Pre-44 A.D.: Celts are the first to build a shrine at Bath's springs, dedicated to their goddess Sulis.

44-410: Romans built town around springs, calling it Aquae Sulis (the waters of Sulis). Buildings included the Great Bath.

4th century: The word "Christian" makes its first known appearance in Britain on a Roman petition.

5th-10th centuries: Anglo-Saxons called Bath Ba_um, Ba_an or Ba_on, meaning "at the baths," from which the present name comes.

577: In the Batle of Deorham, Ceawlin of Wessex split the Romano-British forces, leading to the fall of Bath.

675: King Osric of the Hwicce established a monastic house at Bath.

781: King Offa of Mercia rebuilt the monastery's church, which he dedicated to St. Peter.

871-899?: King Alfred the Great laid out the town of Bath, abandoning the Roman plan.

973: King Edgar, first effective king of all England, was crowned in Bath Abbey.

1088: Royal physician John of Tours became first Bishop of Bath and moved the see of Somerset from Wells to Bath, beginning construction on a cathedral.

1482: Oldest surviving home in Bath constructed.

1499: Bishop Oliver King demolished the Norman cathedral begun by John of Tours and began construction on the current Abbey.

1539: Bath Priory was dissolved by King Henry VIII.

1558-1603: Bath became a popular spa again during the Elizabethan period.

1590: Queen Elizabeth I granted Bath city status.

1702: Queen Anne visited Bath, bringing it new status as a resort for the wealthy.

1703: Queen Anne visited Bath again, cementing its status as a chic resort.

1704: Architect John Wood the Elder was born in Bath.

1705: Richard "Beau" Nash, a celebrated dandy and leader of fashion, became Bath's Master of Ceremonies.

1754: John Wood the Elder began construction on the famed Bath Circus, Britain's first circular street.

1761: Beau Nash died after presiding over Bath society for 56 years.

1765: Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, commissioned Methodist Chapel in Bath.

1767: Construction began on Royal Crescent; designed by John Wood the Younger.

1774: Pulteney Bridge, a Robert Adam design, was completed.

1774: Royal Crescent construction was completed.

1781: Amateur astronomer William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus from Bath.

1791: Methodist leader and patron Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntindon, died.

1801: Jane Austen arrived in Bath.

1803: Jane Austen sold her first novel, Northanger Abbey, to a Bath bookseller for £10, who let it languish for years before eventually selling it back to Austen's brother for the same sum.

1806: Following her father's death, Jane Austen moved from Bath.

1810: Kennet and Avon Canal opened, increasing the navigability of the River Avon.

1827: William Beckford's Tower was completed near Bath.

1840: First letter mailed using famed "Penny Black" stamp as postage.

1841: The Great Western Railway completed its line from Bristol to London, including Bath, following completion of the Box Tunnel.

1974: Bath became part of Avon when that county was created, abandoning its historical status as part of Somerset.

1996: Bath's city council was abolished.

1996: Bath became the main town of the new Unitary Authority of Bath and North East Somerset following the dissolution of the county of Avon.

Related Articles:

The Beauty of Bath, by Michele Deppe

https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/towns/bath.shtml

The Roman Baths, by Moira Allen

https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/stones/romanbaths.shtml

Number 4 Bath Circus: A Georgian Garden Reborn, by Yvonne Cuthbertson

https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/houses/circus.shtml

A TASTE OF BATH: Bath Buns, Bath Olivers and Wassail, by Dawn Copeman

https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/taste/taste01.shtml