To ask for your experiences with Bath/strange atmospheres

[AliceInBlunderland13]

Semi-regular poster but I’ve name changed for this as the details could be quite outing. Also not really an AIBU but posting for traffic and all that…
There have been two periods in my life when I have lived and/or worked in the city of Bath, Somerset and I’ve experienced problems with my mental health on both occasions. The first was right after I finished by undergraduate degree in London and I moved to Bath to do a Masters at the university. I started in the October and by Christmas I was experiencing terrible panic attacks and depression. I did manage to complete the course but as soon as I finished I ended the tenancy on my flat early and moved back home. I then worked in my home town for a few years, during which time I had no problems with my mental health. Then I decided to do a PhD and took a position again at the uni in Bath. This time I didn’t move there but instead moved to a nearby town and commuted in. Yet again within a couple of months of being there I began experiencing daily panic attacks, terrible anxiety and feelings of dissociation, and depression. I tried to stick it out (had counselling, on meds etc) but I still felt utterly miserable so I recently quit the course and found a new job in another town.
Even after having counselling, I’ve never truly got to the bottom of what triggers these episodes. Logically, it could be stress related as both a Masters and a PhD are obviously a lot of work but then I dealt with the stresses of my undergraduate course just fine, and the job I had between my Masters and PhD was high-stress and I loved it – in fact I used to think I worked best with a bit of pressure.
Then the other day, I was reading an old thread on here (bored while I wait to start my new job ) about places people found creepy. Several people mentioned that they didn’t like Bath or that it had an odd atmosphere – I think one poster described it as ‘melancholy’. Now normally I’m very rational and logical (except when the anxiety takes over ) and wouldn’t give it a second thought, but I couldn’t help wondering if anyone has any experience of feeling anxious/down in a particular place, or if anyone else has felt this ‘atmosphere’ in Bath? I know some will say it’s a load of pish but I guess I’m just interested in other people’s experiences really…

Portland is weird because it's an island, has virtually no trees, has the Verne and used to have the naval base and underwater weapons establishment

My mate worked in Weymouth for a few years, it was her first job after she finished her nursing training. She told me that there was a high rate of congenital abnormalities in babies born to Portland families (she was in obs & gynae) and that there was talk that it might be connected to something to do with the base there.

Look into glastonbury, stone hedge, laylines and Milton Keynes

MK gives me the willies. I find it really strange, and put it down to everything being so modern.

My parents lived there for the last 40 or so years of their lives, and my mum loved it.

To build the train lines for King’s Cross the vast St Pancras Cemetery was dug up and built over. Many of the bodies being disturbed had only been recently buried, it caused much consternation and comment at the time. The cemetery left is very small.
King’s Cross has an interesting history.

No one has mentioned Wales yet we have very high radon in much of wales, due to our rock.

Wales was mentioned at start 🏵

My grandmother used to live in Bath and I would go and stay sometimes for the weekend. I really like it (to visit) but I found the atmosphere very oppressive - it is supposed to be something to do with being surrounded by hills - the air just seems to sit dankly in the dip there. I wouldn't like to live there - I think I'd be quite depressed. Someone mentioned Glastonbury upthread. I went there and found it really creepy.

Oh yes ! Sorry. Betws y Coed.
Although as we are so ridden with radon, you’d think there would be more Welsh places.

(If radon was the thing , iyswim)

See, I have really positive associations with Betws y Coed, and the drive from there onwards towards Holyhead -- though my husband tends to namecheck Mordor when driving through a wintry Snowdonia.

There are some really creepy stories associated with Betws y Coed especially in the forests around it.

One of my favourite areas of the country

About 10 years ago, DD (then 5) and I had a lovely holiday around the Watergate Bay area of Cornwall. We had been looking forward to a day trip to Newquay but within a minute of leaving the car park, DD refused to go any further, said she hated it and wanted to leave. I couldn't change her mind despite promises of ice cream and surfing which she loves. We've travelled all over and she's never had that reaction to any other place. Last year we visited St Ives and I suggested a trip to Newquay but immediately she said she hated it - we'd literally spent a minute there and years later she still had a bad 'feeling' about it. Which is a shame as I'd love to see more than the car park!

