Seeing Bath through fresh eyes

A day-long programme of activities to celebrate internationalWorld Heritage Day takes place later this month in Bath.

The events on Sunday, April 17 have been organised by Bath andNorth East Somerset Council and the Bath Preservation Trust.

One highlight will be an organised trail around the city centre,starting at noon at the Unesco World Heritage Site symbol in StallStreet.

There will be five stops along the trail route where people cantake part in an activity, learn about the area from a guide or justrelax and have refreshments.

Tony Crouch, the council's world heritage manager, said: "WorldHeritage Day encourages all of us to find out more about this veryspecial place and ensures future generations can understand thecultural value of the city's status. The council is really pleasedto join forces with Bath Preservation Trust to offer the trail."

Trust chief executive Caroline Kay added: "One of the joys ofBath as a World Heritage Site is that its glories are all aroundyou.

"We hope that the trail encourages locals to look with new eyesand visitors to see why the accolade of the status was given toBath."

The whole of Bath is an international heritage site - the onlyentire city to be given the designation in Britain.

For more information, go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/heritageevents.

Meanwhile, a new TV series, DVD and book will reveal more of thehistory of a 15th-century grade one listed house near Bath.

South Wraxall Manor, now owned by Duran Duran bassist JohnTaylor, is one of six properties featuring in historian DanCruickshank's The Country House Revealed.

The manor house is where Sir Walter Raleigh reputedly smoked thefirst pipe in an English house.

The BBC series starts on BBC2 next month, when the DVD will bereleased.

The book, published by Ebury, is already for sale.