Photo essay: Christmastime at the Francis Hotel, Bath (Includes interview and first-hand account)

This December. Digital Journal visited a charming hotel — the Francis Hotel — in Bath. The hotel dates back to 1884, when a series of Georgian townhouses were knocked together.

The main entrance to the Francis Hotel in Bath. The Beatles stayed in the hotel in 1963.

Tim Sandle

Bath is a city, dating back to Roman Times, in the English county of Somerset. The city is located in the valley of the River Avon. Bath has two main attractions: ancient Roman remains, and a fully working Roman hot springs bath; and some magnificent Georgian buildings.

It is the Georgian theme that is the focus here. Many buildings reflect the era, including hotels like the delightful Francis Hotel.

The Francis Hotel in Bath. The building uses stone obtained from the Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines under Combe Down, Somerset, England.

Tim Sandle

The Georgian era of British history refers to a period of time spanning the reigns of the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain. Each King was, unsurprisingly,named George: George I, George II, George III and George IV. The period covers 1714 to 1830.

Many parts of the Francis Hotel are decorated in Georgian style. The hotel has two large tea rooms, one of which also serves as the bar area.

One of the tea rooms at the Francis Hotel. This one leads to the bar area. It is themed on the Regency period.

Tim Sandle

A large sitting room in the Francis Hotel, Bath. People are enjoying afternoon tea.

Tim Sandle

The area in Francis Hotel where guests enjoy tea in the day and stronger stuff at night.

Tim Sandle

There are many things associated with ‘Georgian’, although two stand out: writers, like as Henry Fielding, Mary Shelley and Jane Austen; and architecture.

With the writers, Jane Austen has a close association with Bath. Jane Austen set two of her six published novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, in Bath and made the city her home from 1801 to 1806.The Francis Hotel reflects, using a silhouette of Austen as the basis of the wallpaper adorning its staircases, along with other literary figures.

The wallpaper at the Francis Hotel, reflecting the Georgian period and its writers.

Tim Sandle

Another nod to the heritage of Bath, the hotel has many blue plaques, listing out notable residents.

Admiral Sir James Robert Drummond GCB (15 September 1812 – 7 October 1895) was a Royal Navy officer who commanded several ships in the Black Sea Fleet during the Crimean War and who commanded the Mediterranean Fleet from 1874 to 1877 before going on to be Fourth Naval Lord. Emmay Moyard was one of the first women to hold a professorship in music.

Tim Sandle

Most of Bath’s buildings are made from the local, golden-colored, Bath Stone. Bath Stone is an oolitic (a sedimentary rock) limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. The stone has a warm, honey coloring.

An example of Georgian buildings in Bath.

Tim Sandle

The idea was to use the creamy Bath stone to create classical decorum, for the wealth population who flocked to the city to experience the hot springs or to engage in a blooming social scene set out from London. Bath retains an exciting social scene as well, with many bars and restaurants.

The Francis Hotel is a good place to stay for those seeking a weekend in Bath. It is particularly charming over the Christmas period.

The Francis Hotel at Christmas. A shot from inside the hotel, looking out to the street.

Tim Sandle

A street lit up for Christmas in Bath, located near to the Francis Hotel.

Tim Sandle

The Francis Hotel occupies seven of the nine town houses built between 1728 and 1736, on the south side of Queen Square. The square itself is a well-looked after area.

Queen Square, Bath. Taken from the Francis Hotel. Queen Square is a square of Georgian houses. Most of the houses were designed by an architect called John Wood.

Tim Sandle

In April 1942 during World War II, almost 80 feet of the hotel frontage was destroyed due to a bomb dropped by the Nazi Luftwaffe on the east side of the square during the Bath Blitz. An engraved stone on one of the hotel walls acknowledges this.

In April 1942 during World War II, 24 metres (79 ft) of the hotel frontage was lost when a 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) Nazi Luftwaffe high explosive bomb landed on the east side of the square during the Bath Blitz.

Tim Sandle

Between 2010 and 2012 the Francis Hotel was refurbished by Accor Hotels. As part of a refit, this led to the use of different wallpaper in heritage colors and patterns.

As well as period furniture and varied wallpaper, within the hotel, there are many decorative parts.

Decorative wallpaper in the breakfast room at the Francis Hotel, Bath.

Tim Sandle

And plenty of floral displays.

A floral display in the Francis Hotel, Bath.

Tim Sandle

There are also some later, Art Deco touches.

A mirror on the wall, with a nod to Ar Deco style. Possibly from the 1920s.

Tim Sandle

An area in the Francis Hotel for guests to borrow books.

Tim Sandle

Even up high, the features are interesting.

Adorned lights guide guests through the Francis Hotel in Bath.

Tim Sandle

The hotel boasts are splendid restaurant — chef Raymond Blanc’s Brasserie Blanc — and it has a well-stocked bar.

The bar at the Francis Hotel. They can make you almost anything you want.

Tim Sandle

Today the hotel is a member of the MGallery Collection. It boasts 98 individually-designed bedrooms. Highly recommended.