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Romantic History

Visiting Bath is a great way to find out more about the history of life and love in Georgian times.

The Building of Bath Museum tells the extraordinary story of the birth of the city and how it mushroomed from being a provincial backwater to the hub of Georgian society in the space of one hundred years.

The launch of the new Pride and Prejudice film helps one to imagine what life was like in Austen's time. It also highlights the differences between romance and courtship today and how it was in those days..

Courtship followed certain rituals, as did a typical day when visiting Bath. Initially popular for its thermal waters and their supposed restorative powers, the city evolved as a centre for entertainment and hospitality. It provided ample opportunity for girls to show off their finery - the Georgians did not favour gardens as they preferred to walk where they could be seen by the masses, hence the many wide and raised pavements in the city which allowed the elaborate and colourful skirts worn by ladies to be viewed to their maximum advantage! Milliners and dressmakers thrived in this fashion-conscious environment and the retail industry in Bath was born.

The daily routine of society ladies and gentlemen included calling on friends and visiting the Pump Room. There were numerous balls held at the Assembly Rooms, at which more socialising, courting and dancing went on. Bath had two Assembly Rooms to keep up with the demand. Chaperones were always present for the sake of propriety, but dancing was one of the few activities where girls could converse with their dancing partners without supervision.

Young girls had a relatively sheltered upbringing, but once they reached a suitable age they were then jetisoned into a social whirl where they were paraded in front of eligible young men. Marriages were not arranged, but parents tended to restrict the social circles in which their off-spring mixed.

Bath was considered to be a good place for youngsters to develop their social skills as it was relatively intimate. Beau Nash, the Master of Ceremonies, carefully cultivated an egalitarian atmosphere where the class structure was less rigidly enforced. This gave opportunities for the nouveau riche to take their place in society amongst the upper classes. Beau Nash was considered to be a matimonial consultant as he made it his business to know every visitor.

There was reason for parents to be concerned about their child's choice of beloved, as there were many gold-diggers at that time. The easiest way to make money fast was to marry into it, and then there was no going back as divorce was almost unheard of. Girls were treated like commodities, as with their marriage went the transfer of property. Moral corruption was another reputation to avoid at all costs as even the hint of a scandal would eliminate a prospect from the marriage stakes.

Today courtship rituals are less formalised, but we are all still romantics at heart. Taking some time out with your partner is a great way to stay close or reignite romance.

Walking around Bath together it is easy to imagine life in a more leisurely era. We are privileged to be able to stay in Eighteenth Century town houses which are now hotels like the ones on Great Pulteney Street. Strolling down Milsom Street past Jolly's, one of the oldest department stores in the country, it is not hard to picture elegant parties on their way to pick up some ribbons or visit the lending library.

In the Pump Room you can listen to the trio and take a civilised break for afternoon tea as many must have done during Austen's era. The grand banqueting places like the Assembly Rooms spirit us back to laughter and dancing and a vibrant social scene - today there are still wonderful concerts and recitals there during the Bath Festivals and throughout the year, and you can even get married and have a reception in this glorious venue.

So take some time, stay an extra day and live life like a Georgian at a more leisurely pace!

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