Architectural Features
PLAN: Cruciform, with five-bay nave with aisles, three-bay choir with aisle chapels, narrow two-bay transepts, crossing tower, C20 cloistral range, undercroft The Abbey is now completely freestanding, but in medieval period was surrounded by monastic buildings.
West front has central doorway with four centred arch, and spandrels carved with emblems of Passion.
Flanked by statues of saints with canopies over, and topped one of Henry VII carved by Sir George Frampton in c1902, battlemented parapet.
Turrets decorated by ladders with angels climbing to heaven (reference to Bishop King's inspirational dream), and topped by two-panelled stages.
Wall above west window has much weathered carving of more angels, and statue of seated Christ at apex (also by Sir George Frampton), pierced parapet with battlements, this last was added by Jackson in 1906.
South aisle partly screened by low nine-bay range, War Memorial Cloister (Choir Vestry, and Abbey shop) added by Jackson, 1923-1927, and in form of monastic cloister (on part of site of Norman cloister which was much larger), four centred arches house four light windows with central king mullion, panelled aprons, battlemented parapet.
Fan-vaulted ceilings throughout, dating from various periods Chantry chapel of Prior Bird to south of Chancel dates from 1515, with intricate fan vaulting.
Rere-arch of east window of south Choir aisle incorporates the sole surviving Norman arch.
stained glass mainly by Clayton & Bell, east window of 1873
Numerous monuments Organ and organ loft were designed by T.G. Jackson in 1912 HISTORY: A church existed here by the C8
King Edgar was crowned here in 973 by Dunstan of Canterbury as the first king of all England In 1088 the Bishop of Wells removed his see to Bath, and commenced a new church, which extended considerably further to the east than the present building.
King¿s vision or rebuilding, showing angels ascending to heaven on a ladder, is depicted on the west front along with his rebus of an olive tree and crown.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, the Abbey Church was offered to citizens of Bath for 500 marks, but refused
Given to the citizens of Bath in 1560, it became the parish church in 1572, when repair and reconstruction began.
Queen Elizabeth I visited Bath in 1574 and authorized a national collection for seven years, in 1574-1581, for the rebuilding of the Abbey.
the transepts were completed in 1603, the nave was not roofed (in timber) until the early C17: the west doors of 1617 date from this phase, and sport the arms of Bishop Montague The whole was ready by 1616 when Bishop Montague was translated to Winchester.
Jackson added in 1923-1927 the War Memorial Cloister (Choir Vestry) along the south side of the nave.
In spite of its protracted construction, the Abbey is of huge importance as a major late Medieval great church.
The monument-crammed interior is of very considerable note for its historical interest too.