The Triumph of Georgian Bath

This course offers a blend of architectural, cultural and social history that aims to make your stay in the world-heritage city of Bath even more memorable. It comprises illustrated lectures and seminars, museum, garden and gallery visits, town walks and student presentations.

In less than seventy years during the eighteenth century, Bath grew from a medieval city of narrow streets into one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Primarily three men achieved this triumph of architecture, culture and entertainment: Richard 'Beau' Nash, who organized the social life of the city into a state of unified elegance previously unknown outside London; the young architect, John Wood, who dreamed of building a magnificent new Rome; and the entrepreneur Ralph Allen, whose quarries provided the stone that still graces Bath's streets. Bath's hey-day was quickly over, however, and Jane Austen and Tobias Smollett's novels provide acid-sharp, satirical descriptions of the city's demise.

The course will also consider Bath's more recent history: why the city's popularity faded; how post-war politics adversely affected the unique heritage of Bath in the twentieth century; and the city's current status as one of the world's top tourist destinations.

Professor: ASE faculty (any queries to admin@asebath.org)