148 The Baths, Ancient and Modern. 



which the water wasted away. Accurate measurements of 

 the spring have not been practicable, but it is believed that 

 the yield at the present time is more than 300 gallons a 

 minute. One-hundred-and-forty yards almost directly west 

 of this spring is another, known as the Hot Spring, of con- 

 siderably less volume than the King's Bath Spring. A few 

 yards to the north of the Hot Spring is the smallest and 

 coolest of the three springs, which is known as the Cross 

 Bath Spring. It is generally supposed that there has been 

 no abatement of heat in these springs, but no accurate 

 observations having been made in the past, this supposition 

 cannot be verified. As to volume of water, discoveries 

 made in the recent excavations justify the assumption that 

 the King's Bath Spring is of the same capacity as it was in 

 Roman times. The Hot Spring has been stated in old 

 guide-books to have first made its appearance four or five 

 centuries ago; but on this statement little or no reliance 

 can be placed. The Cross Bath Spring has undoubtedly 

 diminished, but this is accounted for by its diversion 

 amongst the foundations of contiguous buildings on their 

 erection early in the eighteenth century. It would cost but 

 little to again secure the spring within the ancient Roman 

 well and prevent the water being wasted before coming to 

 the surface. 



The earliest Baths of which there is any dis- 

 ^'"Bath"™ *^"'^* evidence are Roman, and were founded 



either by Vespasian when he was in Britain, 

 or as late as during the reign of his son Titus. They were 

 in great part erected within an excavated area, to admit of 

 the springs fiUing them by gravitation ; but at the same time 

 the level of the excavated area was evidently above the sur- 

 face of the ground on the southern front. 



