Bathampton

Bathampton is a village and civil parish 2 miles (3 km) east of Bath, England on the south bank of the River Avon.

Bathampton is a village and civil parish 2 miles (3 km) east of Bath, England on the south bank of the River Avon.The parish has a population of 1,603.The Kennet and Avon Canal passes through the village and a toll bridge links Bathampton to Batheaston on the north bank of the canal.

Bathampton Camp is a univallate Iron Age hill fort situated approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east from the village. The site was excavated in 1904–05 and in 1952–54. Results found human and animal remains, pottery and flint flakes.The parish was part of the hundred of Hampton.The village used to be served by Bathampton railway station, but it was closed following the destructive Beeching cuts.

Plasticine was manufactured in the village between 1900 and 1983 by a company founded by William Harbutt, who also lived in Bathampton.

Above the village is Sham Castle, a folly built in 1762 by Richard James, master mason for Ralph Allen, "to improve the prospect" from Allen's town house in Bath. It is a screen wall with a central pointed arch flanked by two 3-storey circular turrets, which extend sideways to a 2-storey square tower at each end of the wall. It is illuminated at night.