (from Woden 's Dyke) is an early medieval series of defensive linear earthworks in the West Country of England, The ditch is on the north side, so presumably it was used by the Celts as a defence against Saxons encroaching from the upper Thames valley. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south The Thames Valley generally implies the region that drains into the River Thames (the Thames catchment) from west of Cirencester to London According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the Saxon Cenwalh achieved a breakthrough against the British Celtic tribes, with victories at Bradford-on-Avon (in the Avon Gap in the Wansdyke) in 652 AD. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of Annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. Cenwealh (died 674? also Cenwalh or Coenwalh, was an Anglo-Saxon king traditionally counted as a King of Wessex. Bradford on Avon (sometimes Bradford-on-Avon) is a Town in west Wiltshire, England with a Population of about 9326 ^[10] In 675, Osric, King of the Hwicce, set up a monastic house at Bath, probably using the walled area as its precinct. Osric was a king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the Hwicce, perhaps reigning jointly with his presumed brother Oshere. The Hwicce (also spelt Hwicca or Wiccia) were one of the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England. ^[11] King Offa of Mercia gained control of this monastery in 781 and rebuilt the church, which was dedicated to St. Peter. Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796 Mercia (ˈmɝsiə was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. ^[12] In the ninth century the old Roman street pattern had been lost and it had become a royal possession, with King Alfred laying out the town afresh, leaving its south-eastern quadrant as the abbey precinct. Alfred the Great (also Ælfred from the Old English Ælfrēd ˈælfreːd (c ^[13] Edgar of England was crowned king of England in Bath Abbey in 973. Edgar I the Peaceful or the Peaceable (c 7 August 943&ndash8 July 975 1 The Abbey Church of Saint Peter Bath, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican Parish church and a former Benedictine Monastery ^[14]

Bath Abbey. The Abbey Church of Saint Peter Bath, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican Parish church and a former Benedictine Monastery

King William Rufus granted the city to a royal physician, John of Tours, who became Bishop of Wells and Abbot of Bath in 1088. William II (c 1056 &ndash 2 August 1100) the third son of William I of England (William the Conqueror was King of England from 1087 John of Tours (or John de Villula) (d 1122 was a Norman Bishop of Wells who moved the diocese seat to Bath. Wells is a small Cathedral city and Civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip ^[15] It was papal policy for bishops to move to more urban seats, and he translated his own from Wells to Bath. ^[16] He planned and began a much larger church as his cathedral, to which was attached a priory, with the bishop's palace beside it. ^[15] New baths were built around the three springs. Later bishops, however, returned the episcopal seat to Wells, while retaining the name of Bath in their title as the Bishop of Bath and Wells. The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. The priory at Hinton Charterhouse was founded in 1232 by Ela, Countess of Salisbury who also founded Lacock Abbey. Hinton Charterhouse is a small village in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority Somerset, England. Lacock Abbey in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England, was founded in the early ^[17]

By the 15th century, Bath's abbey church was badly dilapidated and in need of repairs. ^[18] Oliver King, Bishop of Bath and Wells, decided in 1500 to rebuild it on a smaller scale. Oliver King (c 1432 - 29 August 1503 was a Bishop of Exeter and Bishop of Bath and Wells who restored Bath Abbey after 1500 The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. The new church was completed just a few years before Bath Priory was dissolved in 1539 by Henry VIII. The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the formal process between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of ^[19] The abbey church was allowed to become derelict before being restored as the city's parish church in the Elizabethan period, when the city revived as a spa. Romance and reality The Victorian era and the early twentieth century idealised the Elizabethan era The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as Balneotherapy, Spa towns or Spa resorts offering such treatment or the medication The baths were improved and the city began to attract the aristocracy. For Roman baths in general see Thermae. The Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath Bath was granted city status by Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1590. This is a list of cities in the United Kingdom, as of 2008 Cities which have held such status since Time immemorial are indicated with TI in the column headed A Royal Charter is a Charter granted by the Sovereign on the advice of the Privy council to legitimize an incorporated body such as a city company ^[20] Keynsham, said to be named after Saint Keyne, developed into a medieval market town, its growth prompted by the foundation of an influential and prosperous abbey, founded by the Victorine order of Augustinian monks founded around 1170. Keynsham (ˈkeɪnʃm is a Town between Bristol and Bath in south-west England. Saint Keyne or Cain was a late 5th century holy woman in the English West Country. An abbey (from Latin abbatia derived from Syriac abba "father" is a Christian Monastery or The Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430) are several Catholic Monastic orders and congregations It survived until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 and a house was built on the site. The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the formal process between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded The remains have been designated as grade I listed building by English Heritage. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance English Heritage is a Non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government ( Department for Culture Media and Sport) with a broad remit of ^[21] The town was the site of a battle between royalist forces and the rebel Duke of Monmouth. The title Duke of Monmouth was a title in the peerage of England

