BathWeb News Page.

'Recent' events in Baths past.

All items taken from The Bath Chronicle.

1785 Jan - Jul

New Assembly Rooms - It being contrary to the established rules of Bath for Ladies to wear Hats at the Rooms on any evening, and numberless disputes having arisen occasioned by small Dress Hats having been considered as only ornaments for the head, and consequently admitted,which indulgence has been abused and pleaded		as a precedent to introduce such as are inadmissable, it has been found necessary to give this public notice, that from this time no Hat of any kind will be admitted into the Rooms on any evening till after the first of May, when they are allowed, except on Ball or Concert Nights. Wm Dawson, Master of the Ceremonies
January 26, 1785

BATH City Water Works - The tennants that rent the Water belonging to the Chamber of this City, are desired not to give the Waterman money, or any other gratuity, as they are properly paid for their attendance. And in case they neglect their duty, or behave in an improper manner to any Tennant or Tennants, they will be discharged immediately upon information being sent in writing to the Guildhall, addressed to the Committee for managing the said Works. And the said Tennants are desired to take notice, that if a scarcity of Water is occasioned by any defect		or obstruction in the Feather Pipes (leading from the main-pipes to the cisterns belonging to their houses)or in consequence of the cisterns being fixed above the ground or pitching in the street, that all such repairs, defects, or obstructions must be done and removed at the Tennants expence. And if any Tennant or Tennants suffer or let the water run to waste, or neglect to provide themselves with proper cisterns (made of stone or lead) and buoy-cocks, within one month of the date hereof, the Water will be cut off from the houses belonging to such persons as neglect to comply with this notice.
Leonard Coward, Mayor June 16, 1785

YESTERDAY that most opressive, and most partial of all Taxes, the Shop Tax, took place. The shopkeepers of this City, who will severely experience the effects of this justly-reprobated tax, did not shut up their doors yesterday, as most of them know they can ill spare a day, there being sparce enough in the year to keep their shops open, or, to enable them to pay the accumulated burthens imposed on them. However, several shewed their contempt so far as to hang their doors and windows with mourning crape, scarves etc; others covered their counters with velvet palls, and hung		weeping willows and other emblems of woe, with inscriptions expressive of their indignation against the tax, and a once favourite minister. No Pitt, no Partial Tax, and other such sentences, were chalked up in every part of the city. Miss Pitcairn, at the Tapioca shop in the Grove, erased for the day the first syllable from her name. At Bristol, the shops were all shut, and hung with emblems of mourning, inscriptions appeared in all parts expressive of the most indignant contempt of the author of the tax, and the bells at the several churches were rung muffled on the occasion.
July 7, 1785