Roman Baths’ iconic status is stamped
across the UK
The Roman Baths has been given the
Royal Mail seal of approval as the Bath & North East Somerset
Council-run heritage attraction features in a new collection of
postage stamps.
Bath is the only World Heritage Site
to be featured in the second part of the Royal Mail’s A-Z of Great
Britain stamp set; with a breath-taking image of early morning mist
rising from the Roman Baths – the only Roman monument to be
immortalised in the commemorative collection.
Stephen Clews, Manager of the Roman
Baths, said: “The image on this beautiful stamp captures Bath &
North East Somerset Council’s Roman Baths as you can see it on a
crisp winter's morning, with dawn light breaking. In the early
morning the baths can be a calm and quiet space with mist rising
slowly from the waters, allowing the viewer to immerse in tranquil
solitude. Photographer David Noton has done an
excellent job in revealing this very special moment in the daily
life of the baths.”
The Roman Baths that exist today date
back to 60-70 AD, and were expanded into a bathing complex over the
following 300 years.
The hot springs at the baths
originate from rainwater from the Mendip Hills; the water
percolates 2,700m underground before rising at a temperature of 46
degrees, at a rate of 1,170,000 per day.
The City of Bath was inscribed as
a World Heritage Site 25 years ago in 1987. The entire
city is covered by the status – one of only a handful of cities
with the designation.
Royal Mail’s dramatic 26-stamp,
alphabetical odyssey around the UK celebrates iconic landmarks
across all four countries, ranging from ancient through to modern,
and from the significant to the spectacular.
Geoff Braden, Regional Operations
Director for Royal Mail, said: “Our two-part journey around the UK
has proved a wonderful reminder of the fantastic number of
landmarks, such as the Roman Baths, that we are fortunate to enjoy.
The Roman Baths retain huge cultural and historical importance in
the UK, at the heart of one of the country’s few World Heritage
sites. Having stood at the centre of the City of Bath for nearly
2,000 years, the Roman Baths truly are a monument to the great
heritage of this country.”
For more information about Bath &
North East Somerset Council’s Roman Baths visit http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/ or
call 01225 477774.
ENDS
Image courtesy of Royal Mail.
Photographer: David Noton