During the English Civil War, Somerset, which was largely Parliamentarian, was the site of a number of important battles between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians. The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War ( 1642 &ndash 1651 " Roundheads " was the Nickname given to the Puritan supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War. ^[22] The Battle of Lansdowne was fought on July 5, 1643 on the northern outskirts of the city. The English Civil War battle of Lansdowne (or Lansdown) was fought on July 5, 1643, near Bath. Events 1295 - Scotland and France form an alliance the beginnings of the Auld Alliance, against England. ^[23]

In 1668 Thomas Guidott, who had been a student of chemistry and medicine at Wadham College Oxford, moved to Bath and set up practice. Thomas Guidott (1638-1706 "doctor of physik" and writer became one of the 17th century's most prolific physical scientists using the latest techniques of the time for analysis Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, He became interested in the curative properties of the waters and in 1676 he wrote A discourse of Bathe, and the hot waters there. Also, Some Enquiries into the Nature of the water. This brought the health-giving properties of the hot mineral waters to the attention of the country and soon the aristocracy started to arrive to partake in them. ^[24] Several areas of the city underwent development during the Stuart period, and this increased during Georgian times in response to increasing numbers of people visiting the spa and resort town and requiring accommodation. The House of Stuart or Stewart was a Royal house of the Kingdom of Scotland, later also of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of The arts Especially during the mid-18th century the period was marked by cultural vibrancy with the establishment of the British Museum in 1753 and the contributions ^[25] The architects John Wood the elder and his son John Wood the younger laid out the new quarters in streets and squares, the identical facades of which gave an impression of palatial scale and classical decorum. John Wood ( 1704 - May 23, 1754, Bath) also named Wood of Bath, was an English Architect. John Wood the Younger ( February 25, 1728, Bath - June 18, 1782, Batheaston) was an English Architect ^[26] The creamy gold of Bath stone further unified the city, much of it obtained from the limestone Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines, which were owned by Ralph Allen (1694–1764). Bath Stone is an Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of Calcium carbonate. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines ( is a 622 hectare (1537 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI in Bath and North East Somerset Ralph Allen (1693 - June 29, 1764) was baptised at St Columb Major, Cornwall on July 24, 1693. ^[27] Allen, in order to advertise the quality of his quarried limestone, commissioned the elder John Wood to build him a country house on his Prior Park estate between the city and the mines. For the nearby Catholic Independent School adjoining the Prior Park Landscape Garden see Prior Park College; for its prep school see Prior Park Preparatory School ^[27]

