Roman Bath, York
{{Short description|Grade II* listed pub in York, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox building
| name = The Roman Bath
| former_names =
| alternate_names =
| status =
| image = Roman Bath York.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_size =
| caption = The Roman Bath from St Sampson's Square
| building_type = Public house and Roman ruins
| architectural_style = Tudor Revival
| location = St Sampson's Square, York, England
| coordinates =
| years_built = 1929–31
| designations = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II* Listed Building
| designation1_offname = The Roman Bath Public House
| designation1_date = 14 June 1954
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1256732|short=y|postscript=none}}
}}
}}
The Roman Bath is a public house in St Sampson's Square, in the city of York, in England. It is built above an ancient Roman bath house. The remains were uncovered during building work when the present pub was erected in 1929–31 replacing an inn. The exterior has Tudor Revival features including applied half-timbering. The pub is however more notable for the Roman remains which can be viewed inside.
The bath house apparently served the military personnel of Eboracum (Roman York). Not only was the facility in Eboracum's fortress (built in the 1st century AD to house a legion of about 5,000 men),{{cite web |url=http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/timeline/roman/inside-the-roman-fortress |title=Inside the Roman Fortress |website=History of York |access-date=26 January 2018}} but also tiles have been discovered at the bath house site which are marked with the identity of specific legions. The Ninth may have constructed the facility. The last attested activity of the Ninth in Britain is in AD 108.
Baths dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD have been excavated at Tanner Row on the other side of the River Ouse: these are believed to have served the civilian population of York.{{cite news |date=21 June 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-13866869 |title=Roman baths are uncovered in York |access-date=27 January 2018}}
Access and conservation
The pub is a Grade II* listed building.{{NHLE|num=1256732|desc=The Roman Bath Public House|access-date=15 July 2023}} It was listed in 1954, relatively early for a pub from the interwar period. In 2015, Historic England listed a number of interwar pubs at which time it was noted that relatively few such buildings survived unaltered. See {{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/look-inside-wheatsheaf-pub-st-9994068 |title=Look inside the Wheatsheaf |last=Belger |first=Tom |work=Liverpool Echo |access-date=11 January 2019 |year=2015}} This suggests that the existence of Roman ruins was the main reason for listing.
The Roman remains may be visited. A fee is payable.{{cite web |url=https://www.visityork.org/explore/roman-bath-public-house-p793881 |title=Roman Bath Public House |access-date=12 January 2019}}
File:The Caldarium, Roman Bath Museum, Eboracum, York, England (7676852636).jpg
The caldarium and some other features of the baths are visible. Some of the other facilities would have been outside the corner site occupied by the pub: much of the baths have yet to be excavated. The site as a whole is protected through its location within the walled city of York, designated as an 'Area of Archaeological Importance' (AAI) under Part 2 of the 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act.
See also
There are other examples in the UK of Roman baths serving forts, for example the infrastructure at Caerleon, also a legionary fortress, where there was a frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium, as well as an open-air swimming pool.{{cite web |url=http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/Caerleon-roman-fortress-baths/?lang=en |title=Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths |website=cadw.gov.wales |access-date=27 January 2018 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312024007/http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/Caerleon-roman-fortress-baths/?lang=en |url-status=dead}}
The Six Bells in St Albans, is also built above a bath house, but the Roman remains are not on display.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Roman Bath public house, York}}
Category:Ancient Roman baths in England
Category:Grade II* listed pubs in York
Category:Archaeological museums in England