# Cross Bath > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cross_Bath > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cross_Bath.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Bath > Source revision: 1330186293 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox historic site | name =The Cross Bath | native_name = | image =Cross Bath.jpg | caption = | locmapin = Somerset | map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|51|22|52|N|2|21|41|W|display=inline,title}} | location =[Bath](/source/Bath%2C_Somerset), [Somerset](/source/Somerset), England | area = | built =c. 1789 | architect =[Thomas Baldwin](/source/Thomas_Baldwin_(architect)) | architecture = | governing_body = | designation1 =Grade I Listed Building | designation1_offname = The Cross Bath | designation1_date =12 June 1950 | designation1_number = 1394182 | designation2 = | designation2_offname = | designation2_date = | designation2_number = | designation3 = | designation3_offname = | designation3_date = | designation3_number = | designation4 = | designation4_offname = | designation4_date = | designation4_number = | designation5 = | designation5_offname = | designation5_date = | designation5_number = }} '''The Cross Bath''' in [Bath Street](/source/Bath_Street%2C_Bath), [Bath](/source/Bath%2C_Somerset), [Somerset](/source/Somerset), England, is a historic pool for bathing. The surrounding structure of the pool was built, in the style of [Robert Adam](/source/Robert_Adam) by [Thomas Baldwin](/source/Thomas_Baldwin_(architect)) by 1784 and remodelled by [John Palmer](/source/John_Palmer_(Bath_architect)) in 1789.{{Cite book |last=Root |first=Jane |title=Bath History Volume V: Thomas Baldwin: His Public Career in Bath, 1775-1793 |year=1994 |pages=86}}{{Cite web |title=THE CROSS BATH, Non Civil Parish - 1394182 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1394182 |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} It is recorded in the [National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England) as a designated Grade I [listed building](/source/Listed_building), and was restored during the 1990s by [Donald Insall Associates](/source/Donald_Insall_Associates).{{NHLE |num= 1394182|desc= The Cross Bath|access-date= 12 July 2013}} ==Geology== The water which bubbles up from the ground at Bath, fell as rain on the nearby [Mendip Hills](/source/Mendip_Hills). It [percolates](/source/percolation) down through limestone [aquifer](/source/aquifer)s to a depth of between {{convert|2700|m|ft|-2}} and {{convert|4300|m|ft|-2}} where [geothermal](/source/geothermal_(geology)) energy raises the water temperature to between {{convert|64|°C|°F|1|lk=on}} and {{convert|96|°C|°F|1}}. Under pressure, the heated water rises to the surface along fissures and faults in the limestone. This process is similar to an artificial one known as [Enhanced Geothermal System](/source/Enhanced_Geothermal_System) which also makes use of the high pressures and temperatures below the Earth's crust. Hot water at a temperature of {{convert|46|°C|°F|1}} rises here at the rate of {{convert|1170000|L|impgal|0}} every day,{{cite web|url=http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseAction=SM.nav&UUID=F9F320C4-1A95-4C04-AC609094E5B5DFD3 |title=Sacred Spring |accessdate=2007-10-31 |work=Roman Baths Museum Web Site |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102122621/http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseAction=SM.nav&UUID=F9F320C4-1A95-4C04-AC609094E5B5DFD3 |archivedate=November 2, 2007 }} from a geological fault (the Pennyquick fault). ==History== The name Cross Bath is believed to commemorate the body of St [Aldhelm](/source/Aldhelm) resting there on its journey from [Doulting](/source/Doulting) to [Malmesbury Abbey](/source/Malmesbury_Abbey) in 709.{{cite web|url=http://visitbath.co.uk/site/spa-and-wellbeing/history-of-baths-spa|title=History of Bath's Spa|publisher=Visit Bath|accessdate=2009-07-25}} The healing powers of the bath were one of the reasons for the foundation of [St John's Hospital, Bath](/source/St_John's_Hospital%2C_Bath) around 1180, by Bishop [Reginald Fitz Jocelin](/source/Reginald_Fitz_Jocelin), which is among the oldest [almshouse](/source/almshouse)s in England.{{cite web|url=http://www.buildinghistory.org/jean/spiritofcare.shtml|title=The eight-hundred-year story of St John's Hospital, Bath |work=Spirit of Care|publisher=Jean Manco|accessdate=2009-07-25}} {{Quote box | align = center | width = 40%|Wherof the bigger is caullid the Crosse Bath, bycause it hath a Cross erectid in the midle of it. This Bath is much frequentid of People ' diseasid with Lepre, Pokkes, Scabbes, and great Aches, and is temperate and pleasant, having a 11. or 12. Arches of Stone in the sides for men to stonde under yn tyme of Reyne | source = {{Citation|title=The itinerary of John Leland the antiquary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gk8GAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA65|volume=1|year=1538 | last1=Leland | first1=John }} }} In the 16th to 18th centuries the baths were frequently visited by royalty, increasing their popularity. In June 1688, [Mary of Modena](/source/Mary_of_Modena), wife of King [James II](/source/James_II_of_England), gave birth to a son, [Prince James](/source/James_Francis_Edward_Stuart) nine months after bathing in the Cross Bath. The Melfort Cross, was erected in 1688 to celebrate the birth. The structure surrounding the bath was built by Thomas Baldwin in 1784 and remodelled by John Palmer in 1789. The bath was refurbished in the 1990s, by [Donald Insall Associates](/source/Donald_Insall_Associates).{{cite web|url=http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/crossbath/crossbath.htm|title=Reviving the Cross Bath|last=Carey|first=Peter|publisher=Building Conservation.com|accessdate=2009-07-25}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/newhomes/3317425/Making-the-grade-The-Cross-Bath-Bath-Somerset.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112034950/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/newhomes/3317425/Making-the-grade-The-Cross-Bath-Bath-Somerset.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-12|title=Making the grade: The Cross Bath, Bath, Somerset|last=Miller|first=Keith|date=2003-09-20|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=2009-07-26}} Access is now administered in conjunction with the adjacent [Thermae Bath Spa](/source/Thermae_Bath_Spa).{{cite web|url=http://www.thermaebathspa.com/thespa/crossbath/|title=Spa Sessions: Cross Bath|publisher=Thermae Bath Spa|accessdate=2009-07-25}} ==See also== * [List of Grade I listed buildings in Bath and North East Somerset](/source/List_of_Grade_I_listed_buildings_in_Bath_and_North_East_Somerset) ==Further reading== * [https://wasserguru.net/ Water Purification at Cross Bath] ==References== {{reflist}} Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1789 Category:Grade I listed buildings in Bath, Somerset Category:Ancient Roman baths Category:Roman town of Bath Category:Roman religious sites in England Category:Spa waters Category:Tourist attractions in Bath, Somerset Category:1789 establishments in England Category:Public baths in the United Kingdom Category:Mary of Modena Category:18th century in Bath, Somerset --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cross Bath](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Bath) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Bath?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.