Arial photo of Pensford with the viaduct in the foreground

In north Somerset, around Radstock mining in the Somerset coalfield was an important industry, and in an effort to reduce the cost of transporting the coal the Somerset Coal Canal was built; part of it was later converted into a railway. Pensford ( is a village in the Civil parish of Publow and Pensford in Bath and North East Somerset, England. Radstock is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. The Somerset coalfield included pits in the north Somerset, England, area where Coal was mined from the 15th century until 1973 The Somerset Coal Canal (originally known as the Somersetshire Coal Canal) was a narrow canal in England, built around 1800 from basins at Paulton and ^[28] It connected to the Kennet and Avon Canal which linked the River Thames at Reading and the Floating Harbour at Bristol, joining the River Avon at Bath via Bath Locks. The Kennet and Avon Canal is a Canal in southern England The name may refer to either the route of the original Kennet and Avon Canal Company, which linked the The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England. Reading (ˈrɛdɪŋ as Redding) is a town in England, located at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, midway between Bristol Harbour is the Harbour in the city of Bristol, England Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London Bath Locks ( are a series of locks situated on the Kennet and Avon Canal, at Bath, England. The Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway connected Bath and Bournemouth. The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway – almost always referred to as "the S&D" – was an English railway line connecting Bath in north east Somerset and Bournemouth ( is a large coastal resort town in the Borough of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. It was jointly operated by the Midland Railway and the London and South Western Railway (L&SWR). The Midland Railway (MR was a Railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed from 1844 to 1922 when it became part of the London Midland and Scottish The London and South Western Railway (L&SWR was a Railway company in England from 1838 to 1922 After the 1 January 1923 Grouping joint ownership of the S&D passed to the LMS and the Southern Railway. The Railways Act of 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being London Midland for the new (2007 railway company The London Midland and Scottish Railway ( LMS) was a British Railway company The Southern Railway (SR was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. ^[29][30] The area was also served by the Bristol and North Somerset Railway that connected Bristol with towns in the Somerset coalfield. The main railway The line was opened in 1873 between Bristol and Radstock, where it joined with an earlier freight only line from Frome to Radstock that had Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London The Somerset coalfield included pits in the north Somerset, England, area where Coal was mined from the 15th century until 1973 The line was opened in 1873 between Bristol and Radstock, where it joined with an earlier freight only line from Frome. Radstock is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. Frome railway station serves a largely rural area of the county of Somerset in England, and is situated in the town of Frome. The biggest civil engineering project on the line was the Pensford Viaduct over the River Chew. Pensford ( is a village in the Civil parish of Publow and Pensford in Bath and North East Somerset, England. The River Chew is a small River in England. It merges with the River Avon after 17 miles forming the Chew Valley. The viaduct is 995 feet long, reaches a maximum height of 95 feet to rail level and consists of 16 arches. It is now a Grade II listed building. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance Freight services on the branch line ceased in 1951. The line achieved some fame after closure by its use in the film The Titfield Thunderbolt, but the track was taken up in 1958. The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 Comedy film about a group of villagers trying to prevent British Railways from closing the fictional Titfield Branch

During World War II, between the evening of 25 April and the early morning of 27 April 1942, Bath suffered three air raids in reprisal for RAF raids on the German cities of Lübeck and Rostock. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Lübeck ( is the second largest City in Schleswig-Holstein, in Northern Germany, and one of the major Rostock (ˈʁɔstɔk from Polabian Roz toc, literally "to flow apart" is the largest City in the north German state The three raids formed part of the Luftwaffe campaign popularly known as the Baedeker Blitz; over 400 people were killed, and more than 19,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. ( German 'luftvafe is a generic German term for an Air force. TemplateLocation_map_many/doc -->The Baedeker Blitz or Baedeker raids were a series of Vergeltungsangriffe ("retaliatory raids" by the ^[31] Houses in the Royal Crescent, Circus and Paragon were burnt out along with the Assembly Rooms, while the south side of Queen Square was destroyed. The Royal Crescent is a notable residential road of 30 houses laid out in a crescent, in the city of Bath, England. The Circus is a famous example of Georgian architecture in the city of Bath, begun in 1754 and completed in 1768. Queen Square is a square of Georgian houses in the city of Bath, England. ^[32] All have since been reconstructed.

The River Chew suffered a major flood in 1968 with serious damage to towns and villages along its route, including Chew Stoke, Chew Magna, Stanton Drew, Publow, Woollard, Compton Dando and Chewton Keynsham. Chew Stoke is a small village and Civil parish in the Chew Valley, in Somerset, England about south of Bristol. Chew Magna ( is a village within the Chew Valley in North East Somerset, England This article is about the village For information on the prehistoric stone circles see Stanton Drew stone circles Stanton Drew ( is a small Publow is a small village in the Civil parish of Publow and Pensford in Bath and North East Somerset, England. Woollard is a small village on the River Chew in the Chew Valley, Somerset Compton Dando ( is a small village on the River Chew in the Chew Valley, Somerset. Chewton Keynsham ( is a small village on the River Chew in the Chew Valley, Somerset. The flood even swept away the bridge at Pensford. Pensford ( is a village in the Civil parish of Publow and Pensford in Bath and North East Somerset, England. ^[33]

Geography

Bath and North East Somerset covers an area of 220 square miles (570 km²), of which two thirds is green belt. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of A green belt or greenbelt is a policy or land use designation used in Land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped wild or agricultural land It stretches from the outskirts of Bristol, south into the Mendip Hills and east to the southern Cotswold Hills and Wiltshire border. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London The Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of Limestone hills situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset See also Cotswold The Cotswolds is a range of Hills in west-central England, sometimes called the "Heart of England" Etymology The county formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century is named after the former county town of Wilton (itself named after the River Wylye ^[34] Surrounding local government areas include Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. North Somerset is a Unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county Geography The River Severn forms the north-western edge of the area with a wide coastal plain terminated by the Severn Escarpment.

