Thomas Rowlandson, 'Taking the Waters'
from The Comforts of Bath, 1798
Going to spas became very fashionable in the
18th century, and Bath soon became the most popular
spa in the country. The city took on a new lease of life, and this
meant that it had to expand to cope with the new visitors and
residents. New buildings were built, and the cramped medieval
streets and houses gave way to elegant purpose-built buildings for
bathing, relaxing and taking the waters.
The first Pump Room was built in 1705
for people to gather and drink the spa water, but this soon became
too small. The present building was built in around 1793. This
picture by Thomas Rowlandson shows invalids queuing to drink the
water in the first Pump Room.