147 



Street built by one Trim, and call'd after his Name.* The City is just 

 1,100 Feet long from the North-WsW to the South-^iAe, where is the 

 South-gate, and on the West is another Gate, from which to the East- 

 gate, that is diametrically opposite, is exactly 1,100. Also, the Length 

 of the whole Wall is about 3,200 Feet ; and the whole Area of the City is 

 about 25 Acres. As soon as you enter the North-gate, on the Left 

 Hand stood a Church, dedicated to St. Mary, which is now converted, 

 one Part into a School, and the other Jr'art with the Tower into a Gaol. 

 The North-Gate was then a Superb Building, corapos'd of three 

 Arches, and the Whole supporting a high and grand Tower, which has 

 long since been destroy'd.f The Center Arch is 10 Feet wide and 15 

 high, and the Posterns on each Side 5ft. 6in. broad and lift. Sin. high, 

 but these Posterns are now filled up to the great Damage of the Chief 

 Way into the Body of the City. The Front of this Gate has been 

 ornamented from the remotest Ages with the Statue of King Bladud. 

 The Image that existed in the Beginning of the present Century being 

 the Work of some bungling Country Stone-cutter, the Corporation 

 neglected to repair it when they beautified the other public Works of 

 the City, which Occasioned one Mr. Frond, who was Deputy Town 

 Clerk, to write the following Satire, intitled : — 



KING BLADUD'S GHOST.: 



Darkness had now her sable Pinions spread. 

 And all Men were or should have been in Bed ; 

 For 'twas the Hour that Goblins haunt the Night, 

 And Folks with fancied Ghosts themselves affright ; 

 When screaming Cats their am'rous Revels keep, 

 And howling Curs disturb the Joys of Sleep : 

 From Groves below King Bladud's royal Shade 

 A Visit to his antient City made ; 

 And glaring on the Place wherein there stands 

 His statue, carved by some vile Bungler's Hands ; 



* We know where this street is, and must be familiar with the archway under 

 the houses which marks the other side of the ditch, 

 t Leland writing under date 1542, says " In the Walles aft this tyme be no 

 Tourres saving over the Towne Qate. " 



X These verses are aUo in Wood's Essay on Bath, p. 3i23. 