The city of Bath is the principal settlement in the district, but BANES also covers Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and the Chew Valley. Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. Keynsham (ˈkeɪnʃm is a Town between Bristol and Bath in south-west England. Midsomer Norton is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. Radstock is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. The Chew Valley is an area in North Somerset, England named after the River Chew, which rises at Chewton Mendip, and joins the River Avon Bath lies on the River Avon and its tributaries such as the River Chew and Midford Brook cross the area. The River Avon is a River in the south west of England. Because of a number of other River Avons in England this river is often also known as the Lower The River Chew is a small River in England. It merges with the River Avon after 17 miles forming the Chew Valley. Midford Brook is a small river in Somerset, England. It is formed by convergence of the Wellow Brook and Cam Brook at Midford

In the west of the area the Chew Valley consists of the valley of the River Chew and is generally low-lying and undulating. It is bounded by higher ground ranging from Dundry Down to the north, the Lulsgate Plateau to the west, the Mendip Hills to the south and the Hinton Blewett, Marksbury and Newton Saint Loe plateau areas to the east. Dundry Down is a large hill at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, just south of Bristol, England. Lulsgate Plateau is the name given to the Carboniferous limestone hills which form a northern outlier of the Mendips, southwest of Bristol. The Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of Limestone hills situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset Hinton Blewett ( is situated 5 miles north of Wells, 15 miles south of Bristol on the Northern slope of the Mendip Hills within the designated Marksbury ( is a small village in Somerset about 4 miles from Keynsham and 7 from Bath on the A39 where it meets the A368. Newton Saint Loe ( is a small Somerset village located between Bath & Bristol in the South West of England. The River Chew was dammed in the 1950s to create Chew Valley Lake, which provides drinking water for the nearby city of Bristol and surrounding areas. Location Chew Valley Lake in the Chew Valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, surrounded by meadows and woods and close to the villages of Chew Water of sufficient quality to serve as drinking water is termed potable water whether it is used for drinking or not Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London The lake is a prominent landscape feature of the valley, a focus for recreation, and is internationally recognised for its nature conservation interest, because of the bird species, plants and insects. Conservation can be confused with Conversation and vice versa

To the north of Bath are Lansdown, Langridge and Solsbury hills. Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. Lansdown is in Bath, England, United Kingdom and is a Suburb of the World Heritage City of Bath This article is about the hill called Solsbury near the city of Bath. These are outliers of the Cotswolds. See also Cotswold The Cotswolds is a range of Hills in west-central England, sometimes called the "Heart of England"

Governance

Historically part of the county of Somerset, Bath was made a county borough in 1889 so being independent of the newly created administrative Somerset county council, which covered the rest of B&NES. The historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England. Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (excluding Scotland) to refer to a Borough or a City Administrative counties were a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government from 1889 to 1974 A County council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a County. ^[35] The area that would become B&NES became part of Avon when that non-metropolitan county was created in 1974. The former County of Avon was a non-metropolitan county and ceremonial county in the west of England, named after the River Avon, which A non-metropolitan county or shire county in England, is a county-level entity which is not a Metropolitan county. Since the abolition of Avon in 1996, Bath has been the main centre of the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), one of the four authorities that replaced Avon. See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions ^[36]

Before the Reform Act of 1832 Bath elected two members to the unreformed House of Commons. The Representation of the People Act 1832, commonly known as the Reform Act 1832, was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system The unreformed House of Commons is the name generally given to the British House of Commons as it existed before the Reform Act of 1832. ^[37] Bath now has a single parliamentary constituency, with Liberal Democrat Don Foster as Member of Parliament. Bath is a Constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. The rest of the area falls within the Wansdyke constituency, which covers the part of B&NES that is not in the Bath constituency. Wansdyke is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Bath is a Constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It also contains four wards or parts of wards from South Gloucestershire Council. Geography The River Severn forms the north-western edge of the area with a wide coastal plain terminated by the Severn Escarpment. It is named after the former Wansdyke district. Wansdyke was a Non-metropolitan district within the County of Avon, in the west of England At the next general election 2009/2010 much of this constituency will change to North East Somerset (UK Parliament constituency). Boundaries The constituency covers the part of Bath and North East Somerset that is not in the Bath constituency. ^[38] The current MP is Dan Norris. Dan Norris (born 28 January 1960 London) is the Labour Member of Parliament for Wansdyke in England.

