The day started with a bake sale in Bath Abbey. We were so lucky to be able to wander around this gorgeous cathedral with cake and coffee in a very informal way. We not only bought cakes from this stall, we got some jams to take home with us.
This was the view from where I was sitting in the choir stalls munching and sipping away and marveling at the architecture around me. Somehow the bake sale made the Abbey seem more alive and fun.
There were children learning how to make bread, which you don't normally see in a cathedral!
Apparently the fan vaulting on the ceiling is quintessentially British according to Gillian who is now an expert after having devoured a book called How to Read Churches.
We also climbed the multiple spiral staircases to the Bath Abbey tower and this was the view of the inside of the clock.
This is one of the 10 bells in the tower. This one is inscribed "All you of Bathe that heare me sound, Thank Lady Hopton's hundred pound." Apparently although she pledged £100, she only paid £5 and her descendants paid the rest. She still gets credit on the bell however!
We got some wonderful photos from up in the tower including this one of the Roman Baths from above.
I like this shot as it shows the lookout at the top of Beechen Cliff as well as the church beside our hotel Paradise House, which is the tiny tower at the bottom of the trees.
After the Abbey, we went to see the Fashion Museum which is in the basement of the Assembly Rooms. We had lots of fun drooling over the dresses. I won't bore you with too many photos but this close up is fun...
and this one of some shoes which Gillian said her daughter might like to wear today...
And below is one of "yours truly" looking like one of the Cranford ladies out for a stroll. Looks like I need a corset. My dresser Gillian forgot to cinch me in!
Speaking of Cranford, below is a crinoline, one of which is referred to in Cranford as a cage I believe, and was used comically to contain a parrot!
Actually, here are a few more photos. Sorry about the reflections off the glass but I just wanted to add a few more snaps of these gorgeous dresses!
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| Late Regency/Early Victorian dress from 1838 |
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| Late Victorian dress from 1898 |
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| Gorgeous mid Victorian with stomacher from 1842 |
We ended up by seeing the Royal Crescent (below) and back to the Abbey for an organ concert. We then called it an early night by picking up provisions at a M&S food store and enjoying the garden view from the B&B. Finishing off the Colin Firth version of P&P seemed appropriate to Bath.
Fewer steps today at 12,406 (but do we get credit for all the steps up the Abbey tower?)
Cheers!
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