The new Bath guide (1789) printed by R. Cruthwell for W. Taylor
The New Assembly Rooms at the east end of the Circus are spacious and elegant. The ground on which they stand including the court for chairs and the approach for coaches is more than an acre and a half. They were built and furnished by a subscription of 70 persons and cost upwards of 20,000l.The first stone was laid on the 24th of May 1769 by the late John Wood, esq; architect (under whose direction the whole was completed) and opened for the reception of company in October 1771. The Ball Room is 105 feet 3 inches long 42 feet 8 inches wide and 42 feet six inches high. The two Card Rooms are, one an octagon of 48 feet diameter, the other 70 feet long and 27 feet wide. In the octagon card room is a fine portrait of Captain Wade, late Master of the Ceremonies, painted by Mr Gainsborough. The Tea room is 60 feet long and 42 wide. Leading from this room through an anti-chamber, are the Ladies drawing room and water closets; the Gentlemen's being in another part of the building. The other part of this edifice is appropriated for the dwelling of the Master of the Room besides a coffee room, two billiard rooms and a commodious cold bath with convenient dressing rooms
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