Bus Challenge No 105!!

View from St Mary Magdalen Church graveyard, Bath

Standing on a hill to the south of Bath, St Mary Magdalen Church has overlooked the city of Bath for nearly 1000 years, possibly longer, with the earliest documented facts dating back to 1088. Around the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries it became a leper hospital, and later went on to be used as a lunatic asylum. Sadly in 1942 it suffered major damage during the Bath Blitz, and the chapel’s ancient windows, stained glass, ceiling and gilded bosses were all destroyed. But at the rear of the chapel still stands a small graveyard which has the most wonderful view overlooking Bath Abbey and the surrounding hills.

St Mary Magdalen was the first of my two Heritage Open Days visits this afternoon, followed by a visit to the chapel at St John's Hospital, founded around 1174 and one of the UK’s oldest charities. It continues to amaze me how many hidden gems there are for me still to discover in Bath, and all with such a rich history and interesting stories to tell…

After all that history, my Bus Challenge friend and I found ourselves some cosy armchairs outside a very nice hotel and sat back with a reviving glass of something chilled, enjoyed the sunshine which had finally decided to put in an appearance, and watched the world go by…

Total bus journey time = 1 hour