Bath

"If they can't be cured by drinking and bathing here, they will never be cured anywhere." -- "A Practical Dissertation On The Bath Waters," Dr William Oliver, 1707.  Bath, where we went today, is pronounced "baaahhhth" like "ah" with a "b" in front or "baa" with a "th" at the end. Bath has been famous since Jesus' time for its hot water springs, which offered healing.  The Romans built a huge bathtub the size of a swimming pool with 3 other smaller pools and and an additional cold pool in the first century.  The photo shows the biggest bath, with the hot water entering the far side from under the flat stone.  The photo below is of an overflow drain and although you can't see it, there was steam coming off the water.  After the Romans left, Bath's allure faded away over the centuries and the ruined Roman baths were filled in with centuries of clutter until they were 18 feet underground.

Ah, but in 1687, Queen Mary wanted a child and bathed in the waters at Bath.  Ten months later she birthed a son and Bath was again popular for its waters. (Steves, Rick and Gene Openshaw.  Rick Steves' London 2012 (Berkeley, CA: Avon Books, 2011), 485).


The beautiful calligraphy is from a permanent display at Bath Abbey, the oldest church in England.  Matthew 9:30-31 is the text, about how Jesus healed and glory was given to God.  Healing can come in all different forms, but the glory is God's.

Back to the waters.     Now, think about the 18th century.  How often would an ordinary someone have taken a bath?  How long would it have taken to carry and then heat the water for a decent bath?  Most people simply washed their hands and face -- that's it.  So to go to Bath and sit in lovely hot water to ease your aching joints or to get rid of layers and layers of dead skin and sweat, wouldn't that have been a form of healing?