Sponsored Walk Map
Newton Park (Bath Spa University)
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Newton Park (Bath Spa University)
(Stop 1 of 11)
“He was charmed with its [Bath's] surroundings, and both he and General Ras Kassa had never felt better in any other place.”
Bath Chronicle, 13th March 1959.
Historical background
Newton Park is set out on 14th century land which was the gateway of St. Loe's Castle during the medieval period.
From the 18th century the house was built and carried on as an estate until 1914. From then it became the Countess Temple Hospital for wounded soldiers and was owned by Lord Temple until he died in 1940.
The estate was purchased by the Duchy of Cornwall and leased to Newton Park College. The present establishment was formed in 1975 as Bath College of Higher Education; in 1997 it changed its name to Bath Spa University College and in 2005 is was granted university status becoming Bath Spa University.
Relevance to H.I.M
The state visit to give the Freedom of the City Award in October 1954 also included the Emperor having a tour of Newton Park, now the main campus of Bath Spa University.
H.I.M. was shown around by Mary Dawson, the first principal of the then-Newton Park College from 1946 to her retirement in 1968.
(Photograph © Bath in Time)
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Little Theatre
Little Theatre
(Stop 2 of 11)
“In those days The Little ran as a news cinema and my mother would have invited the emperor to come and have a private viewing of the news reels of the Ethiopian war. And that was how our contact was established.”
Hilary King – The Little Theatre's Manager's Daughter, recollection of H.I.M. in 'Footsteps of the Emperor Haile Selassie: Exile to Bath.
Historical background
Built by Consuelo de Reyes and her stage designer husband, Peter King, in 1936, The Little Theatre Cinema was originally used as a news theatre, cinema, and a theatre. It would alternate between live theatre shows and cinema screenings.
Built before many people had televisions in their homes, The Little Theatre provided news reels to keep audiences up to date with current affairs as well as showing documentaries.
The first feature film was screened in 1939 and it was not until 1948 that The Little became a full-time cinema. During times of low cinema attendance from the 1960's to the 1980's the theatre has maintained strong by relying on strong local support.
Relevance to H.I.M
Provided with his own Royal Box, Haile Selassie frequented the Little Theatre to watch the war coverage in Abyssinia.
With keen educational roots The Little Theatre proved popular with H.I.M. as a place to watch the newsreels of the invasion of his country by the Italian's.
It was here that Haile Selassie found out most of what was going on in his own country, Ethiopia.
(Pictured is the Little Theatre in the 1970s - © Bath in Time)
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The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths
(Stop 3 of 11)
“The Emperor always sat with his hands on his knees. Very relaxed. And his hands on the back, I had already noticed, were very badly popped because he'd been in a battle and the Italians had used mustard gas and some of it had gone on the back of his hands. So, he had these quite sizable dents.”
Ruth Haskins - Nanny of Fairfield House, recollection of H.I.M. in 'Footsteps of the Emperor Haile Selassie: Exile to Bath'.
Historical background
The head of Minerva was discovered through the construction of the Stall Street Sewer in 1727 leading on to the discovery of the baths and eventual reconstruction.
It was during the late 1800s that most of the excavation work was carried out; as late as 1896 a Roman swimming bath was uncovered beneath Stall Street.
Originally built around 70 A.D. as a bathing and socialising complex, the excavation works from the 18th century onwards restored the Roman Baths that lay dormant for centuries.
Relevance to H.I.M
In August 1936, H.I.M. visited the Royal Baths for treatments for gas wounds on the back of his hands. The spa treatments were used in order to aid his healing of the wounds caused by Sulphur 'Mustard' Gas attack by the Italians.
(Pictured is H.I.M. leaving the Royal Baths - © Bath in Time)
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Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey
(Stop 4 of 11)
“When We went to England and lived there, we relied on God and counted on the assistance of the English people and did not need any protector from Our life. Our faith in God was firm, and Our belief remained certain that one day, in His righteous judgement, He would bestow victory on Us.”
The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Selassie I
Historical background
The Abbey was left in ruins for roughly 70 years after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 by King Henry VIII.
Reparations began in 1616 for use as a parish church but it was not until the 1830s that local architect George Manners added new designs such as pinnacles, galleries, and seating.
