By Tim Lambert
50 The Romans build a temple by the springs in Bath
c. 60-80 A town grows up at Bath. The Romans call it Aquae Sulis.
c.250 The Romans build stone walls around the flourishing town
407 The Roman army leaves Britain but town life limps on in Bath
577 The Saxons capture Bath
c. 885 Alfred the Great creates a network of fortified settlements across his kingdom including Bath
973 King Edgar is crowned in Bath
1088 Rebels burn Bath but it is soon rebuilt
1189 Bath is given a charter granting the townspeople certain rights
1499 The Bishop of Bath and Wells dreams he should rebuild Bath Abbey
1539 Henry VIII closes Bath Abbey
1590 Queen Elizabeth grants Bath a new charter
1604 The plague strikes Bath
1609 Almshouses are built in Bath
1615 A scavenger is appointed to clean the streets
1625 The plague strikes Bath again
1633 Thatched roofs are banned because of the risk of fire
1636 The plague strikes Bath once again
1643 The plague returns
1643 During the Civil War the Royalists capture Bath
1645 The Royalists surrender Bath to the Parliamentarians
1661 Bath water is bottled and sold
1706 The first Pump Room is built. (It was replaced in 1795).
1742 A hospital opens in Bath
1754-1760 The Circus is built
1767-1774 Royal Crescent is built
1768 The first bank opens in Bath
1771 Assembly Rooms are built
1774 Pulteney Bridge is built
1795 Sydney Gardens open
1801 The population of Bath is 33,000
1805 Theatre Royal is built
1810 The Kennet and Avon Canal opens
1830 Royal Victoria Park is opened
1835 Parade Bridge is built
1849 Cholera strikes Bath
1880 Horse drawn trams run in streets of Bath. The old Roman baths are rediscovered.
1890 The first electric streetlights are switched on in Bath
1897 Henrietta Park opens
1901 The population of Bath is about 65,000
1904 Electric trams begin to run in the streets
1907 The first council houses are built in Bath
1939 Trams are replaced by buses
1942 A bombing raid kills 21 people in Bath
1961 The American Museum opens
1963 The Museum of Costume opens
1964 Bath University is founded
1972 Bathgate Centre opens
1978 The Bath at Work Museum opens
1979 The Postal Museum opens
1981 The Herschel Museum opens in Bath. So does the National Centre of Photography.
1987 The Museum of English Naive Art opens
1989 The Podium Shopping Centre opens
1992 The Building of Bath Museum opens
