| Bath |
The hot springs and the Roman bath house are a Celtic / Roman sacred place, dedicated to the Sullis and the goddess Minerva, in myth the sacred spring was discovered by King Bladud who was cured of leprosy by the healing waters and mud.
Archaeologically there is no evidence for pre Roman structures on the site, but the area may have been revered by the ancient Britons.
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| The Legend of Bladud |
Lud Hubibras (Bladud) was a British Prince in Celtic times. While at court the Prince contracted the dreaded Leprosy and was banished and disowned by his father. Before he made his way out of the kingdom his mother took him aside and gave him a golden ring. This was to be the key to his return if he could ever cure himself of the disease.
Everywhere the Prince went he was shunned, he meeked a living as a swineherd until some of the herd also caught the disease.
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To hide this from his employer, he fled across the river Avon (at a place now called Swineford), and into the land where the city of Bath now stands.
He wandered the area until one day one of the pigs seemed to go crazy and rushed headlong into a black bog in the marshy ground. Bladud struggled to pull the pig from the bog and became covered in the foul smelling mud. When he had finally freed himself and the pig, he found that the pigs skin lesions had disappeared and where the mud had touched his bare skin he was also cured. He immersed himself in the warm mud and became fully cured of the disease.
Finally Bladud returned to court where he was welcomed with open arms by his mother who recognised the ring she had given him so many years before.
Bladud ruled wisely as King for many years and founded Bath and the temple of Aqua Sullis.
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| Map ref: ST 7365 |
| Directions: Off the A4 through Bath |
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