Bath suffered from devastating air raids in World War Two. On two moonlit nights in April 1942, Luftwaffe bombers attacked the city in reprisal for Allied bombing of the German cultural city of Lubeck. The historic cities of Canterbury, Exeter, Norwich and York were also targeted. The Luftwaffe reputedly used a well-known guide book from the period, Baedeker’s Guide to Great Britain, to identify their targets.
Bath residents were very used to bombers passing overhead, as Bath was on the route to Bristol. But on those two fateful nights in 1942, Bath was in the Luftwaffe’s sights. Over 400 people lost their lives and more than 19,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
This tour is an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to understand more about the Bath Blitz. Expert Blue Badge-qualified tour guide will lead you on a revelatory walking tour around the city centre and other bomb-affected sites, including The Royal Crescent, The Circus and Assembly Rooms. You’ll hear about the physical and human consequences of the Bath Blitz, see reconstructed and restored buildings, bomb craters and shrapnel damage, and learn about now-vanished churches, air raid shelters, evacuees and the aftermath. Delivered by Sulis Guides and organised by Fred Mawer Tours
This walk has sold out, please contact Bath Box Office to join the waiting list. 01225 463362
Start: Orange Grove, by the obelisk (BA1 1LP)
Finish: Bath War Memorial, entrance to Royal Victoria Park, Queen’s Parade (BA1 2NJ)
Distance: around two miles
Gentle-paced walking, on pavements, with frequent stops
Suitable for wheelchair users
This walk will be repeated several times throughout the festival. When booking you will be asked to select the date and time of the walk you wish to book.
Fred Mawer Tours offers entertaining and informative guided tours of Bath and the South West of England, for individuals and groups. The tours are led by Fred, a Bath resident and award-winning, professional Blue Badge-qualified tour guide, or by another expert local guide. In Bath, tours range from introductory explorations that are ideal for first-timers to the city, to off-the-beaten-track itineraries, and thematic tours such as looking at the city’s all-important spa history, its royal links and TV and film locations.
More information: www.fredmawertours.co.uk
Contact: +44(0)7941 371439 ; fred.mawer@btinternet.com
