unlocking some hidden secrets in Bath

[@jackmartinleith]

Great work, Paul. Wish I'd been there myself. A couple of points: 1. The bridge is called North Parade Bridge. 2. There have been various proposals for developing (commercialising?) the Collonades and the Undercroft, aka Vaults, and one of them looked like it might come to fruition. From the Bath & North East Somerset Council (known around these parts as Banes) document, Statement of Community Engagement, Grand Parade & Undercroft, Bath, April 2014: "A £5 million project to transform the neglected Grand Parade and Undercroft into a new exclusive dining quarter for the city has moved a step forward. Bath and North East Somerset Council is now looking for formal approaches by restaurants interested in the new venue. As part of the scheme the two restaurants created in the development have to pre-let before the council will start the renovations. Situated below Grand Parade the two new restaurants will have al fresco dining, overlooking Pulteney Bridge and the weir. Grand Parade will be transformed with the introduction of two new foyers providing greeting areas and lift access to each restaurant. In addition, a new stairwell leading down to the Colonnades will also be installed." Another B&NES document, Grand Parade & Undercroft Viability & Options Report April 2013, provides considerable detail to the proposal. You should be able to find these documents via Google. If you have any trouble, drop me an email or use the contact form on Newcreate.org and I'll forward them to you. 3. The proposal included opening up a passageway that runs under Bridge Street / Pulteney Bridge to the foot of Slippery Lane. As you walked under the Collonades towards Pulteney Bridge, you may have spotted a sealed doorway, beyond which is the passage. Sadly. Slippery Lane (once a medieval street; see old map at 21:49) is gated at the Northgate Street end, by New Saville Row barbers. It's a pity that the open day didn't include a visit to Slippery Lane, athough it is very slippery (trip hazard etc.) as it approaches the river before turning right and passing below Bridge Street / Pulteney Bridge and into the Collonades. Hope this is useful info, Paul. Happy to help further if required. Warm wishes from Keynsham. Jack

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Jack for a very interesting and very useful comment. I shall pin it to the top for others to read Thank you. I am not a resident of Bath or B& NES (I now live in Gloucestershire but lived most of my life in Cornwall) so I am appreciative of your local knowledge. Thank you Paul

[@wendingourway]

It's these great little tidbits that really help bring an area to life for me! Awesome finds!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks so much Bruce & Otis. Yes, I was very fortuntate to have found that this was open last week (for just one week, sadly!). Great to hear from you. Take care, Paul

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you. I agree with your comments - it needs tro be publicly accessable with perhaps museum/cultural spaces and refreshments. But, not simply left unattended. Obviously in need of some structural attention too.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Malcolm. Yes, whatever is decided, it will need a fair bit of tlc, which won't come cheap. I guess the answer is what revenue income stream can cover that cost best? Unfortunately, I have no answers to that in these uncertain times. Take care, Paul

[@SouthWestSundays]

That was really interesting and fascinating Paul!! Lovely to see Bath in the autumn again!!! It always looks so glorious! Can’t believe it was 2 years ago that we did our first collab there.

[@westcountrywanderings]

I know! Two years!! Thank you Louise - glad you enjoyed video and seeing Bath again. It really is a super City to visit. Take care, Paul

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Paul and greetings from Poland. Fabulous video. How exciting to be able to go where nobody has been allowed since the 1960s. Being nosy, Id love to know what's behind all the blocked off doors and arches. Great that the council are seeking the opinion of the general public as to what the spaces should be used for.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I felt very privileged to have been able to have had a tour here. It's been shut away for so long. I do hope that something constructive can come of it. Take care, Paul

[@JanetWilson-f2f]

Very interesting Paul, l made a visit on Friday. One of the passages leads to the Victoria Art Gallery. When l was young the East Gate was open during the day. Jan

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you found it interesting - I didn't know about the passageway linking it too the Art Gallery - I guess Bath is full of these little interconnecting passageways. Really interesting about East Gate being open during the daytime too - I wasn't aware of that. Thanks again, Paul

[@Millionaire-Paul]

I had a lovely day in bath a few years ago and this has reminded me I must get back there again to explore some more. Enjoyed this as always. Warm wishes from Millionaire Paul 👋

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Paul! Great to hear from you. Yes, I always see something I haven't seen before whenever I go to Bath. Happy filming and catch up soon, Take care, Paul

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

😅hello Paul. Bath was very beautiful with the trees turning colour. Very nice walk around a wonderful city

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Lionel & Mary. It is a lovely City - whatever the weather or time of year, there is always something worth photographing there. Hope you are both keeping well. Take care, Paul

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul nice video and history ,and hope your having a good weekend 😀

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Roy - yes, great long weekend. Just arrived home this morning (Monday) after a trip to Cornwall this weekend. Nice and dry all weekend. Hope yours was enjoyable too. Take care, Paul

[@TravelHungryForLife]

Excellent upload here my friend well done See you soon keep in touch big thumbs up Cheers 👉🏻👉🏻👍🏻👍🏻👈🏻👈🏻🤗🤗

