NationalExpressSpringIssue2017 - 72

◆ S PA T O W N

VICTORIAN
AFTERNOON TEA
High tea was invented by the
Victorians as something to do
between lunch and dinner.
Various Bath restaurants and
cafes established themselves in the
19th century, serving the finest in
teas, dainty sandwiches and freshly
cooked cakes.
Hall and Woodhouse (1 Old King
Street) is a country-style bistro on
the site of a former auction house.
A heavy copper bar, spiral staircase
and bookcases all go to create a
unique atmosphere in which to
enjoy the best of British.
The Bath Bun Tea Shoppe
(2 Abbey Green) is a traditional oldfashioned establishment in central
Bath. Visitors can step back in time
and enjoy tea and cakes, potentially
in the same seat once occupied
by Lord Nelson. It features fine
china teapots, floral table covers,
and tiered cake stands filled with
scones, teacakes, fairy cakes, and
choux buns.
Old Time Vintage Tea Rooms
(6-8 Saville Row) is another
gem. The cafe is decorated in a
1930s-40s style, with waiting
staff wearing period pinafores
and landgirl bandanas. Flapjacks,
scones and teacakes are popular
here... but the Victoria sponge filled
with jam and cream is to die for.
WHAT THE
AFTERNOON
IS FOR...

THE PALLADIAN BRIDGE AT
PRIOR PARK, BUILT IN 1755

P R I O R PA R K WAS D ES I G N E D
BY E N G L A N D ' S G R E AT E S T
EVER GARDENER - LANCELOT
'C A PA B I L I T Y ' B R OW N

Not amused
DID
YOU
KNOW?
The
Saracens
Head in
Broad
Street,
Bath,
which
dates back
to 1713,
was visited
by Charles
Dickens in
1835.

T H E ' BAT H
INCIDENT'
When she was in the city as an
11-year-old princess in 1830,
a gust of wind blew Victoria's
skirt up when she was opening
the Royal Victoria Park, and it's
said someone in the audience
joked about her fat ankles. The
audience laughed, and as a result,
the young princess vowed never
to return - and she never did.
An incident for Prince Albert
on a visit to Bath has also left a
lasting mark across the country.
In the late 1840s, Albert visited
the city to meet local dignitaries,
but because all were wearing
formal black cloaks, he was
unable to differentiate the Mayor

72

from the others. As a result, Queen
Victoria ordered that from 1850 all
mayors across the UK had to wear
a mayoral robe and chains. This is
still the case to this day.
Another fine Bath park is Prior
Park, on the edge of Combe Down,
created in the 18th century by local
entrepreneur Ralph Allen, with
advice from 'Capability' Brown and
the poet Alexander Pope.
The garden is set in a sweeping
valley where, in addition to
magnificent views of the city,
visitors can see one of only four
Palladian bridges in the world.
Palladian architecture is derived
from, and inspired by, Venetian
architect Andrea Palladio (15081580), himself influenced by the
classical architecture of the ancient
Greeks and Romans.

WORDS: Joe Worthington IMAGES: visitbath.co.uk, Getty Images

Tea is for tasty
http://visitbath.co.uk
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