Maybe there is something about places in a dip or bowl of land. I am thinking of a place I went to that seemed haunted, it was down low in a valley, very green, lush and wet. Trees dripping with lichen and moisture. Very beautiful part of Cornwall, but the house was certainly strange. Noises, things moved etc.
Went to view a house recently, low down next to a river, rock behind, very wet and damp. My friend felt someone upstairs. One part of the property in particular. So maybe these conditions allow feelings to get stuck ?

I had to click in on this thread because DH and I had a HUGE row in Bath when we were in our early twenties. Never had one like it before or since. I became so angry, so quickly and didn't feel or behave like myself at all.

I loved the history of the city and often wish we could go back and see it again without being so upset with each other, but the experience still puts me off twenty years on.

I felt very uncomfortable in Harrogate. Like I was being watched

Will confirm @CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate
Hastings has immense fish and chips. Restaurants in general are 👌. But the old town, the fishing huts and the beach where the fishing boats sleep have a heavy feel. The whole town is a strange juxtaposition of architecture and people. I can see why people dislike it so much.

I always feel oppressed in the south Midlands - Northampton/Bedford/Milton Keynes' Lived there for 4 years - didn't make any friends of my own.
I don't think its radon or woo more that its a part of the country without much regional identity and too close to London. There's plenty of country but not much you can do with it. Not much wilderness, cultural capital and what industrial base it had has gone.
I always felt a mental lift whenever I was going North on the M1.

Thing is, I feel happier in the West of England, Wales and Scotland but more oppressed in the Midlands. Odd that.

Just watched a video clip of a ghost sighting at Swallow Falls (Betws y Coed).

The sighting is right near the end.

Loud rushing water at night is unnerving. DH and i sometimes used to go for night time smooching sessions walks over some weirs on the Thames and the dark and the noise used to really freak me out once we were over the water!

About 8 years ago had an enormous panic attack in bath for no reason I can put my finger on. Haven't had a quarter as bad as that before or since. I know what you mean

Someone mentioned Britanny upthread and it's known both for very high levels of radon - advice is to air the house daily and for a long time- and its Celtic roots.
There is a part of Britanny that's actually called Cornouaille (Cornwall). It's beautiful and very similar to British Cornwall. It does have a certain vibe though.

Vix20678 I could have written your post. DH and I were in Bath for New Year once and we had a massive row, the worst we have ever had. Admittedly it was NYE and we had had a bit to drink, but even so... The next morning when we got up we were still out of sorts with each other, to the point where I thought we were going to split up, then on our way back home in the car we made it up! We have visited Bath since without incident, but I always get a bad feeling there from the memory of that evening, especially if I walk past the hotel where it happened.

Interesting thread! I've always wanted to visitBath always thought of it as a picturesque, romantic place.

I love Buxton but wouldn't want to live there. It's cut off.

Places I get bad 'vibes'...
Another vote for Harrogate. I found it creepy. Beautiful buildings but a very melancholic atmosphere.

The worst place for me was St. Ives.! I had high hopes but it also felt off. Everyone I came across seemed miserable.

Henry1V

Just seen your post!
Seems I'm not the only one then!!

I love Bath and went there for one night to The Royal Crescent Hotel (could only afford the one night!)

BUT my late Mum told me that she went there in the late 1930's as a small child on a school trip and had a strange feeling....she knew her way around through all of the streets and alley ways and it was her first and only visit..she said it was quite a scary ' Ive been here before' experience and she never went back and never wanted to despite me offering to take her...it definitely has a vibe

I’ve visited quite a few of the places mentioned but can’t say I have felt any strange vibes myself.
However I did feel very odd in Guernsey,I think it was all the Occupation history,which I am fascinated by,but it did have a certain ‘aura’ and daft though it sounds I felt I was picking up past emotions and I felt very close to it all somehow.

I've always enjoyed visiting Bath ( we live in Bristol) - in fact we were there this evening to see Six the musical. The only place I've had a bad vibe about was Glastonbury.