Since B&NES was created, no political party has been in overall control of the council. A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral The Liberal Democrats quickly became the dominant party, but in the local elections on 3 May 2007 the Conservative Party won 31 seats and are now the dominant party, though they do not have a majority. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The Labour Party has only five seats, none of which are in Bath. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the

The current council composes of:

The whole council will be up for re-election in 2011. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom.

Local concerns include traffic calming measures, council tax, development of the large Western Riverside brownfield land site in Bath, and the now popular, but long delayed Thermae Bath Spa development. Traffic calming is a set of strategies used by Urban planners and traffic engineers which aim to slow down or reduce Traffic, thereby improving safety Council Tax is the system of local Taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each Thermae Bath Spa is a modern spa in the city of Bath, England, opened in 2006 On 10 December 2003, Bath and North East Somerset was granted Fairtrade Zone status. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Fairtrade Town is a marketing tool in which this status is awarded by a recognized Fairtrade certification body (i

Bath and North East Somerset Council runs one of the most successful youth democracy groups in the UK, DAFBY (Democratic Action for B&NES Youth). The group are consulted by the council on a wide variety of issues that affect young people. In May 2008, DAFBY received Outstanding status by OFSTED and now delivers training for other youth participation organisations, as well as supporting the local Member of Youth Parliament, Sarah McGlone. The UK Youth Parliament, also known as UKYP, is a democratically elected youth organisation in the United Kingdom, consisting of elected members aged between

Demography

170,238 people live in the area and approximately half live in the City of Bath making it 12 times more densely populated than the rest of the area.

According to the UK Government's 2001 census, Bath, together with North East Somerset, which includes areas around Bath as far as the Chew Valley, has a population of 169,040, with an average age of 39. The politics of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland takes place in the framework of a Constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is Head A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001 The Chew Valley is an area in North Somerset, England named after the River Chew, which rises at Chewton Mendip, and joins the River Avon 9 (the national average being 38. 6). According to the same statistics, the district is overwhelmingly populated by people of a white ethnic background at 97. 2% — significantly higher than the national average of 90. 9%. Other non-white ethnic groups in the district, in order of population size, are multiracial at 1%, Asian at 0. The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from different races. 5% and black at 0. 5% (the national averages are 1. 3%, 4. 6% and 2. 1%, respectively). ^[40]

The district is largely Christian at 71%, with no other religion reaching more than 0. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth 5%. These figures generally compare with the national averages, though the non-religious, at 19. Irreligion is a lack of religion indifference to religion or hostility to religion 5%, are significantly more prevalent than the national 14. 8%. Since Bath is known for the restorative powers of its waters, it is interesting to note that only 7. 4% of the population describe themselves as "not healthy" in the last 12 months, compared to a national average of 9. 2%; only 15. 8% of the inhabitants say they have had a long-term illness, as against 18. 2% nationally. ^[40]

Economy

This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of North and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire at current basic prices published (pp. 240-253) by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.

Settlements

The major towns and villages in the district are:

• Bath
• Bathampton
• Peasedown
• Keynsham
• Midsomer Norton
• Paulton
• Radstock
• Saltford

Transport

Bath is approximately 15 miles (24 km) south-east of the larger city and port of Bristol, to which it is linked by the A4 road, and is a similar distance south of the M4 motorway. Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. Bathampton is a village and Civil parish east of Bath, England on the south bank of the River Avon. Peasedown St John (commonly referred to as just Peasedown is one of the largest villages in Somerset, England. Keynsham (ˈkeɪnʃm is a Town between Bristol and Bath in south-west England. Midsomer Norton is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. Paulton is a large village population around 5000 located to the North of the Mendip Hills, in the Unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset Radstock is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. Saltford is a large village in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority Somerset, England, It lies on the A4 road, and Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London The M4 motorway is a Motorway in Great Britain linking London with Wales. Bath and North East Somerset is also served by the A37 and A368 trunk roads, and a network of smaller roads. The A37 is a major Road in southern England. It runs north from the A35 at Dorchester in Dorset into Somerset through The A368 is a part Primary status A road in North Somerset, England.

