Walcot, Bath Explained

Static Image Name:Walcot St Bath.jpg
Static Image Alt:Street scene with shops and houses. Church tower in the distance.
Static Image Caption:Walcot Street
Country:England
Coordinates:51.392°N -2.3558°W
Official Name:Walcot
Unitary England:Bath and North East Somerset
Lieutenancy England:Somerset
Region:South West England
Constituency Westminster:Bath
Population:5,920
Population Ref:(2011; ward)[1]
Post Town:BATH
Postcode District:BA1
Postcode Area:BA
Dial Code:01225
Os Grid Reference:ST753659

Walcot is a suburb of the city of Bath, in the Bath and North East Somerset district, in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It lies to the north-north-east of the city centre, and is an electoral ward of the city.[2]

The Paragon and, continuing out of the city, London Road are part of the A4 road. The other main thoroughfare is Walcot Street, which adjoins the city centre and is well known for its artisan shops.[3] [4]

Walcot Street and London Road are believed to be a Roman road, leading north from the Roman town of Aquae Sulis and linking with the Fosse Way. Walcot originally grew as a residential area (a vicus) in the 1st to 3rd centuries, located between the walled town, the Fosse Way and the possible Roman fort sited across the river in the Bathwick area.[5]

The parish church of St Swithin, on The Paragon was built in 1779-90 by John Palmer.[6] The 18th-century poet Christopher Anstey is buried at the church.[7] [8] Walcot was the birthplace of Richard Debaufre Guyon, who would become, in succession, an Austrian officer, a Hungarian rebel and an Ottoman Pasha.[9] [10]

Governance

The electoral ward returns two councillors to Bath and North East Somerset Council. The wards surrounding Walcot ward are: Lansdown to the north-west, Lambridge to the north-east, Bathwick to the south-east, and Kingsmead to the south-west. The River Avon forms the boundary with Bathwick and is crossed here by the Cleveland Bridge. The Grosvenor area of the city falls within the ward.[2]

In 1891 the civil parish had a population of 24,899.[11] On 26 March 1900 the parish was abolished to form Bath.[12]

Notable residents

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ward population 2011 . 7 April 2015.
  2. https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/your-council-and-democracy/elections/district-council-elections Bath and North East Somerset Council
  3. Web site: Artisan Quarter . Visit Bath . 22 January 2017.
  4. Web site: Walcot Street Artworks . Bath and North East Somerset Council . 2010 . 22 January 2017.
  5. Pevsner Architectural Guides: Bath (2007) Forsyth, M
  6. Web site: Church of St Swithin, Walcot . Images of England . https://web.archive.org/web/20121022003833/http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=443214 . dead . 2012-10-22 . 2008-01-18.
  7. Web site: Christopher Anstey. Westminster Abbey. 24 April 2015.
  8. Web site: Christopher Anstey: A life in 18th century Bath. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. 24 April 2015.
  9. Web site: General Richard Guyon. Bath Heritage. 24 April 2015.
  10. Web site: Guyon, Richard Debaufre (1813-1856), army officer. Oxford Index. 24 April 2015.
  11. Web site: Population statistics Walcot AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 30 March 2024.
  12. Web site: Relationships and changes Walcot AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 30 March 2024.
  13. Web site: Plim Bellamy Tomb . Historic England . Historic England . 1 October 2021.