Major restoration work was by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860s. Most of the Victorian Gothic architecture we see today was by Gilbert Scott's transformation.
Relevance to H.I.M
Known to be a devout Christian, the Emperor used his faith as a comfort during his time exiled from his country.
H.I.M. Haile Selassie was shown the newly renovated tower at the Bath Abbey during his state visit in 1954 by the Archdeacon E.A. Cook. As he was shown around, crowds waited to greet the Emperor in the Abbey Churchyard.
(Photograph © Bath in Time)
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The Pump Room
The Pump Room
(Stop 5 of 11)
“The numerous queries put by him were ample proof of his being not only interested but greatly impressed”
Bath Chronicle, 3rd September 1936. [On H.I.M.'s visit to Bath and its culture]
Historical background
Built by Thomas Baldwin and John Palmer in 1795, the Pump Room was a focal point for the socialites of Georgian Society.
Located above the old Roman Baths the Pump Room was used as a place to socialise by the upper classes that visited Bath. Now open to the public, the Pump Room still attracts visitors to Bath to try the spa water and have afternoon tea.
Relevance to H.I.M
Known to go in to the Bath city centre for walks and leisure, The Pump Room would have been suited to a casual afternoon in town for the Emperor.
As a member of the elite, H.I.M. Haile Selassie would have, on occasion, been able to dine and have afternoon tea at The Pump Room.
(The Grand Pump Room in 1935 - Bath in Time)
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Smiths the Trunker & Leather Manufacturer
Smiths the Trunker & Leather Manufacturer
(Stop 6 of 11)
“My grandfather took trunks to and from Fairfield House on occasions. Then one day he said to me would I go with him to Fairfield House one afternoon and then I could meet the Emperor. When I first seen him I thought he was a policeman because he had on a black cape which the constables of the day used to wear.”
Graham Clark, recollection of H.I.M. in 'Footsteps of the Emperor Haile Selassie: Exile to Bath'.
Historical background
Used as one of Bath's leather manufacturers and situated opposite The Guildhall, the business produced leather goods such as writing companions, trunks, books, as well as satchels.
Relevance to H.I.M
The Emperor used Smith's whilst residing in Bath to produce leather products to his own specification. As well as being used to produce household leather goods such as trunks, Haile Selassie also requested the Book of Common Prayer of the Ethiopian Church. With the help of one of the priests the construction of the books were made for the Chapel at Fairfield House.
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The Guildhall
The Guildhall
(Stop 7 of 11)
“The Freedom of the City is probably the highest award the city can bestow on any individual. There was a great reception, it was a grand day, and it was recognised by school children, naval guards of honour. There were many crowds. It was a state occasion.”
Ray Cliffe – Former Mayor of Bath, discussing the Freedom of the City award day, 'Footsteps of the Emperor Haile Selassie: Exile to Bath'.
Historical background
The Guildhall is the centre of Bath's administrative and judicial life and the existing Guildhall was built by Thomas Baldwin in 1775. The current Bath stone building replaced the Stuart Guildhall originally built in 1625.
The Guildhall is now used as the Council Chamber and Register Office for Bath and North East Somerset, houses the Bath Record Office, used as a wedding and conference venue and is occasionally used for filming period dramas.
Relevance to H.I.M
The Emperor returned to Bath in 1954 during a state visit to England where he was granted the Freedom of the City.
During his time back in England, he had a formal visit by the Queen in London as well as returning to Bath to receive his honour.
(H.I.M. and councillor Gallop on the steps of the Guildhall - © Bath in Time)
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Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute
Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute
(Stop 8 of 11)
“Those who have come into frequent contact with him have learnt that he has been greatly impressed by the city's beauty, its proud history, and friendly people”
Bath Chronicle, 12th September 1936.
Historical background
The society was originally formed in 1777 by Edmund Rack for the 'encouragement of Agriculture, Planting, Manufactures, Commerce, and the Fine Arts'. This then became a Philosophical Society in 1815 and then moved on to the Bath Literary and Scientific Institution in 1824.
The institution moved from near the Bath Abbey to Queen Square in 1932 with all the displays from the society being set up again. Between 1940 and 1959 the institution and its works was requisitioned by the admiralty.
