Did you know that the first historical record of Bath Abbey dates to 675AD?
History of Bath Abbey
The story of this historical site begins with the earliest record of a Saxon Convent in Bath from 675AD. Almost 100 years later, there were also records of a monastery in Bath, after lands were granted to the brothers of the monastery of St Peter in the area at the time. In 781AD, King Offa of Mercia claimed ownership of the Abbey, which was much much smaller than the existing building.
In 1088AD, John of Tours, the Bishop of Wells, was given the monastery and ordered the building of a large cathedral, which replaced the Saxon Abbey, eventually becoming one of the most important buildings in the area. Once again, in 1499AD, Bishop Oliver King ordered the building of a new church after the cathedral built by John of Tours fell into disrepair. This was the beginning of the Abbey church that we can see today.
King Henry VIII and Bath Abbey
During the reign of King Henry VIII, Bath Abbey was closed after he dissolved the monasteries in England through the Act of Supremacy of 1534. The ruined abbey was eventually given to the city of Bath to be used as the parish church. In the 1600’s, Queen Elizabeth I gave permission for a national collection to raise money for the restoration of the building, which was completed in 1620.
Further works to the building were carried out between the 1700’s and 1900’s, making the Abbey the magnificent sight it is today.
Bath Abbey Hauntings
With all of this history, there are of course hauntings that take place on the Abbey site. Some of the best-known ghosts are the Bath Monks, which are potentially those that belonged to the monastery right at the beginning of the buildings life. Several sightings have been reported of a group of monks that supposedly haunt the doors to the main entrance of the abbey, so why not go and pay them a visit?
Ghost Portraits in Bath Abbey
There was also an unusual newspaper article from 1923 that addressed the appearance of a Ghost portrait that manifested on a pillar inside the Abbey. Apparently the portrait of a bearded soldier suddenly appeared and would significantly change in appearance. Some believed that the apparition was trying to convey a message.
Unusual Things to do in Bath
To immerse yourself in the spooky side of this beautiful city, why not purchase our Bath Day Guide by clicking here. Our guide gives you all the fright without the faff, meaning you won’t have to do any of the planning before your trip! Happy haunting!
References
Bath Abbey History - https://www.bathabbey.org/visiting/history/
Bath Abbey Monks Ghosts - https://www.somersetandbathparanormal.co.uk/ghostly-monks-of-bath-abbey
Bath Paranormal Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bathparanormal/posts/ghost-at-bath-abbeyphantom-monks-are-reputed-to-haunt-this-areaphoto-by-russell-/599137312675601/
Paranormal Database Bath - https://www.paranormaldatabase.com/hotspots/bath.php