Roman Bath

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In 43 AD, the Roman Empire was expanding to include the now viable and lucrative outpost of Britain. The Romans, while constructing their vast network of roads, built the Fosse Way from Lincoln to Exeter to aid the movement of troops and supplies. As they travelled south, they came to the Avon Valley and discovered the hot springs of Bath.

Between 60-70 AD, the Roman/Celtic temple of Sulis Minerva was built to the Roman goddess of wisdom and war. The Romans used the local stone to dam the hot springs, and lead from the Mendip Hills to line the baths in the temple. 

Visitors started in the tepidarium (warm bath), then went on to the caldarium (hot bath) and finished with  a plunge in the frigidarium (very cold bath). The Great Bath allowed swimming as well as bathing. Various sweating rooms and exercise rooms for massage, physical exercise and games were also built.

It was therefore a spa complex and a place of worship combined. Pilgrims to the shrine brought wealth and prosperity to the area. A walled town of 23 acres developed around the Spa and they called it Aqua Sulis (The Waters of Sul). The motto now exists in the City Coat of Arms.

The Fall of the Romans

For 400 years this Spa prospered, growing in wealth and reputation. In 410 AD, the Romans withdrew following repeated attacks from the Barbarians. The area was no longer considered a practical outpost. The Romans departed, leaving behind the task of maintaining the complex.