From the 1960s the Bath Reference Library and Bath Geological Society was set up and is now used as research and educational site as well as hosting exhibitions.
Relevance to H.I.M
Before officially residing in Bath, during the visit in 1936, H.I.M. Haile Selassie had spent time visiting the Literary and Scientific Institution exhibitions.
(Pictured is the BRSLI in the 1920s before H.I.M. came to Bath - © Bath in Time)
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Mineral Hospital
Mineral Hospital
(Stop 9 of 11)
“Haile Selassie created a lasting good impression, had a favourable press and his unfeigned affection for children was noted and approved.”
Lutz Haber, 'The Emperor Haile Selassie I in Bath 1936 – 1940'.
Historical background
Commonly known as The Mineral Hospital it was founded by an Act of Parliament and opened in May 1742. It is the oldest hospital in Bath and was the first national hospital taking patients from all over the United Kingdom.
The initial need for the hospital was to provide treatment, with use of the thermal waters of the spa, for the sick and poor of Britain and Ireland and to help with the issues of beggars in Bath.
Up until 1835 residents of Bath were not allowed to become patients as they already had access to the waters and during war time years it was used as a hospital to treat casualties. It became a NHS Trust in 1991.
Relevance to H.I.M
During the state visit in 1954, H.I.M. Haile Selassie officially visited the Mineral Hospital.
At the time of the visit, the Emperor also made a visit to the Royal United Hospital in Bath visiting the children's wards.
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Royal Victoria Park
Royal Victoria Park
(Stop 10 of 11)
“I was walking with my sister in the Victoria Park and I looked up there was a man coming towards me who I found very striking. He was immaculately dressed and he was quite small, but very very powerful. There was a great sense of energy coming off him. […] His eyes were very powerful, very dark, but very truthful. There was a sense of truth, honesty, perfection, and this is a memory that has stuck with me all these years, and I'm pleased to have met him.”
Mr. Johnson, recollection of H.I.M. in 'Footsteps of the Emperor Haile Selassie: Exile to Bath'.
Historical background
The park was formed in 1829 and opened formally in 1830 by the then Princess Victoria who was visiting Bath.
Its initial attraction was to bring further residents to Bath as its popularity as a spa was decreasing. Originally managed by wealthy Bath tenants and financed by voluntary contributions, it was taken over by the Bath Council in 1921.
The park is set out as an arboretum with a Botanical Garden, children's play area, skateboard park, golf, putting, and bowling greens as well as having tennis courts, allotments, bird aviary and a Pavilion Restaurant.
Relevance to H.I.M
With its close proximity to the house and serene atmosphere, Haile Selassie was known for taking walks in the park during his exile.
(Pictured is Royal Victoria Park with the Royal Crescent in the background as it was when H.I.M. lived in Bath, 1937 - © Bath in Time)
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Fairfield House
Fairfield House
(Stop 11 of 11)
“He (H.I.M.) hoped that for many generations the house would be a token of the love and friendship that he and his family had for the city of Bath.”
Bath Chronicle, 13th March 1959.
Historical background
Having been built around 1840 Fairfield House was extended in the early 20th century and then further refurbished before H.I.M.'s stay in the 1930s.
The house was donated to the council of Bath in 1958 as a care home for the elderly until 1993, when regulations restricted its use as permanent residency.
Since then it has been used as a community centre for the Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens' Association as well as a place of worship for the Ethiopian Coptic Church and the Rastafari Faith.
Relevance to H.I.M
The house was the home for His Imperial Majesty during 1936 – 1941 during his time in exile from the invasion of Mussolini.
During his time at the house, the Emperor made various plans to defeat Mussolini, addressed the League of Nations, and gained support from the British Government.
(Pictured is Fairfield House as it was when H.I.M. moved in - © Bath in Time)
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My Fairfield House Sponsored Walk 27/07/2014 Notes
Fairfield House Sponsored Walk 27/07/2014
Welcome to the Placeify app page for the sponsored walk. Here you can digitally access information related to the points of interest.
Thank you for taking part in this sponsored walk in support of Fairfield House, home of H.I.M. Haile Selassie I. Your participation today will help continue the legacy of the Emperor by continuing the work for the Aged in Bath.
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