Bath is connected to Bristol and the sea by the River Avon, navigable via locks by small boats. The River Avon is a River in the south west of England. Because of a number of other River Avons in England this river is often also known as the Lower A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal Waterways. The river was connected to the River Thames and London by the Kennet and Avon Canal in 1810 via Bath Locks; this waterway – closed for many years, but restored in the last years of the 20th century – is now popular with narrow boat users. The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England. The Kennet and Avon Canal is a Canal in southern England The name may refer to either the route of the original Kennet and Avon Canal Company, which linked the Bath Locks ( are a series of locks situated on the Kennet and Avon Canal, at Bath, England. A narrowboat or narrow boat is a Boat of a distinctive design made to fit the narrow Canals of England and Wales. ^[46] Bath is on National Cycle Route 4, with one of Britain's first cycleways, the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, to the west, and an eastern route toward London on the canal towpath. Segregated cycle facilities are Roads tracks paths or marked lanes designated for use by Cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded The Bristol & Bath Railway Path is a 13-mile off-road Cycleway that forms part of National Cycle Network National Cycle Route 4. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Although Bath does not have an airport, the city is about 18 miles (29 km) from Bristol International Airport, which may be reached by road or by rail via Bristol Temple Meads railway station. Bristol International Airport is the commercial Airport serving the city of Bristol, England and the surrounding area Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest Railway station in Bristol, England

Bath is served by the Bath Spa railway station (designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel), which has regular connections to London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff Central, Swansea, Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance (see Great Western Main Line), and also Westbury, Warminster, Salisbury, Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton (see Wessex Main Line). Bath Spa railway station is the principal Railway station in the city of Bath, in South West England. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS (9 April 1806 &ndash 15 September 1859 (ˈɪzəmbɑrd ˈkɪŋdəm brʊˈnɛl was a British Engineer. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. London Paddington station, also known as London Paddington, or just simply Paddington, is a major National Rail and London Underground station Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest Railway station in Bristol, England Swansea ( Abertawe "mouth of the Tawe " is a city and county in Wales. Exeter ( (IPA ˈeksɪtər is a city, district and County town of Devon, England. Plymouth ( is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England about south west of London. Penzance (Pensans also Penzans, IPA: /pɛnˈzæns/ is a town Civil parish, and Port in the Penwith district of Cornwall The Great Western Main Line is a main line Railway in England that runs westwards from London Paddington station to Temple Meads Westbury is a Town and Civil parish (population 11135 in the 2001 census in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. Salisbury (ˈsɒlzbri ˈsɔːlzbri ('Solzbry' or ˈzɔːwzbri ('Zawzbry' — moving from RP to local dialect) is a cathedral city in the Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England History See also History of Portsmouth There have been settlements in the area since before Roman times mostly being offshoots of Portchester, which Brighton ( is a town on the south coast of England and with its neighbour Hove, forms the city of Brighton and Hove. The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. Services are provided by First Great Western. First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup, which operates There is a suburban station on the main line, Oldfield Park, and at Keynsham, which have a limited commuter service to Bristol. Oldfield Park railway station is a suburban Railway station in the city of Bath in BANES, England. Green Park station was once operated by the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, whose line (always steam driven) climbed over the Mendips and served many towns and villages on its 71-mile (114 km) run to Bournemouth; this example of an English rural line was closed by Beeching in March 1966, with few remaining signs of its existence, but its Bath station building survives and now houses a number of shops. Green Park railway station is a former railway station in Bath, Somerset, England. The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway – almost always referred to as "the S&D" – was an English railway line connecting Bath in north east Somerset and The Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of Limestone hills situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset Bournemouth ( is a large coastal resort town in the Borough of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. The Beeching Axe is an informal name for the British Government 's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system

Education

Bath has two universities. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects The University of Bath was established in 1966 and has grown to become a leading university in the United Kingdom. The University of Bath is a Campus university located in Bath, England. ^[47] The university is known, academically, for the physical sciences, mathematics, architecture, management and technology. ^[48]

Bath Spa University was first granted degree-awarding powers in 1992 as a university college (Bath Spa University College), before being granted university status in August 2005. Bath Spa University is a University based in and around Bath, England. The term " university college " is used in a number of countries to denote institutions that provide Tertiary education but do not have full or independent A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects ^[49] It has schools in the following subject areas: Art and Design, Education, English and Creative Studies, Historical and Cultural Studies, Music and the Performing Arts, and Social Sciences. ^[49] It also awards degrees through colleges such as Weston College in nearby Weston-super-Mare. Weston College is a Further education College situated in Weston-super-Mare, England. Weston-super-Mare is a Seaside resort town and Civil parish in North Somerset, England.

