On the history and antiquities of Bath / [J.H. Markland].

  • James Heywood Markland
Date:
[1857]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the history and antiquities of Bath / [J.H. Markland]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    stranger must be struck with a city of great beauty, placed in a country of almost unrivalled loveliness. Speaking of the city itself, Macaulay says, “ it charms even eyes familiar with the masterpieces of Bramante and Palladio”. The reign of queen Elizabeth was a marked era in Bath, as elsewhere. She visited sir John Harington, a favourite godson, the translator of the Orlando Furioso, at his man¬ sion at Kelweston (Kelston), in 1590. Sir John had employed an Italian artist, Barozzi, to design for him this mansion, which he had fitted up in a style of magnifi¬ cence suited to the taste of the age. The mansion which preceded this, built by sir John’s father, the grantee of Kelston (he having married a natural daughter of Henry VIII), is said to have been the largest at that time in the county (Nugce Antiquce, p. 8). It seems somewhat strange that it should have existed only during one generation. Probably the poet’s Italian villa was an adaptation of the older residence to a taste growing into fashion. The queen, we are told, dined “ right royally under the fountain which played in the court”. It is to be regretted that almost every vestige of this mansion, even of the fountain and the court, part of an old wall excepted, has been swept away. Some out-buildings remain ; and the foundations of the mansion house may be traced. A letter addressed by sir John Harington (probably to lord Burleigh) presents a view of the city worth repeating on the present occcasion: “ The citie of Bathe, my lord, being both poore enough and proude enough, hath, since her highnesse being there, wonderfully beautified itselfe in fine houses for victualling and lodging, but decayes as fast as their ancient and honeste trades of merchandize and clothing. The faire church her highnesse gave order should be re-edified, stands at a stay; and the common sewer, which before stood in an ill place, stands now in no place, for they have not any at all; which, for a towne so plentifullye served of water, in a countrey so well provided of stone, in a place resorted unto so greatly (being at two times of the year, as it were, the pilgrimage of health to all saints [?]), methinke seemeth an unworthie and dishonourable thing. Wherefore, if your lordship would authorise me, or some wiser than me, to take a strict account of the money, by her majestie’s gracious graunt gathered, and to be gathered; which, in the opinion of manie, cannot be lesse than ten thousand pounds (though, not to wrong them, I thinke they have bestowed upon the pointe of ten thousand pounds, abating but one cipher), I would not doubt of a
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