96 General History _ of Bath. 



1852. About twenty churches have been erected during 

 the century, and many have considerable architectural merit, 

 A list of the more modern city churches will be found else- 

 where. 



In 1830, William Beckford, the eccentric author of 

 "Vathek," resided in Bath, and erected for a freak, the 

 picturesque tower on Lansdown, which forms a prominent 

 object in so many views. It is now used as a Mortuary 

 chapel for the Walcot cemetery. 



Perhaps there was no better work done in the present 

 century than the laying out of that beautiful pleasure ground 

 which, under the name of the Victoria Park, affords health 

 and recreation to all classes. It formed a part of the estate 

 known as the Bath Commons, which was, as we have seen, 

 allotted to the free citizens under the award of Sir Nicholas 

 Hyde. In 1 830 it was opened by the Princess (now Queen) 

 Victoria. In 1879, under the powers of an Act of Parlia- 

 ment, the Corporation purchased all the rights of the freemen 

 in the estate in consideration of certain annuities, and this 

 splendid property is now vested absolutely in the citizens. 



The Royal Avenue, which forms the entrance to the park, 

 was acquired from the Rivers family in 1886, in considera- 

 tion of an annual rent-charge. 



The municipal government of the city is 



statistks vested in a Mayor, 14 Aldermen, and 42 

 Common Councillors, and the same body 

 forms the Urban Sanitary Authority. Bath is divided into 

 seven Wards for the election of Councillors, and the con- 

 stituency comprises 8,083 voters. 



The administration of the Poor-law is by a Board of 

 Guardians, triennially elected, and representing 6 urban and 

 19 rural parishes. The Union Workhouse contains on an 