The city contains one further education college, City of Bath College, and several sixth forms as part of both state, private, and public schools. Further education (often abbreviated "FE" is Post-secondary Education (in addition to that received at Secondary school) that is distinct from City of Bath College is a Further education college in the centre of Bath England. The sixth form, in the English, Welsh and Northern Irish education systems Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Belize State school is an expression used in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to distinguish schools provided by the government from privately For the film of this title see Private School (film. Private schools, or Independent schools are Schools not administered An independent school in the United Kingdom is a school relying upon private sources for all of its funding predominantly in the form of school fees In England, on average in 2006, 45. 8% of pupils gained 5 grades A-C including English and Maths; for Bath and North East Somerset pupils taking GCSE at 16 it is 52. 0%. ^[50] Special needs education is provided by Three Ways School. Three Ways School is a Special school in Odd Down Bath, England.

Sports

Bath Rugby plays at the Recreation Ground,^[51]. Beechen Cliff School is a boys` Secondary school in Bath Somerset, in England. Chew Valley School is situated within the Chew Valley in Bath and North East Somerset in South West England. Culverhay School is a boys secondary school situated at Rush Hill Odd Down in Bath, England. Hayesfield School Technology College is a girls Secondary school, with a Co-educational sixth form in Bath, England. Oldfield School is a girls Secondary school, with a small Co-educational Sixth form, in Newbridge, Bath, England. Ralph Allen School in Combe Down, Bath, England is a non-denominational co-educational school for 11-18 year olds Somervale School is situated in Midsomer Norton in Bath and North East Somerset in South West England. St Gregory's Catholic College in Odd Down, Bath, England is a Catholic, co-educational school without a sixth form Writhlington School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11&ndash18 in Writhlington, Bath and North East Somerset, England. King Edward's School (KES Bath in South-West England is an Independent School providing education for pupils aged 3 - 18 Kingswood School is a Coeducational, public day and boarding school in Bath, Somerset, England. Monkton Combe School is an independent Christian mixed boarding and day school near Bath, England. Overview Originally intended to be England's first Catholic university Prior Park College was founded in 1830 and since then has been a Roman Catholic school Royal High School Bath Headmaster Bath Rugby (also known as just Bath) is an English professional Rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. The Recreation Ground ("the Rec" is a large open space in the centre of Bath, next to the River Avon, used for recreational purposes by Bath residents and Bath Cricket Club play at the North Parade cricket ground next door to the Recreation Ground. Bath Cricket Club is an English amateur Cricket club based in the city of Bath, Somerset.

Bath City F.C. and Team Bath F.C. (affiliated with the University of Bath) are the major football teams in Bath city but there are also clubs in the surrounding areas such as; Bishop Sutton A.F.C., Radstock Town F.C. and Welton Rovers F.C.. Bath City FC are a football club based in Bath, Somerset, currently playing in the Conference South. Team Bath is a football club affiliated with the University of Bath in the city of Bath, Somerset, England. The University of Bath is a Campus university located in Bath, England. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Bishop Sutton AFC are a football club based in Bishop Sutton, Somerset, near Bristol, England. Radstock Town Football Club play in Radstock, Somerset in the Premier Division of the Western Football League. Welton Rovers Football Club is an English non-league football club who play at West Clewes North Road Midsomer Norton, Somerset in the