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Paul

[@carolinecleaveley-q1r]

Hi Paul. thanks for that have walked the other side of the river but never that side so well worth a look Caroline.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, same Caroline! I hadn't walked along that side of the river from Widcombe before. Very interesting location, as was the exhibition - I think it should have been on for much longer than 5 working days though - as least to Christmas. A lot of people that wanted to see it never got chance to, sadly. Take care, Paul

[@DarylW426]

Wonderful tour of the colonnades. The scenery with the autumn leaves is especially beautiful. I really enjoyed it. Thank you Paul.👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Daryl. Yes, Bath was looking particularly lovely that day - I found this exhibition really interesting. Take care, Paul

[@JessesGrandDaysOut]

Awww, Bath is looking fabulous in it's autumnal coat and fab to see Pulteney Bridge from a different angle. Really good to see them opening up to find out what people want to do with the space.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Jesse! Yes, I didn't feel I should respond to the questionnaire, or participate as I am not a resident of Bath or B&NES, and I don't know the city very well. It should be the residents who decide, I feel. The City was certainly looking autumnal! Take care, Paul

[@Somersetmanwalking]

Really Interesting Paul, never knew that part of bath even existed. thank you! best wishes Darren👌👍👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Darren. It was a really great visit seeing things that have not been unlocked to the general public since the 1960s. Take care, Paul

[@NicolaExplores]

How interesting, Paul. Thank you for showing us around this part of Bath. Fascinating. I look forward to finding out how it will be restored and what might happen to it.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Nicola! I felt so fortunate to have got to see this - shame it wasn't opened for longer or better advertised though. Still, really amazing to see, and I hope good plans become of it. Take care, Paul

[@MartinPopeFilmmaker]

This was fantastic Paul. Ive often wondered about that part of the park in the past but didn't realise how many secrets it holds. I would of loved to of seen this myself. A real find there. 😊😊

[@faithg9766]

That was super interesting. I have a weakness for old walls where you can see previous arches, doors & windows. Thanks Paul.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Faith. So much history in those walls - and within them too. If only they could talk! Take care, Paul

[@thisismayberry]

Beautifully done! Loved hearing some of the history, and what a beautiful time of year to visit. We've just subscribed to see more of your adventures 🙂 - Danny and Leigh Anne

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Danny & Leigh Anne! Glad you enjoyed it. Bath is such a magical city - I am always discovering something new there each time I visit it. Happy Travels! Take care, Paul

[@peteturier3389]

Thanks Paul, love this sort of stuff!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you liked it. Cheers, Paul

[@shaunspencer6437]

Oh nice to see Bath from a different viewpoint .Bath probs has got to be architecturally the most beautiful city of the South West . Of course famous for its Roman baths and my having been born there .😆

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks Shaun - I think this could have been better advertised and open for longer to be honest with you. I think many others would have liked to have seen it too. Hope you are having good weekend. Take care, Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Paul, Some striking autumnal colours on show. You started today's video right by the canal basin. I was fortunate to stay at the hotel there a couple of times on my trips back to the UK for work. I'll have to see if I have any photos for your FB group, maybe I inadvertently caught the colonnades? I remember going down some steps to a lower level on the bridge to an Indian restaurant. From what I read on the comments here this leads into the area you visited. Definitely should not be hidden away, what should it be used for? Seems like a good place for exhibitions. It's been a very strange time down here some wonderful displays of solidarity from people living nearby in Valencia and collection points springing up spontaneously, even in our village. This contrasts radically with the perceived inaction by the authorities. Today the King, President and Valencia Region President made a visit to one of the towns, they had a very hot reception although to be fare the King made great efforts to speak to the people, the politicians simply disappeared. Thanks for brightening up my day, very interesting and very well presented as always. Have a great week!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you David, Hope things are OK with you in Spain. yes, I heard about the King of Spain getting jeered earlier - think he had mud thrown at him - it does appear that help from the emergency services did arrive late from what I gather. Glad that people are mobiilising themselves to organise help for those affected. Ah, that's interesting about the lower steps and the restaurant. Unfortunately, Bath isn't a place I know at all well. Hope you have a good week! Take care, Paul

[@dianarolph1770]

I love Bath so just being there is especially interesting! But you didn’t reveal your 6 answers- I gather it’s to do with how the City will utilise the spaces that were shown? I have no imagination - I can’t envisage what could be achieved. And of course it would have to be in keeping with the architecture there too. It’s good that they are getting the public to have their say. Thanks Paul.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Diana. Yes, Jack Martin Leith's comment pinned to the top may answer some of your questions. I am not a Bath nor a B&NES resident, so I didn't feel I should reply to the questionnaire, as it doesn't affect me as I don't live there and I really don't know this city at all, apart from a tourist persepctive. I also don't really have an opinion as to what should happen to the site, apart from it probably being best left as it is now, and perhaps not opened to the public, except for special occasions (like the Roman Pavements near me in Gloucestershire). Like you, I do think it is good to let the residents have their say. Hopefully, their views will be taken into account. Take care, Paul