142 



It is manifest however that his account of the difference of 

 height within and without only applies to a part of the wall ; there 

 was nothing of the kind on the north side, though we can still 

 see it on the east. 



The city was confined within these limits, and on the coming of 

 Nash in the beginning of the last century the upper town was laid 

 out without any regard to the lines of thoroughfare within the 

 borough, and hence the waste of splendid opportunities for grand 

 vistas of streets, such as might have been obtained for instance 

 in Stall Street, Union Street, Burton Street and Milsom Street. 

 When about the middle of the last century the walls were swept 

 away the streets were already built. 



With regard to the gates it is to be remarked that as at Bristol 

 churches of very ancient foundation existed over the gates ; over 

 the North Gate S. Mary, and over the South Gate S. James. 

 The North Gate stood at the top of High Street and I have here 

 representations of it and the other three gates enlarged from 

 the map with such details as we possess. I have borrowed this 

 series of drawings from my father's extensive collection of books 

 and views, &c., relating to Bath. The South Gate stood, as I 

 have said, at the top of Southgate Street, with S. James's church 

 close to it. It was 10ft. 9in. broad and 14ft. 6in. high. On the 

 outer side the statue of King Edward III. sitting was placed in a 

 niche over the gate, with the figure of the Bishop as Abbot on 

 one side and of the Prior on the other.* The North Gate 

 probably occupied the same position as the Roman Gate, but 

 the South Gate of the Roman city was to the east of the present 

 church, and therefore to the east of the gate of which I am speaking. 



The West Gate, at the bottom of Westgate Street, and looking 

 out towards Bristol must have been in later times the most imposing 

 gate of all, and according to tradition was the lodging place of royal 

 and distinguished persons when they visited Bath. " The standard 



* Wood, "Essay on Bath," p. 325. 