The Bath Half Marathon is run annually through the city streets, with over 10,000 runners. The Bath Half Marathon is an annual Road running Half marathon held in Bath, England. ^[52] Bath also has a thriving cycling community, with places for biking including Royal Victoria Park, 'The Tumps' in Odd Down/east, the jumps on top of Lansdown, and Prior Park. Cycling is the use of Bicycles or - less commonly - Unicycles Tricycles Quadricycles and other similar wheeled Human powered vehicles Royal Victoria Park is situated in Bath (BA1 England. It was opened in 1830 by the then 11 year old Princess Victoria, it was the first park to carry Lansdown is in Bath, England, United Kingdom and is a Suburb of the World Heritage City of Bath Places for biking near Bath include Brown's Folly in Batheaston and Box Woods, in Box. Brown's Folly ( is a 399 Hectare Biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI near the village of Bathford in Bath and North Batheaston is a village two miles east of Bath, England (which is believed to be where the name derived from on the north bank of the River Avon. Box is a Village located in Wiltshire, England, about 8 km (5 miles east of Bath and 11 km (7 miles west of Chippenham. Bath is also the home of the Bath American Football Club, which has been playing American Football in the city since 2001. American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with ^[53]

There are sport and leisure centres in Bath, Keynsham the Chew Valley and Midsomer Norton. Keynsham (ˈkeɪnʃm is a Town between Bristol and Bath in south-west England. The Chew Valley is an area in North Somerset, England named after the River Chew, which rises at Chewton Mendip, and joins the River Avon Midsomer Norton is a town in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. Much of the surrounding countryside is accessible for walking and both Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake provide extensive fishing under permit from Bristol Water. Location Chew Valley Lake in the Chew Valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, surrounded by meadows and woods and close to the villages of Chew Blagdon Lake lies in the Chew Valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, approximately 10 mi (16 km south of Bristol. For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. Bristol Water supplies 300 million litres of drinking water to over 1 million customers in a area centred on Bristol, England. The River Chew and most of its tributaries also have fishing but this is generally under licences to local angling clubs. The River Chew is a small River in England. It merges with the River Avon after 17 miles forming the Chew Valley. Chew Valley Sailing Club^[54] is situated on Chew Valley Lake and provides dinghy sailing at all levels and hosts national and international competitions.

Places of interest

There are a total of 72,000 dwellings within the area, 6,408 are listed buildings, 662 Grade 1and 145 Grade 2 and classified as of historical or architectural importance. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance These include many buildings and areas of Bath such as Lansdown Crescent,^[55] the Royal Crescent,^[56] The Circus and Pulteney Bridge. Lansdown Crescent is a well-known example of Georgian architecture in Bath, England, designed by John Palmer and constructed by a variety of The Royal Crescent is a notable residential road of 30 houses laid out in a crescent, in the city of Bath, England. The Circus is a famous example of Georgian architecture in the city of Bath, begun in 1754 and completed in 1768. Pulteney Bridge is a Bridge that crosses the River Avon, in Bath, England and completed in 1773. ^[57] Outside the city there are also several historic manor houses such as St Catherine's Court and Sutton Court. St Catherine's Court is a grade I listed Tudor Manor house in a secluded Valley north of Bath, England. Sutton Court, Stowey also known as Stowey Court is a large house built on the site of a fourteenth century castle with sections built in the fifteenth and sixteenth century

Bath is a major tourist centre and has a range of museums and art galleries including the Victoria Art Gallery,^[58] the Museum of East Asian Art, and Holburne Museum of Art,^[59] numerous commercial art galleries and antique shops, as well as numerous museums, among them Bath Postal Museum, The Museum of Costume, the Jane Austen Centre, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy and the Roman Baths. The Victoria Art Gallery is free public facility in Bath, Somerset, England. The Museum of East Asian Art is in Bennett Street Bath, Somerset, England. The Holburne Museum of Art (also known as the Holburne of Menstrie Museum is in Sydney Pleasure Gardens Bath, Somerset, England. The Bath Postal Museum is in Bath, Somerset. The museum was founded in 1979 by Audrey and Harold Swindells in the basement of their house The Jane Austen Centre at 40 Gay Street in Bath Somerset is a permanent exhibition which tells the story of Jane Austen 's Bath experience – the effect that living The Herschel Museum of Astronomy (also known as the William Herschel Museum) is a small independent Museum dedicated to the life and works of the famous Astronomer For Roman baths in general see Thermae. The Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath ^[60]

The Radstock Museum details the history of the Somerset coalfield. Radstock museum in Radstock, Somerset has a range of exhibits which offer an insight into North Somerset life since the nineteenth century The Somerset coalfield included pits in the north Somerset, England, area where Coal was mined from the 15th century until 1973

See also

• List of places of interest in Bath, Somerset

Notes and references

External links

• BANES council
• BBC Somerset
• Rural Landscapes of Bath and North East Somerset