Milsom Street, Bath

Thomas Lightholder built Milsom Street in 1762. Designed initially as houses, they were converted into shops. Milsom Street was the most popular shopping street in Bath during Jane Austen's time. Austen was sure to have spent many hours strolling Milsom Street and admiring bonnets, ribbons, and muslins. She wrote letters to her sister Cassandra detailing the latest fashions seen along Milsom Street.

Her characters not only shopped and strolled but experienced chance meetings on Milsom Street. In Northanger Abbey, Isabella Thorpe remarked to Catherine Morland, "I just saw the prettiest hat in a shop window in Milsom Street". Northanger Abbey's General Tilney had lodgings on Milsom Street.

In Persuasion, Anne Elliot comes across Admiral Croft on Milsom Street. He is in such deep contemplation of a painting in a shop window that it takes Anne several attempts to catch his notice. The Admiral laughs and mentions that he can never go past this shop without stopping. Anne Elliot later visits Mollands, a trendy pastry and confectionary shop at that time. It was here that Anne Elliot had a surprise meeting with Captain Wentworth.

Not much has changed on Milsom street since Jane Auten's time. Shops still sell the latest fashions, and peckish shoppers are sure to find a sweet treat to enjoy. Milsom Street has been voted "Britain's Best Fashion Street".