20 Henrietta Street, Bath
20 Henrietta Street is thought to be haunted by the disembodied footsteps of Rear Admiral Mark Robinson (25 April 1722 – 23 November 1799). The following obituary was published in The Naval Chronicle (1799)
‘Saturday 23d November 1799, at his house in Henrietta Street, Bath, Mark Robinson Esq senior Rear Admiral on the list of the Royal Navy and a gentleman of the most distinguished merit in his profession. He was born on St Mark’s Day 1722 and at the age of fourteen entered into the service of his country. The exertions and consequent distinctions of this gallant veteran merit a brief detail. He was actively engaged in most of the combats under the command of Sir Peter Warren and Lord Hawke. As Commander of the Falcon his conduct and bravery were eminent and conspicuous at the reduction of Guadaloupe where his ship sunk under him. He was afterwards appointed to the command of the Towey on the coast of America where he had the satisfaction of preserving Charlestown from the effects of an alarming conflagration, a service for which the merchants of South Carolina expressed their gratitude by a public vote of Thanks, dated January 14, 1771 and a very large piece of plate, bearing a suitable inscription. Under Lord Keppel he commanded the Worcester whence he was transferred to the Shrewsbury in which ship he led the British fleet five times into action. In the last of these engagements off the Capes of Virginia he was disabled by a severe wound in the hip and the loss of a leg’
Re: 20 Henrietta Street, Bath
His son was also an Admiral in the Royal Navy. The following entry is taken from ‘United Service Magazine’ (1834). ‘THE LATE ADMIRAL MARK ROBINSON. This gallant officer was son of Rear Admiral Robinson who lost a leg in the action off Cape Henry the 5th of September 1781 and died in 1799. He entered the Navy at an early age and became Commander some time previous to the conclusion of the American war and during the peace that followed he commanded the Trimmer sloop. In September 1790 he was made Post Captain. At the commencement of the war with France he obtained the command of the Brilliant frigate stationed in the North Sea and was afterwards employed at the reduction of Calvi. He next commanded the Arethusa in the expedition under Sir John B Warren against Quiberon. In 1804 he was appointed to the Swiftsure in which ship after cruising on the Spanish coast he accompanied Lord Nelson to the West Indies in pursuit of the combined fleets of France and Spain. Subsequently he commanded the Royal Sovereign and Gibraltar of 80 guns. In 1808 he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and in 1812 to that of Vice Admiral. In 1825 he became Admiral of the White. Admiral Robinson died at his seat, Fresh field near Bath on the 21st of February aged eighty. He was a widower having married in 1799 Miss Shirley of Pulteney Street, Bath, who died in 1811’
Re: 20 Henrietta Street, Bath
Historic Houses In Bath And Their Associations (1883) Robert Edward Myhill Peach
Captain Mark Robinson was the Commander of the Worcester, in which Nelson served as acting Lieutenant in 1776-7. Captain Thomas Pitt Robinson, R.N., his grandson, lived for many years at 20, Henrietta Street, and died in Bath a few years ago. Admiral Joseph Bullen, who lived for many years at No. 13. Raby Place, and who died at the patriarchal age of 97, in 1858, was a Lieut, in the Royal Navy, and took part in Rodney’s action, of 1782.