•92 General History of Bath. 



for centuries had been little better than a swamp. It owes 

 its development and improvement to the energy of Sir 

 William Johnstone, who, on his marriage with Miss Frances 

 Pulteney, assumed his wife's maiden name. He raised the 

 houses he built on arches, and in 1770 erected the bridge 

 over the Avon which bears his name, and connects Bridge- 

 street with Argyle-street. In 1827 and 1836 his successors 

 in title, the Earls of Darlington (afterwards Dukes of Cleve- 

 land) influenced the erection of two other bridges to connect 

 the estate with Bath. These are vested in public companies, 

 and are known respectively as the Bathwick and North 

 Parade bridges. 



The Municipal Corporations Act placed the whole of 

 these extra urban parishes within the jurisdiction of the 

 Town Council. 



The ancient civic charities which have during the present 

 century been put upon a sound and satisfactory basis are 

 as follows : — 



The Hospital of St. John the Baptist. 



This charity was founded about the year 1 1 80 by Bishop 

 Reginald Fitz Jocelyn for the aged poor. Its endowment was 

 in land, and, as the value of this increased, the revenues be- 

 came more than sufficient for the primary purpose. During 

 many centuries the income was appropriated and squandered 

 by the Corporation, and when this abuse was checked, the 

 charity suffered scarcely less, from the improvident rapacity 

 of successive Masters, who leased the estates at nominal 

 rents, and received the premiums paid by the lessees. 

 Chancery proceedings were taken in r864, and after many 

 years of litigation a scheme was, in 1877, settled for future 

 administration. The government is vested in a Board of 



