St John's Hospital, Bath

St John's Hospital is a two-story Bath stone building constructed as a residential facility for older people in the city center. The structure features rounded arches on the ground level and contains about 54 apartments arranged to support independent living.

The facility was founded in 1174 by Bishop Reginald Fitz Jocelin to provide shelter for poor people near the city's thermal springs. The structure has stood for centuries and was later modified several times to adapt to changing residential needs.

The building displays the neoclassical stone architecture that defines Bath's appearance, with carefully proportioned facades and masonry work reflecting the city's classical character. Visitors notice how the structure blends naturally into the surrounding historic streetscape.

The building is located in Bath's city center and easily walkable from major attractions and train stations. Visitors can view the exterior and learn about the site's public history, though access to interior spaces is generally limited to residents.

The building is named after an early Christian saint and is one of several medieval charitable facilities scattered across the city. Few visitors realize that such institutions go back nearly a thousand years and reveal how communities once cared for their most vulnerable members.

Location: Bath and North East Somerset

GPS coordinates: 51.38080,-2.36160

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:24