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Of all the Gay Places ... An Interlude in Bath
Did you know that the healing properties of Bath's thermal waters were accidentally discovered in the 8th century when a pig with leprosy took a dip?
Overview
Did you know that the healing properties of Bath's thermal waters were discovered by chance in the 8th century? A pig, who had contracted leprosy from Prince Bladud, (a prince-turned swineherd), was miraculously cured after taking a dip in a steaming swamp on the outskirts of the city... Watch this travelogue to learn more about Bath's legends and the city's glorious architecture.
The film was made by Strand Film Company which was headed by Donald Taylor and sponsored by TIDA (Travel and Industrial Development Association). TIDA was run by Taylor's wife, Marion Grierson, who was the sister of John Grierson, one of the leading lights of the British Documentary Movement. The film's remit was to entice tourists to England, and so it would have been mainly distributed overseas.
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