On the second day we took a taxi all the way up to the Royal Crescent and walked down, via the Circus, past the assembly room and down Milsom Street. I would have liked to have gone poking around the back of the Royal Crescent as I have been told that though the fronts are uniform, the backs are all different, but I knew my limitations.
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| Unfortunately there are all the cars and the scaffolding on the one being repaired, but it gives some idea. |
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| Looking across the wonderful green in front of the royal crescent; I think this is Marlborough Buildings |
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| Number 1 is a museum. I looked at the steps and quailed, and we did not go round it this time. One of the things on my wishlist for next time. |
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| this is as wide an angle as I could get on the circus without it getting really distorted |
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| it's circular and they all look like this .... |
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The road leading to the Upper AssemblyRooms goes off sort of 1/3 of the way around from the road leading to the royal cresent. It's called Bennett St. Inspiration much, Miss Austen?
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| the upper assembly rooms |
We didn't get downstairs to the museum of fashion either; another one to go on my wish list. Opposite this face is the back of some of the houses in the circus:
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| now to my mind these backs are grand enough to be fronts! I'd love to have the view from those upper windows which I think if I have my orientation correct is off towards Lansdown. |
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| in the vestibule. I did my best with the interior shots; sorry they are not better |
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| the great octagonal card playing room. those open doors are opposite the door from the vestibule into where they now have refreshments; the photo is from the door into the ballroom. |
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| the ballroom. I made it 44 candles per candelabrum and 5 of them, and 4 candles to the pound for the long ones for a ball so 55 shillings per ball; call it three quid, not even considering the candles in the other rooms. In perspective an upper servant earned £25 a year. there were two balls a week. |
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| the ballroom ceiling |
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| the balcony, I presume for the band. |
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| the tea room; there was some sort of children's craft activity in here so we didn't stay |
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| after leaving the assembly room we went down a little alley and found ourselves between the backs of houses where there were mews. I've never seen mews before so I was dead chuffed as they are pretty much untampered with save to have garage doors instead of coach doors. |
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| Looking down Milsom Street. My husband said 'that bike is an anachronism', and I said, 'no. it's a Yamaha'. |
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| I think this is the last bow-fronted shop in the street. |
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| Somerset Buildings Milsom St with the central Bow |
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| Mr Godwin's Library, I believe |
By the time we got to the bottom we were hoping for a cuppa at the Jane Austen Centre; so we turned right, and trailed up the hill past Queen Square, only to find that the tea room was up 2 flights, it was closing in 5 minutes, and the museum was on various levels too, so we departed without looking around, tired, in pain, and disgruntled. We mislaid ourselves a little bit but found ourselves outside the theatre royal, which had not been on my itinerary so that was a bonus.
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| the theatre royal. |
And we found a nice Italian restauraunt across the square from the theatre where I discovered wild boar and pork meatballs which were incredible. Especially to two famished and exhausted middle aged women with mobility issues and a growing case of snippy temper.
Next, Pulteney Bridge and Parade Gardens. I regret I did not get to Sydney Gardens. Another one for next time.
