Roll up! Roll up!

The Circus, Bath

Into Bath this afternoon to run a few errands, and to catch up with friends over coffee. A sunny afternoon but so windy. Unlike yesterday, the wind was actually warm, and temperatures reached the dizzying heights of 18 degrees!

In searching for some info on The Circus, I came across the following, lots of facts I never knew!

“The Circus, originally called King's Circus, was designed by the architect John Wood, the Elder. Construction began in 1754, however Wood died less than three months after the first stone was laid and so his son, John Wood, the Younger, completed the design in 1768.

The Circus consists of three curved segments of Grade I listed townhouses, forming a circle with three entrances. When viewed from the air, the Circus, along with Queen Square and adjoining Gay Street, form a key shape, which is a masonic symbol similar to those that adorn many of Wood's buildings.

Look a little closer at the detail on the stonework and you’ll see many emblems, such as serpents, acorns, and nautical symbols. Wood was known to admire the druids, the creators of prehistoric stone circles. Convinced that Bath had been the principal centre of Druid activity in Britain, Wood studied Stonehenge, and designed the Circus with the same diameter.

It is said that the Circus is joined to the Royal Crescent by a ley-line, and that their design represents the sun and the moon.

It’s no surprise that such an extraordinary landmark has been home to many famous people over the years. The artist Thomas Gainsborough lived at number 17, between 1759 and 1774, using the house as his portrait studio. More recently, Hollywood actor Nicholas Cage also lived at The Circus.” visitbath.co.uk