The Circus, Bath City, Somerset, England, UK
by Neale And Judith Clark
Title
The Circus, Bath City, Somerset, England, UK
Artist
Neale And Judith Clark
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Bath Somerset, The Circus in Bath City a fine example of Georgian Architecture in Bath Somerset England UK GB Europe
Alamy ref:DBJ08J
The Circus is a historic ring of large townhouses in the city of Bath, Somerset, England, forming a circle with three entrances. Designed by architect John Wood, the Elder, it was built between 1754 and 1769, and is regarded as a pre-eminent example of Georgian architecture. The name comes from the Latin circus, meaning a ring, oval or circle. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.
The Circus, originally called King's Circus, was designed by the architect John Wood, the Elder.
The Circus was part of John Wood the Elder's grand vision to recreate a classical Palladian architectural landscape for the city.
Three Classical orders (Greek Doric, Roman/Composite and Corinthian) are used, one above the other, in the elegant curved facades. The frieze of the Doric entablature is decorated with alternating triglyphs and 525 pictorial emblems, including serpents, nautical symbols, devices representing the arts and sciences, and Masonic symbols. The parapet is adorned with stone acorn finials. When viewed from the air, the Circus, along with Queens Square and the adjoining Gay Street, form a key shape, which is a masonic symbol similar to those that adorn many of Wood's buildings.
The central area was originally paved with stone setts, covering a reservoir in the centre that supplied water to the houses. In 1800 the Circus residents enclosed the central part of the open space as a garden. Now, the central area is grassed over and is home to a group of large plane trees.
Uploaded
March 28th, 2023
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