Information for record number MWA1128:
Folly in Bath House Wood, Walton, Wellesbourne

Summary A folly dating to the Imperial period. It is situated in Bath House Wood. There were suggestions that it was a Roman Bath House but recent investigation revealed that the whole building dates to the 18th or 19th century, though the gazebo did contain a spring or bath.
What Is It?  
Type: Folly, Gazebo
Period: Imperial - Industrial (1751 AD - 1913 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Wellesbourne
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 29 52
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 On Bath Hill is the Bath House, which gives birth to a copious spring issuing from a basin 31cm long, 20cm broad and 15cm deep. The lower part of the house is evidently ancient, but the upper part was erected about the start of the 19th century.
2 Bath House, alleged to be Roman by a writer to the Times, 28th August 1930. The upper part of the structure is 19th century and the lower, although being built of large semi-dressed blocks, seems to be the same. It seems that the whole building is of recent date.
3 The site was not located, but is reputed to be nothing more than a pile of rubble.
4 An 18th century folly or grotto with gazebo room above. Built solidly of ashlar on an arched rustic grotto containing a clear spring or bath.
5 History and restoration described.
 
Sources
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1960
Page Number: 5
Volume/Sheet: Stratford-on-Avon Ru
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Bibliographic reference
Author/originator: Landmark Trust
Date: 199?
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Shakespeare's Land
Author/originator: Ribton-Turner C J
Date: 1893
Page Number: 335, 340
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 25NE6
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: SMW
Date: 1979
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 790
   
Images:  
A 19th century folly in Bathhouse Wood, Walton
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1920s
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
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period Imperial 1751 AD to 1914 AD (end of the 18th century AD to the beginning of the 20th century AD)

This period comes after the Post Medieval period and before the modern period and starts with beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. It includes the second part of the Hannoverian period (1714 – 1836) and the Victorian period (1837 – 1901). The Imperial period ends with the start of the First World War in 1914.
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monument GROTTO * A shady cavern built as a garden feature. In the 18th century it usually took the form of an artificial rocky cave or apartment decorated with stalactites and shells in a wild part of the grounds. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument GAZEBO * A garden house situated to provide a commanding view. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument PILE * Component: Use wider site type where known. back
monument BATH HOUSE * A building equipped with facilities for bathing, and occasionally public baths. back
monument INDUSTRIAL * This is the top term for the class. See INDUSTRIAL Class List for narrow terms. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument FOLLY * A structure, often found in 18th century landscape gardens, that demonstrates eccentricity or excess rather than practical purpose. They can take many forms - ruins, sham castles, towers, hermits' cells or grottoes. back
monument SPRING * A point where water issues naturally from the rock or soil onto the ground or into a body of surface water. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record